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Is it possible to remove wheel without loosening the (V) brakes I have a mountain bike with V-brakes and every time I get a puncture and need to remove the wheel to replace the inner tube, I have to use a hex/Allen key to loosen the brakes, otherwise I can't pull the wheel out. Is there a way to loosen the brake arms ... | A properly tuned V-Brake system, assembled with proper, compatible components should let you disengage the quick release by just pressing the brake arms together with one hand and wiggling the noodle out. Alternative to the other suggestions, repair tube while the wheel is in place, with the break and all.
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Force open a U-lock I have a kryptonite key opening u-lock, opening the lock had recently bocome stiff. But now the bike is locked outside and I can't turn the key the whole 180 degrees, only 90 degrees. It won't open. I've tried lubricating it and re aligning the discs. What's the easiest/ cheapest way of forcing it... | Before destroying the u-lock, see if tapping it with a pipe or hammer in various spots while jiggling the key does the trick. If it's good and seized up, time to cut through it with an angle grinder. If you don't already have an angle grinder, Ryobi has some very inexpensive models.
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bike grease got on my wall. best way to get it off? white paint on drywall. black bike grease. whoops. what are you tips and tricks for getting it off the wall/paint <Q> Probably best to start with something mild and work to more harsh until you find something that works. <S> It's probably also best to test in a non-... | Window cleaner works like a combo of mild soap and alcohol solution – very effective against grease. If you do go too deep you can always do a little retouching (if you have matching paint)
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How to fix a sluggish bike? I just bought a used mountain bike, and it seems to be slow. Pedaling seems like very hard work, and at a normal casual pedaling rate, I can only reach 4-5mph. If I pedal like I'm being chased by a lion I can get up to 10-11mph for a few seconds. For reference, I can run a 6-minute mile, s... | Some times you have the tire rubbing on the brake. A cheap bike in need of a lot of maintenance is typically not a good value.
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Is the plastic piece between the seven gear sprocket and the spokes hard to replace, and how? I was given a 21 gear mountain bike as payment for some work I did for a neighbor which had been in his backyard for about a year. Though it cleaned up very well there is one part I would love to replace: On the back rim, ther... | If the derailleur stays adjusted then you could remove the spoke guard rather than replace it.
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Does riding a cyclo cross bike carry a large aerodynamic penalty when compared to a road bike? During club rides I find myself getting dropped by riders with the same weight and power but the main difference is that they are riding road bikes and I am on a cyclo cross bike (with road tyres and wheels). Is it my posit... | If you have this problem in a sidewind it might be your position on the crossbike is too upright. You should be able to stick with the group, but you will need to be spinning faster than you might be comfortable with.
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How does increased upper-body strength affect riding, and which muscles make the biggest difference? I am a college student, in Air Force ROTC, and I bike for 1.5-3.5 hours a day. My cardio and core strength are great, but I haven't found the motivation to build my upper body. I'm a skinny build, so it will take some... | Riding BMX is also great for upper-body fitness. Keeping the front end straight and using your arms like shock absorbers as much as your legs will eventually take it's toll. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is the increased pedalling torque with stronger rowing muscles. Muscle bulk is not synonymous with muscle... |
Are all side-pull road bicycle brakes compatible? I'm new to road bikes, but have been building mountain bikes for many years. I purchased a cheap road bike (at BSO price level) which I am upgrading for fun. I'd like to upgrade the brakes to something quality, as the brakes it came with barely slow me down. It has som... | Probably if you have a newish bike, then any new brakes you buy will be of the same dimension as new brakes.
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Why are spoke nipples called nipples? Does anyone know the etymology of the term 'spoke nipple'? The wiki page on Spoke Nipple and even google doesn't have the answer. Are there other threaded mechanical screws that are more like 'nipples'? Or did the end of spoked wheels at one point resemble nipples (say, for wo... | I would guess that the etymology is by analogy – the closest existing hardware to a spoke nipple was/is a pipe nipple so that when wheel makers started looking for a name for the little thing with the threads that tensions the spokes someone thought that they looked a bit like tiny pipe nipples and the name stuck.
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Trouble Removing bottom bracket. Is it my Tool? I'm having trouble removing my bottom bracket. I'm using quite a bit of force as far as I can tell. But neither side is budging. The bike is a 2011, and I've never removed the bottom bracket, but it's all aluminum, so I doubt the problem is with rust. It's quite diffic... | I tried holding the wrench as I turned it, and that let me put a little more force into it, but it still didn't work as well as it should. I think I'm going to buy a different tool that lets me get in closer to the bottom bracket as that was definitely the problem on the non drive side.
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How to repaint a Carbon bike frame? I have recently purchased a Specialized Roubaix SL4 Elite Disc carbon frame bicycle - But I am not particularly happy with the colour. It is charcoal and white. I like to have a brighter colour.Is there a way to repaint a carbon frame or at least change the white pin stripe to a brig... | You also can't do things like powder coating for the paint step, since you have to heat the frame to the point where the carbon fiber can be destroyed. Basically, you do a light (typically wet) sanding by hand ( very carefully), prime it with an appropriate primer (maybe a few times) and then paint over it with an appr... |
Are rusty disc brake pads a worry? I'm the fool who didn't wash the snow off his bike - it's a rusty mess. I've just taken apart the front disc brake as it was rubbing. I think that was more to do with the disc being bent, but as I was doing it, I found the disc brake pads (?) are pretty rusty. This is what they look ... | If you clean the pads with some brake cleaner and a brush and they just look rusty, it's not necessarily a problem provided your brakes are grippy and effective.
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Pedals hits the ground too often while turning at relatively high speed I’ve been riding for 40+ years of which the last 25 I’ve ridden Specialized.Around April last year I decided to replace my old bike with a brand new Sirrus Sport, on an XL frame. While I love the looks and riding it, I have a serious safety concern... | It's definitely possible that the bottom bracket height is lower than your previous bike and/or your crankarm length is longer. If you really want to continue to corner hard and fast you could ride hard in, drop the outside pedal, corner hard and then standup out of the corner and hammer on!
