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How hard is it to remove a European-style rear-wheel ring lock? I have an old Breezer Uptown 8 with a European-style ring lock on the rear wheel. I am thinking of removing it. Does anyone have experience doing this? Is it as easy as unscrewing a bolt? It looks like maybe it is bolted on with the fender mount. I am wor...	Some ring locks are so weak that a good whack on the locking lever will spring it open. Otherwise, the easiest way to remove it is the same way thieves would do it: use an angle grinder or bolt cutters.
Would "fat" tires help me learn skinnies/log rides? I'm relatively new to mountain biking, and am considering purchasing a new, less expensive bike to help me learn to ride wooden obstacles (skinnies, curved bridges, etc.) without fear of damaging my "good" mountain bike in a hard fall. I've also wanted to pick up a s...	That being said, training with a bike that's not suited for skinnys will make riding them easier when you hop on a bike that is suited for skinnys. I would say, learn on whatever bike you want to ride them on more often as you'll build more comfort. I don't think you want a real wide tire. You get racers that upgrade e...
My back wheel isn't connected to the gears I have an old bike it says Via Montega on the body if that helps. I was riding it earlier when the pedaling stopped resulting in forward motion. I thought the chain might have come loose but it is definitely where it is supposed to be. The chain is attached and will shift ge...	That said, you should consider replacing the freewheel.
Medium size cargo solution for road-bike for commuting Currently I use a touring bike with rear rack and a single panier on my 15km commute. In my panier I carry a full set of clothes including shoes, a small coat and a towel. I want to start using my road bike on my commute because it is a better bike in almost all wa...	You might be able to get away with a handlebar bag (Ortlieb has a waterproof one that claims to hold 7l) plus a messenger bag or light backpack, or the underseat stuff sack mentioned by Chris in AK. I have found that a backpack is a more dynamic way to carry weight. A porteur rack in front might do the job too, and per...
Cyclocross touring, studs for SPD shoes? I just bought my first bicycle shoes (Specialized, SPD) and got four mountable studs. I'm planning on touring for about a month. Mostly on roads, perhaps occasionally on dirt tracks and larger trails. I'm not too concerned about weight, so I started thinking of whether it would...	Unless you plan to do a lot of sprinting up muddy hills to jump barriers, the studs are just extra weight that makes annoying noises when you're walking around. The weight is negligible and if you are a person that finds them useful, they'll be there. In all the tours I have never done, including dirt road tours, I hav...
Suspension seat post is loose Is it ok that a suspension seat post like the one shown below (source: cyclande.com) is actually a bit loose (moves a bit left-right and probably also up-down). The vendor told that for such seats it's OK, but I'm not totally sure. <Q> For the side movement it's a bit more complicated....	An up-down movement is perfectly fine – that's what suspension seat posts are designed for! So to answer the question: yes, some side rotation or wiggle (something like +-2-3 degrees) should be quite common.
Does a high MTB seat post risk frame breaking On a full suspension MTB, does a high seat post (extending from frame by 25cm, 10" or more) contribute to frame weakness, should one look to have a bike with a tall seat tube, or are MTB's designed like this and shouldn't break? <Q> The frame manufacturer might also specify...	There is usually a minimum insertion marker on the seat post to indicate the minimum amount of the seat post which should remain in the seat tube. Mountain bikes in general are going to have a more seat post out compared to a road bike as that is the frame design.
Do "trailer bikes" help kids learn to ride a bike on their own? I'm considering getting a trailer bike for my 3 year old (image below) but want to know if it will help or hurt progression toward him riding independently. He's amazingly fast on his Strider no-pedal balance bike but hasn't shown much interest in riding...	I think a bit of riding on the trailer will give your kid the confidence he needs to hop on his own pedal bike without the training wheels. I think as the comments suggest (including your own), keeping things fun should be the objective rather than any explicit goal.
What could cause the bicycle chain to break? I'm on an old Muji 3-speed commuter bicycle which uses an internal Shimano gear hub, and I recently (3 months ago) got my bike chain changed by my LBS. For about 2 weeks I felt the chain would "catch", the way it feels when you're trying to change gears on a bike with dera...	Eventually the catching could cause the partially inserted pin to pop out of place, breaking the chain, leaving you stranded.
Adjustment to road bike brakes for high grade downhill I have a road bike with a front brake that wears a lot of brake pad when I ride downhill every day. I lose 900ft in elevation on steep grades with lots of stop signs and traffic lights. On top of that, it rains a decent amount and the rim brakes are terrible in t...	There are several solutions: (1) Switch your brake pads - a harder compound will wear less, but be less effective at braking. You can replace the pads (as stated elsewhere).
Which usually wears faster - wheel rims or brake blocks? I was wondering which you'd expect to wear faster: wheel rims or brake blocks. The reason I ask is that my mileage has shot up the last couple of years so I'm seeing a lot of wear on things I never knew could wear. I'm told that chain, cassette and front chai...	Typically it's the brake pads that wear faster as they are the softer material.
Should a saddle hurt? We recently brought a road bike for my sister in law and we took her out on a quick test ride (only about 1km and SLOW). The next day she complained (a bit, mostly my brother being over protective maybe) about her rear. Question is, how do I know it's normal and she just needs to get used to the ...	The Team Estrogen forums are a great resource to help women find saddles that might be comfortable for them, but ultimately saddles need to be tested for awhile. It comes down to differences in individual anatomy, as well as shorts and riding styles. Unless she has been very inactive up to now, the fact that her arms h...
I am 6ft and riding a firefox kompac. My speed never crosses 18kmph What is the difference of having larger no of teeth in the front derailleur? does it help in speed and distance covered? Suggest a good hybrid on which I can achieve faster speeds? My budget is $700. <Q> What is your "cadence" (number of pedal revoluti...	By the look of it, that bike comes with some knobbly off-road style tyres, but if you intend to stay on paved roads you could replace them with smoother (and narrower) tyres which would also improve the top speed.