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What causes frames to break at the (rear) dropouts? The drive-side dropout and rear axle have broken twice. It's an old-style freewheel, not a freehub+cassette. (I weigh around 100kg, and ride a lot, and have been touring on hilly, gravel roads, with 15kg camping gear on the rack.) The bike is an old (20-25 yo) hybrid... | If the cone lock nuts on the axle are not set tight enough, it's possible (especially with a slightly bad or poorly lubricated bearing) for the (probably right) cone nut to be pulled tighter and tighter until either the bearing seizes or the axle snaps from the strain. My guess is that the rear hub is defective, or (at... |
Headset fully tightened, but fork still loose and wobbly I'm almost done assembling my new bike :) There is still one thing in the way though... See the headset in the picture? It was installed by a professional (or, at least a LBS owner) when I bought the frame. Kinda came preinstalled. After assembling the bike, I... | To make sure the stem is holding the fork in correctly, loosen the bolts that hold the stem to the steer tube of the fork. If you brake and feel movement, problem is for sure on the headset.
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Can a Sora 9 speed rear derailleur short cage support a 12-36 cassette single chain ring 56T? My 20 inch folder has a single chain ring of 56T and a 11-28T cassette, 9 speed Shimano sora 9 speed Rear Derailleur short cage . I want to change the cassette to 12-36T for some hill routes. Based on my understanding the Der... | While the Sora short cage derailleur should be able it can take up the chain slack, the top jockey wheel may not properly clear the 36 tooth sprocket. Generally, with a 36T, you want a long cage (Shimano SGS), such as a Deore rear derailleur.
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Kashima coat or not? I have some Fox Float 32 Evolution 140mm travel forks on my 2015 giant trance. I ride very aggressively and it's a bumpy ride down a lot of the tracks I do. Keep in mind I do technical tracks, over roots, drops etc.Today I rode a bike with 150mm pikes and I didn't feel a thing at all. I'm wondering... | Cheaper forks can feel OK but not in a wide range of conditions.
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Do I have to stop pedaling when shifting up the front chainring? If I keep pedaling when shifting up the front chainring, it would fail. Moreover, the chain keeps rubbing with the chainrings and produces many noises. Thus, I have to stop pedaling for around one second when shifting up. My bike comes with a 'Shimano So... | So I tell people to let all the power off of their pedals, but keep the cranks turning and don't step back into the pedals with any force until the chain has fully shifted. If you recently bought the bike from a shop then take it back for adjustment.
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Can I change from short to long derailleur to increase cog size I am have a tiagra 11-25 10 speed cassette with short cage. I am a poor climber and looking for extra gear; I would like to go 11-32 for this year until my climbing improves, will the short cage derailleur take a 32 teeth cog? If not what 10 speed deraill... | Try swapping the chain first to see if the new cassette work with the shorter derailleur arm, but you may find that the chain will be too long, sag, and rub on itself between the pulley cogs when you're riding on your smallest ring. If you really want to go up to 32T and stick with a road derailleur, it looks like you'... |
Hydraulic disc brakes - total friction as a function of rotor size I have a hydraulic disc road bike with a 160mm rotor on the front and a 140mm on the rear. The setup is exactly the same front to rear, except for rotor size. I'd like to know the disparity between the force I would have to apply at the brake lever for... | However, the larger disc is moving faster past the caliper, increasing the distance on which the friction acts and therefore braking power. But: Braking causes weight transfer - the rear wheel has a tendency to lift while the front carries more weight. Equal pressure will be fine for normal stops. There are some assump... |
What's causing this puncture? This puncture is on the inside face of the tube. One day I got a big piece of glass in my tire. I patched it up and then I got a puncture on the inside face of the tube. I patched that and then I got another puncture on the inside within a few blocks. I patched that and then I got a third ... | If you didn't already, you need to clear the inside of the tire of whatever debris is causing the flat, before replacing the tube.
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How to minimize damage from pitted cones? While working on a old 60's Raleigh I found that there is slight pitting on one of the cones on the front hub (rest of the hub is good). Ideally I would replace the damaged part and move one, but spare parts for these bikes are becoming difficult to find. While I did find a r... | from the picture, it looks like the cone is either (1) being installed incorrectly (pitting appears only on a particular side), (2) Over-loading or wrong handling, (3)less likely, but I will not rule-out, is that the cone is machined with defects: asymmetrical Until you can get replacement parts, pack it in plenty of g... |
How can I store my extra wheels on the wall efficiently, without hanging them by the rim? I have 5 pair of extra wheels, which I would like to store on the wall efficiently. I am a little skittish about storing them using the rim since some of them are carbon wheels and I don't want to risk scratches. Any suggestions?... | I imagine you could even use a short loop of rope to hold a couple of wheels. If you're supporting from below, assuming you are leaning them against the wall then you need either a shelf or 2 poles perpendicular the the wall.
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Is Ultegra 9 speed compatible with Sora 9 speed? I have a 1999 Specialized Allez Comp with original Ultegra 9 components (see description ). Things are starting to get old (e.g. right shifter doesn't work well). I think it is time to partially convert to Sora. But I have a few confirmation questions. Will Sora shift... | As others have said: Yes, 9 speed Shimano gear is all interchangeable. Brifters will work fine and the cassettes will work fine.
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Campagnolo Crank Compatibility 11 speed crank to 9 speed chain/deraillieur/shifters I need to replace my 9 Speed Campagnolo Racing T Crank with a new one which uses the power torque system. Is a 11 Speed Athena (or 10 speed Centaur) crank compatible with the racing t front dérailleur and the 9 speed Chorus shifters? ... | When you are using gear combos that involve the cross chaining on the small chainring, the extra width of 9 speed chain may catch on the larger chainring. The only difference between 9spd and 11 spd chain is the exterior width of the chain.
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Lycra and hybrid bicycle I just went for a 50 mile ride on my hybrid (1/3 on an unpaved trail, 2/3 on a paved trail), and I am curious regarding the outfit I'm wearing. Is it frowned upon to wear a skin tight (road bike style) cycling clothing while riding a hybrid? Would I benefit from a more baggy outfit? What's the... | If you don't like the looks of the tight shorts, there are baggy cargo shorts made for biking as well. All that matters is that you ride.
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Post race analysis of performance So I did my first bicycle race this weekend. The watts graph was very varied, there was a lot of low watt (150-200w) and short bursts of +400w. I would like to know how many bursts there where, and how long and what wattage they where on. Looking at the data in Strava I only see the ... | You could try looking at your ride through Veloviewer which offer a lot of very nice ways to dig into your data.
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Should the hands be used for absorbing the impact after a jump? I am trying to learn some very small jumps and bunny-hops. It seems that upon landing from either, there are two options. I am talking here only about the moment of the impact with ground, and not about manoeuvring pre-jump or in the air. Upon landing, o... | You use your arms and legs to adjust the bike to the landing (as the answer with the super-slow-mo video shows ) - getting front and back wheels to land at about the same time. Yes, riders do extend their hands and feet just before landing, but not to make the bike work more. You're better off using your front suspensi... |
Best way to mount a big backpack to rack? Title says it all. I have a 65L backpack and would like to mount it on bike rack so it's most convenient to ride with and doesn't catch much air friction. Currently I'm doing this (sorry for the bad photo quality (it was intended to describe something else) but you can basical... | I would pull some weight like bag / tent and strap it to the handle bar.
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How accurate is the 'calories burned' figure on my GPS device? I use the Garmin Edge 200 to record the route, distance and speed of my rides. It also gives me a prediction of the amount of calories I have burned on any particular ride. The only data I have given it is my weight. It must use the speed and elevation GP... | However, the only way to get really reliable calorie burn data from a bike computer Heart rate tells it what my actual level of effort is, so that should take wind and all those other variables into account. There are dozens of variables involved and no two people are the same, but the margin of error should be somewhe... |
Best kind of bicycle for lower back issues? I've ridden bikes all my life. Now nearing 50, for the past year or two I've noticed that when I ride over 20km or so, my lower back gets extremely painful - enough to make it not possible to ride. The bike is the same one I've already had, so it's not a bike-fit issue. ... | Try to find a place that rents bikes or will let you have an extended trial ride in order to determine if it would help fix your issues. So I would definitely recommend a professional bike fitting. Perhaps you're trying to be too quick on those short rides. There are multiple causes of back pain; it's the most common h... |
Rear cassette 'ticking' forward, making chain catch, what is the problem and how do I solve it? I have a Giant Rapid 4, bought in 2009. When freewheeling (i.e. rolling forward but not pedalling) on my bicycle, the chain catches. I had a look and I think this is because the rear cassette sometimes gets 'caught' slightl... | And you can wear out a hub - some parts are serviceable.
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Is having a disc brake on a single speed bicycle a bad idea? I talked to a bike shop that sells a lot of fixed/single speed bikes. I asked them if they could sell me a single speed with a disc brake on the front. The guys said no because: It will be hard to find a frame that supports that It is silly and not really ... | A disc brake kind of violates the whole minimalist single speed karma. Getting exactly what you want will likely cost a bit more, but that should befor you to decide if it is worth it. On road you are not going to find disc on cheaper bikes as disc is not the standard. Single Speed Swobo makes one, you can build a Surl... |
Grocery Shopping by bike, expanding my cargo options cheaply Can I take a shopping cart like say this one and safely attach it to a bike? I'd like to also take it into the store with me as well. <Q> I think you would be much better off converting an old kids trailer . <S> They can be found pretty cheap on Craigsli... | I go grocery shopping with my bike all the time, I put groceries in touring panniers mounted on a rear rack. There are trailers in a similar form factor, like the Burley Travoy (no recommendation, just the first I found), that are made for the purpose. Living without a car and having to get groceries for my family has ... |
Identify my Motobécane racing bike I bought a Motobécane last year (pics below), and now that the bottom bracket is broken, I really need to know the model of the bike, to help me change that piece. It would also be helpful if someone could redirect me to the Motobécane catalogs of the years 82, 83, I can't find them,... | Hi Tensile (or Hi-Ten) is the lowest grade of tubing used in bikes. The brand was known as Motobecane for most of their history. If you want to match the original threading, you'll likely have to buy from Phil Wood or Velo Orange and end up with a square taper anyway. Nicer level Motobecanes of the era would have been ... |
Just bought 30 huffys cranbrooks for a bike rental business. WHAT PROBLEMS SHOULD I BE PREPARING FOR Be nice. I know these things are cheap. Just wanna be semi prepared. <Q> Forty years ago Huffy bikes were actually pretty well made, just heavy, ugly, and not very nimble. <S> But now that everything is made in China,... | Those bikes have the cheapest brake pads possible which might wear out very quickly, depending how they are used. I would start out by checking all the bearings and adjusting them. In my (limited) experience with cheap bikes, the people that assemble them don't care at all if they do it right.
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How can I stop my toes from going numb on long rides? I've begun trying to commute to work, which is a 70+ minute ride each way for me. I find that after about 30 minutes of riding, my toes in both feet begin to go numb. It's not a cold thing, because it happens in warm weather too. It's more of a pins-and-needles, ... | Periodically getting your weight off can help as can making sure your pedaling stroke includes ankle flexion. This is easily achieved with cleats since their position dictates exactly that.