Is the Specialized Sectour Double 2014 a men's bike. Can a women ride a men's bike? I am looking for a woman's bike. And I found a 2014 Specialized Sectour double . Is this a men's bike? If so what are the disadvantages of a women riding it ? <Q> I sold Specialized bikes for a lot of years, they do make gender specif...	As it says here: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/h/option/bikesizeguide#women-bike A women's bike is built to fit the average woman but a lot people aren't average.
Can I fit 3 x9 speed crankset to 3 x 8 speed cartridge I have a Merida hybrid cycle fitted with Shimano XT Deore 3 x 8 speed (42/32/24T). The crank has a few worn teeth and I would like to replace with Shimano XT Deore (48/36/26T). The seller states this is for 3 x 9 speed gear set, can I fit to my cycle? <Q> Yes, ther...	Strictly speaking, one crankset will have been manufactured for an 8-speed chain, the other will have been manufactured for a 9-speed chain. You shouldn't encounter any problems, but you will have you readjust your front dérailleur to make room for the larger ring, and double check your chain length on big rings after ...
is a 29er a good fit for a 5'9 height? I'm a 5'9.5 and I use a 26er gt and I don't feel that comfortable as it feels so small. I've also tried a 27.5 merida, it was an improvement but I can't still quite grasp that same feeling when you were a kid and bikes were huge. I feel a 29er would be better for what I'm craving ...	, the 29er is not a bad bike. I would say it depends on your riding style and the geometry of the specific bike you are looking at. Smaller frames may come with 26" just like youth bikes have 24".
Croozer bike trailer optimalisation for less tire detoriation We love to travel by bike. Last summer we did a trip of about 650km on mostly asphalted roads (with quite some medium long climbs and descends) with our son in a bike trailer (type Croozer, see picture below). During this trip we had to change the outer ti...	Swap the tire around on the rims so that the unworn side is on the inside, this may affect how the tires grip the road if they are directional, but you might lengthen their life a bit longer by evenly wearing out the tire. The pivot point where the tongue attaches to the bike should be exactly along the centerline of t...
What Turbo Tyre On CX Bike I have a CX bike that i would like to put on a turbo trainer. The bike is Boardman CX Comp. The question i have is what turbo training tire could i put on my wheels Mavic XM319? My current tires are Schwalbe Tyrago Kevlar Guard 700 x 37c what tires could replace these? What tire options do...	As for trainers you can use, pretty much any trainer supports 700c, but as always, check the specifications for the one you're going to buy. You can also just use a regular tire on a trainer, but the tire will wear out faster due to the additional heat versus the road. Look at the turbo trainer for the size wheels they...
Why is a tandem harder to ride uphill than a single rider bike? With equal power to weight ratio, why is a tandem bike harder to ride uphill? I have friends whose Cannondale tandem bike weighs the same as their single rider bikes combined. But they find it easier to climb hills (compared to the bunch) on single rider b...	When riding in a group of singles, it can be hard to stay together on a hill climb, because everyone climbs at different paces. On a tandem with very well matched riders , they are in fact quicker, largely due to the draughting effect of the two riders being so close together. If they both stand, then the tandem can be...
Are there any reasons why you would avoid going disc (other than cost) for racing cyclo cross? Why (if you had the choice) would you stay with cantilever brakes and forgo the opportunity to change to a disc set up for racing cyclo cross? <Q> One good reason to stick with cantilever is easier wheel swaps. <S> Last weeke...	Unless deep mud is part of your ride or you need rim flex such as in mountain biking, hydraulic rim brakes are superior to discs in every way. Professional cyclo-cross racers choose depending on the type of cross they are riding.
Are these SIS Mountain/City Bike Derailleurs compatible with drop-bar shifting? I'm considering the conversion of my flat-bar hybrid bike ( GIANT Escape 3 ) in to a makeshift road bike, complete with drop bars. However, if the derailleurs have to go, it may not be cost-effective to do so. The Escape comes fitted with ...	The rear derailleur shifter needs to be Shimano compatible (and 7 speed) if you want to use indexing (as always, friction always works), while the front derailleur will need to be replaced with a Shimano road FD or you will need to use friction shifters (bar ends most likely) for the front. You should not have any prob...
Is there any rule of thumb for comparing lights rated in lux and lumens? Currently, I'm using a front light rated at 35 lux on my bike. This is just about bright enough for my riding, but I'd like something a bit brighter. However, most of the lights which might be brighter are rated in lumens, rather than lux. I'...	Instead of trying to compare the brightness of your current light, I recommend visiting this great light comparison site (which originally started from some posts on our blog): https://www.bikelightdatabase.com/ I don't think you're going to be able to do any reasonable conversion, since lux without a distance is meani...
Are fatbikes capable riding in mud? Fatbikes are traditionally used for sand and snow which are surfaces which are loose and liable to break away under the weight of the bike and rider. They are also materials that don't generally stick to the tyre. A muddy surface such as a peaty or poor-condition dirt track after r...	If the mud is viscous like clay and maybe leaves mixed and a fat tire can float and still get traction then the bigger tire is better. I have raced downhill for several years on the east coast of the US which is notorious for being muddy races.
Is it safe to mount fender stays and disc brakes on the same bolt? I bought these fenders recently: The rear fender works fine — there are enough mount points to support my brake, kickstand, rack, and fender. But when the salesperson sold me the fenders, we both failed to realize that my bike's front brake uses ...	I'm not sure it would work in this case, but you can get brake nuts with a thread inside the cap. P-Clips are cheap and will allow you to mount the fender on the fork.