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Forearm pain during and after cycling I've been riding for a couple weeks after years of not sitting on bike in order to strengthen my health. I've been commuting to my work and school (12km/7.45 miles from my home) about three days a week and then resting/waiting (because of seasonal rains in my area). About three wee... | Often the solution to this kind of problem is suggested by the diagnosis but requires some experimentation because the the result of a change can be hard to predict. You could be gripping the handlebars too tightly, or trying to do too many jumps, etc. Even stranger, it can be caused by pushing too hard on indexed gear... |
Cyclocross Bike On the Road I ride road and MTB, but want to add a cyclocross bike and do long distance, all day adventures which would include 50/50 (road/off-road). I am not interested in racing, but do want to participate in events, etc. My question: What are the best tires to run on a CX bike under these circumst... | So I'd recommend a cyclocross tire with a decent tread pattern (a bit like a mtn bike tire). For most dirt road surfaces, the size of the tire is more important than the tread. Anywhere from a 700 X 32 - 700 X 38.You get low rolling resistance and good traction on the road. Otherwise, choose Knards or Clement X'PLOR MS... |
Can I use a road bike for commuting 11 miles each way without SPANDEX I am thinking of getting (investing in) a road bike for my 11 mile commute (total 22 miles each day). I want to continue wearing normal work clothes - meaning hiking pants and a T-Shirt. I plan on using the Spiderflex seat (taken from my Mountain B... | As long as you're not chafing, normal clothes suitable for the conditions are fine. I would try riding 11 miles in these pants once, and as long as you haven't experienced any discomfort from riding this distance without spandex shorts that contain a chamois pad, you're unlikely to experience much discomfort as you rid... |
Shifter cable running beneath the bottom bracket without a sheath I am trying to solve the neverending issue of my derailleur shifting on its own by replacing the shifter's cable and its sheath to see if it not sliding properly could be the cause of the issue. Doing so I realized that both derailleurs' cables run bene... | Cleaning the cable run and using a teflon coated shift cable won't hurt and might alleviate the problem if it's a combo of bottom bracket flex and sticky guide. Check the derailleur hanger to make sure it's not loose.
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Are out of date energy gels bad for you? I have some energy gel sachets that are a few months out of date. Do they contain anything that might be dangerous after their best-before date? <Q> I don't think this is problematic. <S> So if none of the following conditions are fulfilled, I wouldn't mind using such a gel that... | So basically you should be safe and even if you have a spoiled one you should notice that as soon as you taste it – I don't think they will spoil in a way that you cannot notice but will get sick from it. I wouldn't risk it on a race day but for training it should be fine. Those gels consist mainly of sugar which is a ... |
cold setting 3-speed road frame to 7 8 speed cassette So my old road bike has a 3-speed freewheel, dropout spacing is about 114 mm. I'd like to give it an upgrade and put a 7 or 8 speed cassette (maybe stick with a freewheel if 6-7 speed, I just want more range and less hustle) Spacing of a modern cassette-type road ... | I bet you could mount the bar end shifter on some Gevenalle levers if you prefer shifting from the hoods or use some paul mtb thumbie adapters to mount them on flat bars if that's preferred.
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Attaching kid trailer to rear triangle Have a cube aim sl MTB and a kid trailer that's designed to attach to the rear bottom side of the rear triangle with a clamp. The problem is that the clamp is not big enough to safely attach to the bottom side of the triangle since it's quite square and big, as can be seen in the ... | If the trailer doesn't already have it, I would rig up some kind of safety backup system, where a string/rope/bungee will hold the trailer arm if the clamp suddenly lets go.
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Can I use "normal" shoes/trainers with clipless pedals? Is it possible to use regular trainers/shoes (i.e., withou cleats) with clipless pedals? A friend of mine mentioned he does this all the time. However, I cannot imagine how this would work. Surely the area of grip would be far too small to get any kind of purchas... | You might just want to invest in a set of flat pedals and swap your pedals when you want to ride without clipless shoes. Yes, you can use them with normal shoes, but as you predict, it isn't very comfortable, especially if your shoes have thin, flexible soles.
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Tips for adjusting Shimano M355 hydraulic brakes I have upgraded from cheap old front cable disks brakes and rear v-brakes to Shimano hydraulic M355's front and rear. I always adjusted my old brakes for a very tight fit (to reduce dead space between pads/rotor) thus shortening my lever throw. As a sidenote, I know th... | Another thing to notice is that it is normal, even in good brakes, that the rear and front feels slightly different, because of expansion on the tube under braking The gap left should be equivalent to the displacement of both pistons by the master cylinder (lever).
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Why so few mountain bikers with spandex? I've never had clothing that was specialized for cycling, so I'm kinda n00b in that area. I am confused about the use of spandex. It's very common among roadies, for obvious reasons. It's more comfortable, has less friction on the seat, and is more aerodynamic. Why doesn't it... | Many MTB shorts consist of removable lycra under shorts with the baggy outer designed for cycling. because we often spend time "in public" - around cafes or pubs after the ride, socialising and I feel like a fashion mistake (and I am not fashion concious) walking into a cafe in lycra.
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Why should you not just buy the chain with more links? I have the choice of buying a 114 or a 116 link chain for the same price. Why would I not buy the longer one and shorten it? In my case my bike previously had 108 links, and assuming that was correct, 114 should be sufficient, but given it may need shortened, is ... | So, it doesn't matter which one you buy in the long run -- the chain just has to be long enough to begin with (unless its a bike which needs a longer chain, like a tandem in which case you need to buy 2 chains and combine them).
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Shimano 105 10 and 11 speed compatibility Currently I have on my bike the Shimano 105 system (2 years old) with 10 speed cassette. Currently I am buying a new wheelset (Fulcrum Racing zero) made for Shimano 11 cassette. I was told that I can use my 10 speed cassette but I was planing to upgrade to 11 speed cassette in ... | If you want to go from Shimano 10 speed road to 11 speed road, you'll need a new cassette, new shifters, a new chain and a new rear derailleur , since the cable pull ratios have changed (again).
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Pros and cons of single-sided forks (Cannondale Lefty)? Looks like they save some weight, but how do they have a better strength/weight ratio than a traditional two legged fork? With the single-legged fork the fork and axle must resist huge bending all the time, producing even more of a problem than with the 2-legged... | But because of its different construction, the fork is actually stiffer than most 2-legged. Post-2013 models have a rubber-sealed leg with bearings further inside and with one plain bearing at the bottom which allows for service intervals as normal forks: Because there is only one side on the fork, it limits you to usi... |
Do 16g CO2 cartridges have a shelf life? I mainly use my road bike during the triathlon season and now that the season is coming back around again, I am finding some old, unused CO2 cartridges from last season (fall). I typically use 16 gram CO2 cartridges and they usually fill my bike to about 90 psi. Are these c... | They last a long time but Not Forever If you really want to check them, you can buy a few new ones and weigh them on a scale (and compare the weights of the old cartridges to the new ones).
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Replacing rubber connection in a bicycle trailer coupling I salvaged an old bicycle trailer. I have one concern though. The bar that goes from the trailer to the bike, I believe it's called the tow hitch, ends with a small rubber coupling, to allow for movement in all directions. The rubber has gotten brittle, and I do... | Fix it to the bolt on the right side of your photo, and tie the other end to the bike frame, with just enough slack so that it doesn't stretch when the trailer moves in all directions and doesn't get caught in the wheel. What ever you go with though you may have to get a few other parts for it to all work. You could us... |
Finding the right length of chain lock for my road bike I am trying to buy a chain lock as I would be leaving my cycle in quite a busy area. I am not sure what length of chain lock I will need if I wanted to secure my bike using a chain that runs through both the wheels and the frame. The 90cm Kryptonite looks two sm... | The best way to protect your bike and be able to carry the locks around is to have a chain or a U-Lock, and with these you can easily secure your frame and a wheel, and then use a small cable like this to secure the other wheel. With one long chain that goes through both wheels and the frame you'll be wasting a lot of ... |
How much of a difference does giving blood make to recreational cycling? I intend to give blood at some point this week at my local community centre. How much of a difference is this going to make to the effort required to keep up my usual pace? Or will the difference be negligible? How long will any potential effec... | Some people do feel fait afterwards, but I believe this is related to blood pressure rather than I would still avoid riding on roads in traffic. If you are riding near your aerobic limit you'll definitely discover that you've lost aerobic capacity during the next 12-24 hours. In a day or two you can return to your norm... |
120 mm fork with a frame designed for 100 mm fork? I have a Cube Reaction Team 2011. It came with a Fox Alps 32 fork, 100 mm travel (26"). The fork is now ruined and I need a replacement (on a rather tight budget) and I found a good price for a Rockshox Reba RL Solo Air fork. It's 120 mm, but I think it can be adjusted... | As a guideline you can choose components that come with a superior version of your bike (same frame, better components). It is also not approved to install double bridge forks into CUBE bikes. Before buying, confirm with the seller the fork will fit the frame, specially if it is an used fork he might have shorten the p... |
What are the securing rings on the disc brake pads pin called? I've misplaced mine, and noticed the other caliper doesn't have the other one. How important are these? I mean, do pads fail or come loose at times, without these safety feature present? Is it possible to find a replacement? What other components have ... | In a pinch, you can tightly wrap and twist a piece of wire in the groove usually occupied by the ring to hold you until you get the right part. You can buy them online, here for example, but if your local shop is cool they should give you one from the lots of spares they have. They are part of the brakes's Pad Retentio... |
Is it typical for the front and rear gear levers to be reversed? I recently purchased my first bicycle since I was a kid. The bike I bought has individual gear levers for shifting up and down for both the front and rear gears. I thought it was odd that these levers are set up in such a way that shifting the lever with ... | Gear shifting has historical lineage, not always "logical" or intuitive by modern logic as observed by newcomers to the activity. When indexed shifting arrived about 30 years ago it just aligned the clicks to a particular gear; then, first in mountain bikes, then road, the integrated levers made one lever for up, the o... |
Fundamental principles of tire friction for off-road biking This is a two-part question. I've been watching various videos and getting various advice about mountain bike cornering. My impression is that all of the advice cannot be true, because the advice, taken together, seems self-contradictory. Also, some logic out... | The increased downward force from pedalling and the shifting of a rider's weight may provide more rear wheel traction than is lost from acceleration - thereby aiding cornering ability.
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What is the easiest to upgrade my chainrings from a double to a triple? I have a 2007 Specialized Tarmac Pro Double and I need some better gearing. I am doing more hill climbs and I feel that I need at least two lower gears than I already have. What would be the most efficient way to upgrade my bike. Would it be easy... | Changing the front shifter is required if you want to go from a double to a triple, as is changing the front derailleur. I think that switch to a compact crankset is a much better option. If you switch to a compact I'm pretty sure you can keep the same derailleur and shifter. I wouldn't get a triple crankset, there's a... |
Do certain makes/models/types of bikes get stolen more than others? I was reading this article on the most commonly stolen cars, and having my bike stolen recently, I got to thinking: do certain makes/models/types of bikes get stolen more than others? My bike was a 15 year-old GT Aggressor 2.0 (Mountain bike) and it ... | For bikes, though, the security is determined by the lock used, which is not directly determined by the make and model of the bike. So yes, in some places, the more expensive bicycles are at a greater risk for being stolen, locked or not. Think about it as if you were nicking a bike, if you have any kind of moderate si... |
Does cycling make one's knees stronger? I'm wondering if riding hard strengthens the knee or causes degradation? I exercise regularly and am in solid physical condition. When strength training off of the bike, I do a lot of leg work including heavy squats, deadlifts, lunges, etc. I've been doing this seriously for 5... | Since you like doing weights, I suspect that you like to push the pedals hard, and this is causing the problem.
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Should disc brake rotors be removed when packing bike for travel? I've been looking at a few tutorials on packing a bike to take it on a plane, and most of them make no mention of disc brakes. One did specifically mention disc brakes, and recommended taking the rotors off and sandwiching them between two small sheets o... | To keep the torx screws safe, I put them back in the holes they go in and screwed them in a few rotations. I recommend removing the disc rotors when you travel with a bike regardless of the packaging method. Numerous other MTB friends never remove the rotors either and have not had trouble when flying.