Burping v/s bleeding hydraulic disc brakes: is it safe? I found a method for burping (get the air out of the circuit) hydraulic disc brakes in YouTube (see here ). The method is: 1) Rotate/move the hand lever assembly until the reservoir cap is facing up and at level. 2) Take off the reservoir cap. 3) Slowly s...	If you have a leak that has introduced air, this may not help any. This is a quick fix, having brakes is safer than not having brakes, but I would not use this as an alternative to properly bleeding brakes, you're not guaranteed to get all the air out. You won't replace the crush bolts and other pieces swapped at the t...
Are road bike seats interchangeable? I am a beginner to riding on road bikes. A friend has lent me his road bike (Giant) for about 1 month and I want to use it as much as possible before I think about buying my own. The current seat is absolutely killing me though (I have padded bike shorts already) so I'm thinking o...	A couple of things to be aware of: Seatposts come in a bizarre array of diameters, so the odds of a seatpost from one bike fitting another is not great.
Removing spray paint to reveal frame's factory paint job I have a frame that I'd like to sell. To avoid it being stolen, I covered it in tape and spray paint. I rode it for 5 years in London and this worked very successfully. However, I'd like to make it look nice again. The original glossy paintwork seems to be well ...	I used a rag and did kind of a two step process of doing small sections and using a clean rag for the second pass to take away the residual offending spray paint. If you spray painted directly onto the original finish and that paint has stayed in place for 5 years, it's not coming off without removing at least most of ...
Why are wheels so important for racing? I hear/read everywhere that if you can spend some extra money on the bike, buy better wheels. can someone explain for me why? Is it because they are rotating or are there other comfort factors?thanks <Q> Wheels and tires are the interface between the bike and the road; and are th...	While reducing a wheel rim's mass does give you very slight advantage during accelerations (it has no impact on steady state riding), improving the wheel's aerodynamics is by far more important. Factors other than aerodynamics and weight include: strength
How to decelerate effectively with a rear brake? My front brake is not operational and it will be a couple of days before the replacement Shimano Deore arrives. There are probably other use cases for braking with a rear brake. For example, pad glazing or boiling fluid due to excessive use of front brake downhill. Or s...	Riding with a rear brake only is a good way to wear out brake pads, rotors, and tires. The first thing you need to recognize is that you literally have less than half of your original stopping power .
Which is the safest side to place a foldable rack-attaching bike basket? I recently received a foldable bike basket which attaches to my back rack as a gift, which I am really excited about - it will make my commute a lot easier. However, I am not sure which side of the bike to attach it to. It seems like putting it ...	On the other hand, it can sometimes be tricky to install bags on the right because they can interfere with the loop of derailleur cable. The only other mechanical consideration that hasn't been mentioned is that the rear wheel is built asymetrically, with spokes on the left angled out further than spokes on the right. ...
Can I use Kerosene for lubing the cogs and the chain I recently went to a bike mechanic and he dropped some kerosene on the cog and chain for lubing them. He said that it keeps the dirt off and is quite volatile so will evaporate after sometime leaving some part behind which acts as a good lube. He said that he knows t...	Pouring a liquid kerosene on a chain is not going to leave much if any waxy lubricant behind. Kerosene is technically a paraffin which comes from the greek word wax.
Advice on Folding Bicycle I am planning to buy a folding bicycle (brand doesn't matter). Intent is commuting to work inside the city (5-6 kms one side run). Reason for folding bicycle is space constraint in my apartment. I never rode a folding bicycle before I am curious to know how different it is from normal bikes ri...	A folding bike just does ride as well and is not as efficient. Because the wheels are smaller and the spokes smaller, the ride will be rougher. As far as maintenance goes there is very little difference. Brand does matter - some of the high end ride nicely and some low end ride badly.
How to carry a MTB on one's backpack? Sometimes I want to ascend a steep (say, 50%) slope, where is impossible to ride and awkward to push/pull the bike. I tried various ways of carrying the bike: Lifting it just 10 cm above the ground - good for very short sections Lifting it with one hand to shoulder height - goo...	What I've found that works best is: go to the non drive side of the bike Practice lashing the bike to the pack until you get something balanced.
Shimano Sora 9-speed shifters "missing a speed" First time posting, hope I can get some suggestions on this weird issue I've noticed with my shifting. I have a fairly decent understanding of how to maintain gears myself, and have made quite a few attempts at trouble shooting this, so unless I've missed something it see...	For the benefit of anyone who's come across this with the same issue: As you both suggested, a bent derailleur hanger was indeed the problem, and bending it back out with a spanner and re-indexing resolved the issue (although shifting isn't quite perfect).
best ride to burn tummy fat what type of ride should I choose? I own kross k10 bike. Currently I am doing 7.7 km lap with combination of slow-fast-slow (40%-20%-40%) of total path. Am I doing it correct? <Q> You can't really burn "tummy fat." <S> You can lose bodyfat, but it goes away in the reverse order that you...	Your body has an order that it will store fat in and it will lose fat in the reverse order. If you want to lose tummy fat, the best bike ride is the one that burns the most calories, since (provided you don't eat to make up for the lost energy) Without measurement, it is certainly possible to convince yourself that not...
Is it necessary to buy a special tool to open the chain lock I've installed a chain lock to my chain. It looks like this (mine is not KMC): Now I need to unlink the chain to clean it, but I can't do it: the lock is too tight. I found a special tool on ebay to open such locks: http://www.ebay.com/itm/KMC-Missing-Lin...	It is possible to open them with some needle nose pliers but is much easier with a missing link removal tool Sometimes the link is damaged or faulty, and won't easily open.
What do I do if my bike won't pump with an air pump at all? My bike tires will not pump up at all. I tried forever. I had this bike for a year and then it won't pump at all. I have a pump you stand on and use your 2 hands to pump. At first it was pumping air a little but now I it's not pumping. What do I do I'm confuse...	With either Presta or Schrader you can have a problem with the pump if you do not press the pump chuck all the way onto the valve.