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Replacing an 8-speed cassette with a 9-speed one to make my bike faster I'd like to make my 8-speed tokyobike Classic Sport city bike go faster so I'm considering replacing the 8-speed cassette with a 9-speed one which can be found on the tokyobike Sport . The bike has smaller 650c wheels and is without a front dera... | The problem with pedaling slowly but getting the 11 tooth cog (if you don't have one already) is that you'll put a lot pressure on your knees and back, which often leads to pain and injury. But the main way of going faster is simply to pedal faster. If you are gong to upgrade might as well go to 10 speed.
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Mountain Biker wanting to change to cyclo or road? Which one? I ride an inexpensive Trek modified mountain bike and I spend some of my ride on the road and some on the canal, which of course is rather flat. Sometimes at the mid point of my ride I will decide to get off the canal and get onto road with lots of hills. Ob... | Finally, depending on what you prefer, you might want to ask to test ride road bikes with a relaxed geometry, that will again be more comfortable. If you care about riding in the winter, go to a Specialized dealer and ask if you can install fenders on that bike, and what size tires will work with fenders.
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Can an imperfect hub make a disc rotor rub? I had a 160mm disc rotor on a road bike that was rubbing a bit in one spot, not severely, but enough for me to notice. I've tried to true it a few times over the past couple months with little improvement. I finally ordered a new rotor (sram centerline) and noticed it's als... | Spin the wheel by hand, and use your eye or by touch to detect if the hub/rotor mating surface varies at all.
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Creaking when in the saddle I know there are about a million questions on here about creaking while pedaling, but I haven't seen one that relates...apologies if I missed one. I bought a 2011 BMC Streetracer SR02 last year; shortly after I got it I removed the Shimano 105 it had previously, and replaced them with a mix ... | Since it seems like you've pretty much overhauled or replaced everything on the bike, I would guess that it's one of these two things: Your frame might be developing a crack. But if you are sure it is not this - then perhaps try isolating the noise by using the bike on a static trainer and pedalling. Not sure if you sw... |
Ideas for consistently popping tubes I ride a cyclocross about 50 miles a week. About half of the mileage is spent on roads, the other half on single track trails. In the space of 3 weeks I have had the tubes pop 5 times. Once the back tube popped while riding on the road near my house. The other four occurred while th... | In order to check if you've got rim tape problems, when you get a flat, very carefully take the tire off of the rim without moving the inner tube: You want to be able to inspect the inner tube in relation to the rim itself. Then I pump it up to max and possibly deflate it a bit if I don't ride it at max pressure. Knowi... |
Is a car "perfectly entitled" to turn left around cyclist (I'm in the UK so we drive on the left) This morning a driver pulled up alongside me (to my right) at a junction. As soon as a gap came available, I pulled out to turn left and he did the same, coming within a couple of feet of me as we turned. I verbally objec... | Do not overtake just before you turn left and watch out for traffic coming up on your left before you make the turn, especially if driving a large vehicle.
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Making a Cannondale BadBoy ride softer I have a Cannondale BadBoy with slick tyres, no suspension etc. On roads the ride is fine, but I do less of that these days and more along tracks (e.g. unmaintained paths, towpaths etc.). On non-metalled surfaces the ride is incredibly hard and I get incredible vibration through t... | If you're a light weight type of guy, try fitting the widest tyres you can and dropping the pressure. About suspension forks, with current geometry there isn't much room for the suspension to work. Otherwise, buy a bike with room for wide tyres.
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Can I use a Brompton bike with a trailer like the Thule Chariot Cougar? I wonder if I can use a Brompton bike with a trailer like the Thule Chariot Cougar? It uses the so called Thule Axle Mount and I wonder if it is compatible to the bike. At this point, it is just advanced planning and I can't test the possible set... | But when you remove the front wheel, it works perfectly. I have a Chariot (now Thule) cart attached to my Brompton (with internal gears). Based on this experience I would say yes! The only issue is that the cart leans forward due to the 20" wheel but my little one does just fine.
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(racer) Standard vs compact crankset: Increased leverage for same gear ratios true? I'm a road and mtb regional racer about to have a go at my first road endurance nationals very soon. I'd like some educated scientifically validated answer on a matter that has been on my mind ever since I got a new bargain race bike... | Since with a compact crankset you need relatively smaller cog at the back for the same gear ratio, a it will have a slight disadvantage.
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Electronic bike keeps getting flat tire on the back A month ago, I got my first flat tire on the back tire on my electronic bike and I have fixed it, it was a Nail. Yesterday I got it again, it was a hole in the whole tire, so I changed the tire and the inside. Today I got it again but I see no hole in the tire. Wha... | Air it up, give it a good spin and you will have a tire/tube that can withstand most punctures from random automobile road detritus. If you have an e-bike with a rear hub-motor (and with the battery pack over the rear tire), you should note that you have considerable unsprung weight on that rear tire. You might of cour... |
Grabbing the attention of the person ahead of you while bicycling Normally you let the bicyclist/walker/jogger ahead of you know that you are about to pass them by shouting "passing" or even by just ringing the bell on your bike. This is done as a courtesy since many people do get scared/shocked if someone just zooms b... | But if you're going to share a MUP with pedestrians, you have to slow down when passing if you can't get them to move over safely, period. Given that, by definition, they are facing away from you and physical touch is excluded, the only recourse is to make a sufficiently loud sound so that they can hear it over the dis... |
What's this mark on my chainstay? I was cleaning my road bike (cannondale supersix evo) and noticed a marking on my chainstay and I'm not sure what it is. Scratching it is a little rough compared to the carbon around it. This was not there before I did take my bike into the shop a few months ago, since the wheel was s... | It looks like the tyre has rubbed due to the wheel being pulled over,this is caused if the skewers were not tight enough.recentre the wheel and re tighten the quick release skewers Yes it is safe to ride on it for another thousands of miles. Looks like the finish is rubbed off.