Indoor bicycle tray to preclude the rug from getting wet When I take my bicycle indoors, and there's snow, ice, etc on it, the snow melts and the water runs onto the floor. Long-term water damage to rugs is an issue, and I don't want to leave the bicycle outside, due to fear of it being stolen. Are there any trays or ...	Use the box edges up against a wall to prevent splatter. An example would be this " Giant Plus Garden Tray " which at 120cm x 55cm should be big enough to place a bike on.
What is the meaning of 11-32 cassette and 12-25 cassette? I'm willing to buy a 2015 Shimano 105 groupset and i have got 2 options in choosing the cassette, the first is 11-32 and the other is 12-25. I have no idea what these numbers indicate and which one would be more suitable for me knowing that i'am still a beginne...	Numbers denote number of teeth on smallest cog i.e. 11-32 has smallest cog with 11 teeth, and largest with 32 teeth. The number of chainrings, and the number of teeth on each chainring, will also affect the gear range and smoothness.
Removing key from kryptonite lock I can't remove the key, or open, my brand new Kryptonite lock. I can twiddle the key with about 60 degrees of movement from current position; and have attempted every movement I can think of. Have tried putting a drop of lubricant in to see if it would help. Any advice? UPDATE: wa...	you might want to get a hammer and try to tap it-the key or the lock- just to see if it'll help.
Which winter road cycling shoes are rated for sub-15° F weather? Most of the road shoes I've found only seem to be rated to around 25° or so. Living in New England I'd like something colder. Does anyone know of road shoes rated for colder temps? (They'll be used for commuting and weekend road rides) Update: I have n...	If you can't stay warm with normal socks and booties / chem packs, you may need to look at purchasing a set of winter shoes with extra room for thicker socks. Check out the 45Nrth Wolvhammer
How long between spoke adjustments on a mountain bike? I have a mountain bike that's now about 18 months old. At the 12 month mark I took it for its first annual service. Since then there's been a problem with the front wheel coming out of alignment. I've had the wheel re-trued a couple of times since the service now,...	The rim should have a maximum spoke tension rating and the closer you can get the wheel to that the stronger and more stable the build will be.
Problem with inside of shoe clipping crank arm Crankset Shimano FC-S125, 105 Golden Arrow and I know I'm using the right bottom bracket (119mm) The pedals Shimano Clipless SPD M505 My shoes Broken link, please fix I've got a problem with my shoe scuffing the crank arm when I turn. Potential issues I'm usi...	In this case a more neutral cleat position (inboard vs outboard) or longer pedal axel may solve the problem.
No non-sus 29er mtbs? So I sat down and said "what kind of a bike do I want?". I ride mostly in the city, but I wanted something that I could take out to the trails. I don't do anything crazy... maybe a 2' drop at the most. Since I'm looking at bikes in the 1-1.5k price range, full-sus bikes are absolutely out. It see...	Surly ships some of their complete bikes such as the Ogre as rigid 29'ers (the Karate Monkey can also take gears). Finally, yet another option: Get 2 bikes (something cheap and not likely to be stolen for city use, one for trail use).
Converting my old mountain bike to a cyclocross I have a 1992 Bridgestone MB-4 that I am converting to a cyclocross bike. It is a 3 x 7 (21 gears). I am going to put down bars on it and to change the older over shifters and brake levers. As it is an old bike, I am looking to keep the cost down on parts. Does anyone...	At first I put really cheap friction shifters on the ends of the bars, worked well for 7 bucks or so.
What to do with the white plastic tube in Dahon city vybe c7a? Just got a Dahon city vybe c7a: It has a white plastic tube at the bottom, what should I do with it? It seems to prevent the seat pole from sliding down. <Q> The seat clamp prevents the seat from sliding down. <S> Not a plastic tube of any kind. <S> My ...	When you lower the seat all the way down for folding it up, the bottom of the seat tube will rest on the ground. You can safely throw it away, or ....
Disc brakes better for rainy days? Are disc brakes more effective on rainy weather? I had a close call riding my road bike during a morning rain and almost collided with a parked car. My road bike is steel and has tektro branded caliper brakes. Should I get a disc brake commuter bike? <Q> Disc brakes are generally more...	My commuter bike has discs (Avid BB5) - and the braking in the wet is significantly better - I also feel safer in that I know I can stop reliably in any conditions.
What is the cause of "speed wobbles"? Update As mentioned, The speed wobbles were symptomatic of a harmonic interaction. The wobbles have not returned after adjusting the weight distribution on the bike. Recently encountered speed wobbles going down a bridge at 40 mph. I am interested in understanding what trigge...	Given your mention of uneven tension - it could be this with the combination of speed and rider could introduce deformations in the wheel as it spins. I wouldn't expect uneven spoke tension to cause it, unless you have multiple spokes with near zero tension.
How do I make my frame water tight? I am trying to remove the rust from inside my steel frame. There are, however, a few small holes in various places along the frame. Any tips on how I can make these water tight so that I can fill it with vaporust and leave it overnight? <Q> Don't make your frame water tight. <S> That...	Start blocking all the holes you find with small portions of ducktape till you find all holes. Even if you never ride in the rain, condensation of water vapor alone will allow liquid water to accumulate inside the frame.
Bike lights with beam cut-off to avoid dazzling drivers? Are there any bike headlights available that have a cut-off similar to a car's low beams, designed to avoid glare for other drivers? I am using the Light in Motion Urban 400 and while it's plenty bright, it blinds oncoming drivers if aimed normally. In traffic ...	In Germany, all bicycle lights above a certain lumen value have to have a low beam feature, so it's pretty standard here. I have actually dramatically improved the cutoff on my 1200 lumen dual LED (just for reference) with a sort of brim made out of aluminium plate. On pitch dark bike paths I do change the angle a litt...
Hamstring pain while cycling I am getting serious pain in my hamstrings for the past couple of months while cycling. I warm up before I get on the bike and once I go back the road a bit the pain starts in both hamstrings. I got physio on lower back, a bike fit, foam rolls every night still no good. If I stand up while ...	Unless the saddle is exactly the same model, it may sit higher or lower than the one previous and cause discomfort when riding.
Why is this guy blocking the rear wheel? In this video the guy has clearly blocked his rear brake, as we can see the rear wheel is not rolling, but sliding. In this particular context, what has been his intent? Could have he done it for stopping, control/steering, look-cool-move? <Q> No reason at all. <S> NWD10 is ...	Between the uneven surfacing and the loose dusty dirt, I'd say this was purposeful use of the rear brake for control . You don't see purposeless skidding like that in today's MTB movies nor do you see it in real life MTB riding.
Is it safe to ride a steel bike with a dented/buckled frame? I just noticed, to my great sadness, a small-ish buckle/dent in my diagonal lower tube. (I'm riding a Cooper T200 single speed .) I just moved house; I hope I didn't do it. I probably did. It's about half way up and looks like it's been bent against somethi...	Dents in frames cause what is called a stress concentration point. If it's closer than 10cm from a join then I would get a shop to look at it.
Can I install caliper or cantilever brakes on a frame and set of wheels designed for disc brakes? I have a 2008 Giant XTC 01 that came with disc brakes. Those brakes have been difficult to service throughout my time with the bike, now the pads on the back are worn out the fluid lines on the front has ruptured. As such,...	If you like the bike otherwise, upgrading the brakes to a newer model might help a lot. Also your frame and fork do not have mounts for rim brakes. It is money and weight for the rim surface to accept a rim brake.
Unlock cleat from clipless pedal I bought this week my first clipless pedals ( Shimano A530 ) as well as some shoes to go with it. After installing one cleat on one shoe, I "locked" the shoe on the pedal, but I do not manage to "unlock". The problem is that I did not tighten enough the cleat to the shoe (thinking that ...	Then simply twist the shoe in the normal unlocking direction until it disengages from the pedal.
How to align a chain on a single speed My bicycle currently has poor chainring/rear sprocket alignment (as in the chain at the front is more than a chain's width from the chain at the rear). I'm wondering what the procedure is to correct this alignment, because currently riding the bike damages the chain. (I have alrea...	To get the spacers adjustment correct, I use a table provided by Surly: surlybikes.com/files/SS_Spacer_Kit.pdf . Based on my experience, determining the chainline based on specifications of the components (BB and Crankset) and a simple math calculation is the best approach.
How to thank motorists? Often motorist do something that makes me wish they had stayed at home, but they also frequently do nice things too. Like slowing down to let me in to the lane, or making sure that they overtake with plenty of room etc... Is there an unambiguous gesture that means "thank you"? I don't want to...	I guess there isn't a universal sign for thank you, but in most cultures I think a wave of the hand (more of a raise the hand and show the palm slightly) with a courteous smile or nod would do the trick.
What type of shoes should I get with regular pedals I have never been more than a casual rider, maybe 5 miles at a time. I signed up for a 500 mile multi-day bike event that i need to train for and was thinking about getting real bike shoes due to more energy transfer to the pedals. I just have regular simple platform ...	But if you're just trying to be fast and/or comfortable, you should be just fine with regular shoes on flat pedals.
What can I do about a cracked frame? I noticed the other day that my frame has a crack in it! I believe that it's my seat post causing the problem. A couple of questions really, a) how serious is this? and b) can it be repaired? Edit: I've added a picture of the height of the seat-post to give some extra context on w...	That old frame is not really worth a professional repair. Its a welding job - so the frame could be resprayed and Dawes decals reapplied. If the end of the post is in the middle of the crack then look for a longer post. If that was an aluminum frame I would tell you to throw it away.
How to seamlessly upload to Strava after a ride using a Garmin Edge 500? I have a Garmin Edge 500. Records everything I need, but the pain is uploading and managing the data into Strava. I just want to walk in from my ride, have a shower, have breakfast and see my ride stats straight away in my iPad or PC. In other wo...	Garmin Connect Edge 1000 has Wi-Fi which can auto-upload to Connect - and subsequently to Strava. There are lots of different devices on the market, but a quick look on Strava's own store has highlighted the Wahoo RFLKT which connects to your smart phone.
Special hub requirements for an 11-speed group In a question earlier today ( Changing cassette from 8 to 10 or 11 to meet the Shimano 105 5800 groupset ) the Op asserts that they would need to change their hub, if they wanted to go from a 10- to 11- speed cassette. I'm not very clued up on 11-speed systems, was wonder...	So yes, you need a new, wider freehub body, unless your old one was not very old and used a spacer to fit a 10-speed cassette. We found a simple way to modify 11 speed cassettes (105' Ultegra, Force, Rival) to fit 9-10 speed hubs.
Are flip saddle posts available When trying out the baby seat on my wife's e-bike, it was really easy to fit and remove because her saddle flips up to access the battery. It's a real pain threading the baby seat over the top of my pannier(s) and under the saddle to fit it on my bike. FWIW the baby seat is a hamax sie...	No, there are no saddles that flip up. For over $100US, you could get a "dropper" seatpost (intended for mountain biking) and set one of the lower positions to be the comfortable one.
Bike is slightly too large, shorten the stem? I feel that my bike frame is slightly too large because I'm stretching out quite a bit even when on the hoods. I'm considering swapping out my 90mm stem for a 35mm or 40mm stem It seems like these aren't designed for road bikes, but would they still be okay to use consid...	I don't suggest there's any great technical issue here, but just be aware that a small change in length can make a big difference in terms of the feel of the bike.
Road bike frame for offroad/cx wheels I'll be moving in the near future from a wide open rural area with open, expansive country roads to a more suburban area with traffic issues but a few offroad trails available for riding. My question -- and probably a silly one -- is: is it at all recommended to outfit a separate s...	Depends on the trails and the type of riding and how big of tires you can put on the road bike. As for mud just don't ride mud.