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Tubular tire on hooked rim I just bought a new (second-hand) bike (Orbea Asphalt sport) and I was looking at the tire and found out it was a tubular tire, a Continental Grand Prix, but on the sides you can read 'only mount on a hooked rim'. Is it possible for a tubular tire to be mounted on a hooked rim? <Q> Tufo makes... | Tubeless tires look like regular clincher tire and hooks in specially designed rims; these tubeless tire and rim provide an airtight seal so they can be inflated without an inner tube. I think you are confused between tubular and tubeless .
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One Month to Build Endurance I've got a seven day cycling session in the Alps coming up in about a month. Unfortunately, I've not been great about getting on the bike in the past month (or even the past year, to be honest). From many years of cycling, my fitness is still quite good — enough that I had a great double ... | Since you already have a great base, I think you will see the most benefit from doing some high intensity intervals and some moderate intensity hill repeats.
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Chain length and cassette tooth count relationship A little context first: I'm going to be riding in the French Alps and plan to tackle some of the classic climbs (Alpe D'Huez, Galibier, etc) next month - I currently have a Campagnolo Athena 50/34 (compact) chainset paired to an Athena 11 speed 11-27 cassette on the re... | A minor effect is that a used chain will increase wear of the new cassette.
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How to deal with motorist's road rage (after prevention has failed) A few weeks ago I had my first experience where I really worried for my well-being at the hands of an angry motorist-- so, what can a cyclist do when being threatened and followed by a motorist? Background I was riding on a road with a lot of parked ... | Go off the road using pedestrian's facilities (sidewalk, park) Change direction quickly or go back the other way on the same road Noting his license-plate number and car make/model as he vanishes into the distance isn't a bad idea either, in case you see him again. Call the cops while you're riding, tell them you fear ... |
Bike for college campus I'm looking for a good bike to use to get around campus and use on the local trail which is about 10 miles paved and unpaved and goes around a lake. Preferably under $300. <Q> If your campus is like most I have ever heard about, you want the cheapest bike that will do the job. <S> Bike theft is ... | To most common thieves it does not have a high value since it looks like a kids bike. You want something light and with less moving parts so that way there is less to go wrong. You could probably get a decent used one for less than a hundred bucks.
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Why are foot-long pedals not widely used? A lot of effort and resources go into making cycling shoes stiff, presumably to keep the foot in a suitable shape and spread the force across the sole. It seems like it would be possible to achieve a similar effect by making pedals long enough to support the entire foot, with ... | In a foot-long pedal you would have to center the axle so the pedal stays level, but that would mean that the force would be applied by the middle of your foot. Another reason shoes are stiff is efficiency:
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Group of Bikes: Is 3x1 an option? I'm an RA for a dorm that is considering buying a number of bikes that would be owned by the dorm and lent out to students. I will be at least in part responsible for maintaining the fleet (about 10 bikes) so I was thinking it should have fewer things to break. I considered getting sin... | (But if you think it is needed, three gears (or up to 8 gears) inner hub gears work well.) If you look at the most popular rental bikes in the Netherlands you do not see any gears. Students who can use a free bike will be happy enough with a bike that actually works and does not break down just when they need it. Anoth... |
Finding better routes than bicycle apps suggest Nowadays there are many cycling apps like Strava, etc. One useful feature of them is giving the shortest or lowest altitude change route between point A and B. Although they have that lowest altitude change, some of these routes are definitely not easy to climb up. For e... | Usually I start by checking where other people are going by when I plan my trips, then I can do adjustments based on riding it or by talking to the locals. Expanding upon a previous answer, you can use Strava's Heatmap feature. Route 1 has been recently sealed with smooth, fast hot top and has a wide clean shoulder.
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Bicycle maintenance notes, technical book: do you have one? Well, I drive a car and I have a technical book (maintenance) and automatically I want to do the same for my newly bought bicycle. I would love to track repairs, maintenance schedules, changed / added parts, at the same time stats (weight, part durability per ... | So I would recommend that you buy a generic book about bicycle maintenance and a basic tool set and prepare to get you hands dirty every now and then. Most bikes don't really come with much of a guide or instructions.
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What are the absolute essentials a cyclist should own? Context:My bike shop includes free servicing as a standard with a new bike. I don't need such thing and live too far away. In lieu of waiver I can get €100 of stuff from the shop. Best bike problem ever: I need to decide what to get for free form the bike shop... ... | Also a helmet should be entirely recommended as a required purchase, and probably front and rear lights. A good floor pump will make it not so much of a chore to ensure your tires are always properly topped up. If it's a quality bike, it will attract professional bike (part) thieves – which are everywhere, like bacteri... |
Commuting on flat terrain/handle bar For my new job I'll have to commute about 10 - 20km (6 - 12mi) each day (one trip) in flat terrain. Right now, I'm commuting 6km/4mi each day, with an elevation gain of 160m uphill to work. I'm riding a hybrid bicycle with a gear hub (only one gear lever) and a straight handle bar.... | Drop bars are possible, but you need to measure the effective top tube of your frame and the "reach" of a new drop bar you want to purchase. When spending more time on your bike, it's good to be able to vary your position. A shorter straight handlebar can be quite aerodynamic. There's high a possibility that you'll nee... |
Standing vs. high rpm for acceleration I've been working on my cadence for several months now, and I feel like I've gotten to the point where I'm more comfortable using high cadence instead of standing up when I want to accelerate hard. At stoplights if I'm really gonna accelerate hard, I'll start in first gear and sh... | Through personal experience, I have found that the higher cadence method will always get me ahead of the group of commuters at the lights. I think you will need to experiment with which gear you start in while accelerating in the saddle. Timing yourself or using HR can be a measure as well, but power is the only way to... |
Can you inflate a completely flat tire? I haven't used my bike for almost a year and I need to start riding it again, but it appears I have a flat tire. I don't think there's something wrong with the tube cause I haven't used it for a pretty long time. It just won't inflate. The tire has a Schrader Valve. I use a pret... | Usually, when a tire is completely flat, you have to press the back of the tire so that the valve doesn't recess into the tire so your pump can be attached properly to it.