Is the Park Tool Allen Wrench going to strip out bolts? I am fed up with cheap allen keys. I've bought a few from local hardware stores, but a 5mm is usually way off, and I end up rounding off the key, or the bolt. I've thought about buying this parks allen key: http://www.amazon.com/Park-Tool-Allen-Wrench-4-5mm/dp/...	As others have mentioned, high quality L-shaped Allen wrenches will often have a rounded head at one end, which makes it easier to get at bolts from an angle.
Why no wheels with rope instead of spokes? Spokes in a wheel are (shall) be loaded always in tension. Seems like a simple rope of steel strings would do. Furthermore, uneven spoke tension can lead to lots of problems (among which loose spokes, broken spokes, cracked rim holes). A single strand of thread, passing throu...	So you're at an impasse: either the fibers move and wear out prematurely (and perhaps lead to collapse of the wheel even sooner because of unstable geometry), or the fibers in fact do not move and you have the same tensioning concerns as with conventional wheels. You could argue that some carbon fibre disk wheels meet ...
Front wheel requires weight for traction: is this applicable to icy conditions? How is cornering on the road different than cornering on dirt? Is cornering in snow any different? I usually attempt to keep at least half my weight on the front wheel for stability when cornering and braking. However, with all the ice ...	If you are encountering tire slips in cornering, studs are probably the way to go (or much more conservative riding). The real issue with ice is that it has a very low coefficient of friction, and weight distribution won't change that enough to make a difference.
Clothing: when should we wear what, are there any guidelines/conventions? I regularly cycle to work in London, at the moment the weather is between 5-9 degrees Celsius. I'm finding it difficult to decide what to wear in these conditions as I either get too much windchill (when I don't wear leggings) or sweat too much t...	My personal preference is to accept that you're going to get wet, but to concentrate on wearing clothing that will dry quickly once the rain stops. Pro-teams wear high performance race garments. Throat and the joints like fingers, knees - get high insulation via scarf, gloves, soft kneepads. I decide what to wear by wh...
Can a 7 speed Derailleur work on a 8 speed cassette Can a 7 speed Derailleur work on a 8 speed cassette I have a extra 8 speed shifters? and a wheel that has a 8 speed cassette. <Q> 8 speed shifter and cassette, 7 speed derailleur? <S> You'll be fine. <S> There's no "probably" about it. <S> The only time you'd hit a ...	Depends somewhat on whether the shifter is compatible with the derailleur (Shimano 8-speed shifters generally will work okay with 7-speed derailleurs, but you can't usually do a Gripshift with a Shimano derailleur, to name a couple of examples.) 6-, 7- and 8-speed gear is all cross-compatible in terms of chain width.
I sit real far back on my saddle Asked this on diaspora, but was urged to come here, so, here's my question: I tend to slide BACK on my saddle really far, to the point where my sit bones are very near to the edge. If I try to scoot forward, it's markedly more uncomfortable for the soft tissues and the angle of my legs...	If your saddle is too low, you may be compensating by rolling back on the seat as you pedal. I believe that bicycle seat comfort is more about adjusting your expectations for your style of riding than an objective measure of comfort. The goal of having the seat in the right position for you is to allow your legs to can...
When truing a wheel, is it enough to only use a tension meter, and not a truing stand? I presume that if you get all spoke tensions equal, and at the recommended tension for the spoke thickness, then the wheel will be true. My intention is to get a wheel reasonably true (laterally) by seeing where it rubs against the b...	A wheel could theoretically be trued by tension alone if you started with a perfectly manufactured rim, hub, spokes and nipples and you were building a perfectly symmetric wheel. Your initial presumption is incorrect.
SRAM xx1 1 x 11 drive train very noisy I have a 1 x 11 drivetrain setup on my mountain bike. This is stock from the factory, it wasn't a conversion. When I'm in the low gear climbing, there is a lot of chain/derailleur noise. It gets more noticeable when the drive is under more tension. Being in the low gear, the cha...	Another possibility is the chain gap is not properly set. The rear derailleur is maladjusted and is hitting the cassette/freewheel when it's in the lowest gear. The SRAM 1X11 cassettes rivets can start to make noise under tension.
Can't shift to gear one or two I had an issue where every time I put my bike in gear 3, it would just keep "skipping". By this I mean that it wouldn't stay in gear 3; the chain would go onto it, then fall onto gear 4, then go back onto it, then back on 4. Some Googling showed me that I might need to adjust the rear de...	Chain and housing sometimes need some expert to check. If you were able to shift into all of the gears prior to your adjustments then it would make sense that you need to readjust.
Air Pressure on wheels Does the perfect air pressure is related to the performance of bikes? If yes, what is the exact amount of pressure required on MTB, Hybrid, City Bikes and BMX? <Q> The optimum pressure for any kind of bike is going to depend on a lot more factors than just the type of bike. <S> You have to look a...	The tyre pressure adjustments can depend on: wheel size - smaller wheels need higher pressure because the overall volume of tyres and their contact patch is smaller thus You may have to choose basing on your experience and requirements what you prefer.
How are these plastic rings used on my Shimano disk brake mount adapter? I boughtt a Shimano SM-MA-R160 Disc Brake Mount Adaptor for my bike. It came with these black plastic things in the lower right corner of the photo below. I have a bunch and don't know what are they used for: What are those plastic thingies ca...	The grooves on the ring line up with grooves on the bolt head and encourage it to keep from rattling loose.
Preventing red eyes after biking When biking, my eyes get red. Guessing due to dryness. Usually, people wear sunglasses or glasses to block out the wind. Wearing them didn't help. Still red. Maybe more red if I wasn't wearing them. This was at nighttime. It was cold. What suggestions do you have to prevent this probl...	Several solutions: Clear cycling glasses (which you've tried) A helmet with a windscreen / windshield / visor that'll help keep the wind and the light from streetlamps and cars out of your eyes Saline or "liquid tears" eyedrops (helps with dry eyes, in the "Eye Care" section of your pharmacy) Liquid tears with a vasoco...
Face gets extremely red when biking in the cold ~5c, and then going indoors, due to temperature change maybe Face gets extremely red when biking in the cold ~5c, and then going indoors, due to temperature change maybe. What can you wear when biking to prevent this problem, and could you link to a site? Thanks a lot. <...	Wear goggles or safety glasses to protect your eyes from the cold wind. If you have generated a lot of heat cycling, then go indoors, you may also feel extra warm now that you have a lot of generated heat, are dressed for cold weather and in a warm room.
What kind of brake pads for Dia Compe centre pull brakes I have some Dia Compe center pull brakes shown below. I was wondering what the best type of brake pads are to use for these brakes. Looking around at pictures on the internet, many people use standard road caliper pads, while others use old style pads rectangul...	Back when those were The Brake, the pad to use was the Scott Mathauser pad.
Does a Sturmey Archer 2 speed kick shift hub let you backpedal? Does a Sturmey Archer 2 speed kick shift hub let you backpedal? A backpedal / coaster brake changes riding technique so much it drives me nuts; I am wondering if you can backpedal at least enough to reposition your pedals for starting (or while doing a tr...	I have just fitted a type S2, without the coaster brake, to an ebike/pedelec conversion of a single speed folding bike so that I can ride pedal-assisted with a lower cadence once I'm 'up to speed'.
Steel rims responsible for slicing tubes? I have an old Giant dutch bike and it has steel rims. Since I'm a big boy I felt that the 60PSI on the tyres is not enough and pumped my tyres to the maximum of 85PSI which is what my Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres were supposed to be able to take in. It was great, riding was so ...	If that's the case, there was probably nothing wrong with the tyres, tubes or rims per se , but circumstances conspired against you. There are a great many possibilities, your rim strips could have gone bad and rotted away, leaving your nipples or spokes exposed. Take the tube out, keep it relative to the tire and find...
After fall bicycle feels really slippery I fell pretty bad this winter, and after that (even now without a trace of snow where I live) I feel the bike really slippery, mostly the front wheel. Riding on slightly uneven surfaces makes me feel I'm going to slide to the side, and side wind also feels I'm losing control of ...	Any lose bearings or quick releases will make the bike handle badly. Check that your fork isn't damaged, handlebars are aligned, and that your wheels are true, but otherwise just keep riding and rebuild your confidence. As for your bike, take it to a good bike shop and tell them what's happening and tell them to check ...
Shifter Options for 105 3x9 upgrade I am in the process of upgrading my road bike from 3x9 Sora FD/Tiagra RD with Sora shifters to 3x9 105 FD/RD. Any suggestions on shifter upgrades? Derailleurs have been replaced, have new SRAM 9spd cassette and chain, all work OK, but would like different shifters to finish improv...	All newer 105/Ultegra/Dura-Ace are 11 speed, so they would not be compatible with your 9 speed derailleur. So, in short, if you're sticking with 9 speed, don't bother -- you'll just pay more for a different sticker on the shifters. I believe you'll have to find some old ST-5500 levers if you want 9 speed 105.
Getting local businesses to install bicycle parking I live in the far southern community of Nashville, Tn. If any of you know Nashville, it is very late to the bicycling movement. They have some good efforts currently but they are focused in the high rent downtown areas and super cool East-Nashville. The fact is cycl...	Another idea is to contact bike advocacy groups in nearby towns and ask them their strategies.
What would be the best gearing for mountain climbing? I'm 59, 5'11", 210,and have had a triple bypass. I moved from the flats to the hills, and I want to ride again, but I can't with the gearing I have now. 50/34 chain ring and an 11 speed 10-25 cassette. These hills are really steep, I'm talking "Climb to Kaiser" stee...	You could, go to a single on the front (50) and 10-42 on the back using your existing dérailleur (Roughly same as 34F/29R), or drop to a smaller chain ring for lower gearing. If your frame and bottom bracket allow it, you could install a mountain bike crank with 42/28 chainrings (maybe Shimano XT). Go to a handy gear c...
Shifting 1>2 does nothing, shifting 2>3 puts me into 2nd. What's wrong? I'll be in first gear on my front derailleur, and shift up to 2nd. Nothing will happen at all. Then I'll shift up to 3rd, and I'll finally switch into second. 3rd gear is inaccessible. What could be the cause of this issue? Cable too slack? Limit ...	Undo the cable clamp on the derailleur until the cable can be pulled through (be careful to note how the cable runs through the clamped), Wind the barrel adjuster all the way in then back out a couple of turns Put some tension on the cable using some pliers (but don't crush it too much), and re-tighten the clamp. Shift...
inferior/weaker rims vs superior/stronger rims with an underweight cyclist I want to ask a physics-related question, I'm a male, 162cm, height 50kg/110lbs (I'm healthy, but too light!). Right now I'm building a Surly Cross Check and I'm confused what wheels I should purchase. So I have two options: Alex DM18 (cheap) ...	the wheel is built well and maintained, the cheaper rim will stay true (its the spokes that keep the rim true, not the rim). As for the primary question - yes if you are lighter you put less stress on the wheels.
Why should I prioritize top tube length over stand over height on a CX bike? I purchased a 50cm CX style bike from an online retailer. After assembling the bike and filling the tires, I found only had around 1" of stand over in bike shorts. Since I will be commuting on the bike and using it for transportation around ...	Therefore, in fitting a cyclocross bike you should expect a tighter stand over fit than other styles of bike. Most people who get comfortable riding a bike will naturally lean it over when dismounting and starting, which lowers the effective stand over. Rarely does anyone stand over the the top tube with be bike perpen...