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Is there a standard equivalent for effort between distance and elevation? I'm starting to keep track of how far I ride on paper and while it's nice to have the data, I'd like to know how different rides stack up. I have one path I like to take which is really flat and goes about 30 miles out (I usually only do 10 and ... | The other option is to get a heart rate monitor along with cadence and speed meters which together can give you a reasonable estimate of how much energy you used. If you climb hills fast, you will get tired quickly. But as you ride faster on the flat, the power required to drive you along rises as the square (some say ... |
Foot pain with cleated shoes I have cleated shoes. My feet do a lot of work floor miles and get I pain in ball of my foot. I feel like the cleat is pushing on the ball of my foot. I was considering changing the shoe liner; would this help or not? I have N.W foot wear, they are at least 6 month old. <Q> Usually shoes ... | you may have room for a layer of something thin-but-stiff under the original liner or some sort of insole. It wasn't clear to me about "work floor miles", but you shouldn't be doing any general walking around in bike shoes for any significant distances.
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My Bike doesn't seem to fit itself I have a project bike. I made it myself from bits recycled. It is currently a single speed, although I'm thinking of adding gears to turn it into a bit of a commuter/excercise bike. Before I do that, I really need to sort out the fit. It doesn't seem to fit me, or even itself ver... | Usually sizes this small are made to compensate with very steep seat tube angle to let the rear wheel forward and very shallow steering angle to avoid toes clipping front wheel. If there's little stand-over space, then the frame doesn't fit you, and there's nothing you can do except get a new frame. The saddle should b... |
Toe overlap on mountain bike How common is toe overlap on 29" wheel bikes? Also, is there a way to fix the overlap by say replacing the shocks for some with more travel? Lastly, is toe overlap a major issue on a mountain bike? <Q> I know when I am not using cleats, I sometimes get a bit of toe strike, less so now, but ... | I think toe overlaps don't affect the riding performance. Best not to try and 'fix' the overlap - the bike geometry will be negatively affected unless extreme care is taken. It is known some people moving to 29er's have issues with tow overlap, especially on small frames.
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Swap MTB parts to road bike I have changed my tires to road and crank set to 48 teeth. The question is with all my current parts is there a way I can buy a road bike frame and transfer everything on to the road bike frame? My MTB is running disk brakes, not a V-brakes. <Q> What's the wheel size? <S> If it's 700c, then... | If you want drop bars you need road shifters that are not compatible with MTB derailleurs meaning some big ticket items.
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Butt pain during riding I am an recreational cyclists and I like training, but on my last training ride I developed pain in my right buttock, I also got a bit of swelling, the area is on the back of the thigh just under my right buttock. My background as a cyclist: I ride for several years mostly in the summer season,... | If working with saddle/stem position does not help, or if even after finding your most comfortable position you're not still ok, I think you are on the market for a new saddle. They can and do wear out and collapse. Play with your ergonomics on the bike should make a big difference.
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Unable to loosen IXOW Wheelguard Gravity nut I have a Canyon Commuter 7.0 which uses IXOW Wheelguard Gravity skewers and nut. I want to take my front wheel off but am unable to loosen the nut on the front skewer. The standard procedure is to flip the bike upside down and then loosen the nut. This does not work. The ... | I solved this by (gently) inserting a screwdriver between tab and dropout to fix the tab.
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Does this rim tape need to be replaced? I replaced my very first tube ever after my tire went flat yesterday. I successfully installing a new tube, inflated it, and left it overnight. This evening the tire was still fully inflated, but after a little riding the tire rapidly deflated again. The new tube has a large tea... | One way to get tears around the valve stem is by not supporting the pump head and stem while you're pumping up the tire with a frame pump (the kind where you are pushing on the stem as you pump up the tire, like in the photo below).
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What wheelset comes on this Trek? Apologies if this is the wrong type of question to ask here, but I was just wondering if anyone knows what particular wheel set comes with this Trek 1.5 2013 bike . I'm pretty sure this is the one I currently own, but other than the fact they are Bontrager I can't figure out what spec... | Alloy hubs w/Bontrager Approved alloy rims You can try the dealer you bought them from, they might have a replacement available or you can look for a different set elsewhere.
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Chain skip happening seemingly at random with a new chain My bike's a 24-gear trail/road hybrid, and I've had it for about three years (although I've been riding it much more lately than in previous years). For a long while, I've had an issue with chain skip happening seemingly at random, even on level, paved paths, h... | Your cassette and possibly chainwheels are worn out.
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Is the durability of more expensive chains better than cheaper ones? Do expensive chains last longer? I get 300-400 miles using Wally World's $10 8 speed chains while riding off road or dirt. I monitor and replace the chain at close to 1 percent stretch. Would a 'better' (i.e. more expensive) chain last longer? Has an... | On the other hand if you replace your chains regularly a rear cluster can last a very long time. The only advantage of expensive chains within a specific brand is the minor reduction in weight.
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Bike suggestions for a heavy rider I'm a 5'10, 300lbs rider looking to get back on a bike after many years and many pounds. I owned a 1999 Trek 7700 Multitrack and road about 20 miles a day for many years before injuries, age and time took their toll. I want to get back on a bike - new or used - in the $400 range. ... | Take time to find a bike that fits you well, it will be much easier to keep riding if you are comfortable.
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Which road shifters will work with Shimano Deore (M)610 Groupset? I'd like to get the Shimano Deore 610 Groupset 3x10 but want to run drop handlebars with brifters (brakes & shifters combined) but it seems like this is almost impossible... I've been told by one support person from the online site I'm buying from that ... | You could try road brifters and a long cage road derailleur with a 10-speed mountain cassette. Dyna-Sys compatible bar end shifters from Microshift. So you could use something like force shifters with X9 derailleurs with less trouble. You must shift from the drops.
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