9-speed system to 11-speed drivetrain upgrade? I am currently upgrading my bike from a 9 speed to an 11 speed system. I am currently using shimano 105 components and will continue to use them within the new system. Current bike has a shimano 105 rear derailleur but does not specify if it is unique to a 9 speed system...	You'll need to change the chainwheels and the cranks, the rear derailleur, the brake-shift levers, the cassette and the chain of course. Reading between the lines, the cable pulls from 9spd to 11spd are probably close enough, but the derailleur ratios are significantly different.
Persistent front wheel squealing: Replace the fork? Switch to disk? I have a Cannondale touring bike from the early 2000s that I use as my daily commuter. With the stock cantilever brakes and original front wheel, I had a lot of front brake squealing. I did the standard maintenance to try and make it stop (toeing, sa...	For me, switching to Kool Stop brake pads has worked even better than toeing in when in resolving this type of vibration. I'm not surprised that replacing the front wheel didn't affect the problem since it's not likely to be the cause of the vibration.
How to evaluate used bicycle price? Hey I am about to buy a used bicycle and recently I got offer for Peugeot bicycle. We both do not know the price to agree on... The question is how to evaluate price of an used bicycle? (where to put the most focus) The bike: Age: around 10 years Gears (front and back): Shimano 1...	If you know the model and exact year Bicycle Blue Book is a good place to start. measure the weight of the bike with an electronic scale rock the handlebars gently to check for drag in the headset rock the rear derailleur sideways to check for play
Is my cassette or chain worn out? I bought this road bike as my first road bike in 2011. I have not changed the chain or any parts on it since then and I bike on it almost daily. It's been running great, but sometimes I have trouble changing gears and I feel like the issues are getting more frequent. I had a major acci...	If you continue to ride on a worn chain the problem is that you wear cassette and chain ring faster.
When is a wheel considered true? Generally speaking, how much runout can a bicycle wheel have and still be considered true? <Q> A perfectly true wheel, in the mechanical sense, may not be attainable. <S> Roundness and lateral runout are measurable to .001 millimeters using commonly available shop tools. <S> Most mechan...	If a rim is not perfectly true and round, more or less spoke tension can be used to pull it true and round. The standard for what "true" means varies by mechanic and the intended use of the wheel. But the constant here is that all the spokes should have exactly equal tension.
Tube puncture over spoke, but rim tape fine I have a puncture in my tube on a bump in the tube that coincides with a dip in the spoke hole, and am not sure if I need to replace the rim tape or not. I have seen numerous posts about spoke induced punctures recommending either new rim tape if broken or filing the spoke d...	It seems that the inner tube stretched (in my case) down into the rim and eventually punctured spontaneously. If one is sharp, use emery paper to remove the burr. You could inspect the existing cloth one, but then you would need to remove it to inspect the spoke ends.
New to bicycles; Bad setup, bad bike, or too heavy? I purchased a Schwinn Meridian adult tricycle hoping to have a flexible means of exercise. After giving it a close look, I tried it with disappointing results. When pedaling from a stop, the chain sems to click and skip, and I can't get a full rotation wihout this hap...	I'd loosen those bolts and try to slide the rear axle backwards to tighten up the chain. I would venture to say (and Blam confirmed with his link to the manual) that you have some excessive slack in that chain, and removing it would help.
Pain in the toes while cycling using clipless shoes I am not sure why I get a pain in my toes. After some 75 km of cycling, I don't find it right. The blood starts to clot in the tip of the toes. After I lift my legs while lying down, it gets alright. I am not new to cycling. I have done a lot of cycling but not much w...	Make sure the cleats are adjusted correctly.
Sun Tour Cyclone brake levers and brake cable housing I have a vintage road bike with Sun Tour Cyclone single-pivot calipers, with Cyclone levers. I recently had the front brake cable housing "detach" from the brake lever. It appears to have a large 'ferrule'-type piece on the end of the housing. (what's the name of t...	On re-reading the question: It sounds as if your complaint may be that the ferrule on the end of the cable housing has slipped out of the hole on the end of the brake lever assembly (vs the cable inside coming loose from the moving lever).
Is it fine to clean bearings with gasoline? I've been searching all over the web about washing bearings with Gasoline (and other gas products like desiel and kerosene). I've found some mixed answers. Some say it's good some say it isn't.I want to remove dirt inside my bearings. (we don't have roads so it would always g...	The drawbacks of using gasoline are mainly due to its properties other than as a solvent: it's volatility, flammability, and that it is toxic, as it will harm your skin if exposed to it for long periods of time, and that it requires careful disposal. Pouring it on the ground can contaminate drinking water.
What are the good ways to maintain the bicycle while raining season? I have a bicycle. I ride it everyday because it was my primary vehicle. When I was going to campus or another places, I used it. Currently, the raining season is on my country. I would like to keep my bicycle healthy, for example case, preventing a b...	Proper fenders means: a front fender with a mud flap that reaches within a few centimeters of the road a rear fender that starts some centimeters below the chain stays, so that water dripping off does not end up on the chain The best way is not to ride your bike on rainy days at all.
How difficult is the switch from flat to drop bar? I've ridden with flat bars for more than 10 years, both freeride and commuting. Now I'm considering switching to a road bike with a drop bar for commuting. I went to a shop and tried a couple of such bikes, and the feeling was awful: a very bent neck and lack of contr...	In my experience drop bars come into their own when you are going fast and/or into the wind, you will quickly realise that you can go faster - or use less effort for the same speed. When I first switched, I had to play around with my handlebar positions quite a bit (never got a 'pro' fit), but eventually found a comfy ...
Do I need to chase a thread before installing a bottom bracket on a new frame? Currently I'm building a new Surly Cross Check, and it needs a 68mm BB (english threaded). Furthermore, I plan to use a cheap $15 shimano BB with JIS square tapered interface, nothing special. Do I need to bring my frame to a LBS and ask t...	If you can't get the free cup all the way in without using tools, then I would have the threads chased out.

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