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Valve extender snapped off Yesterday I crashed, and somehow the front wheel landed on a rock or something that made my valve extender break. The bottom part of it is still stuck in the valve it extended. It's a tubular tire so just changing tube is not an option. Any suggestions on how to get it out? <Q> Then put one ...	Cover the rim all around the valve with a thick layer of duct tape until the tape is almost level with the exposed surface of the valve. Attempt to pop out the extender remnant with your thumb.
Difference between two drivetrains with the same gear ratio? Given two identical, fixed-gear bicycles, one with a 36/12 gear combination and another with 48/16, will there be any noticeable difference when pedaling these two bicycles? I understand there may be some negligible differences due to differing amounts of ch...	The claim that Big/Big is more efficient depends on the fact that the links in the chain bend more when going around smaller gears I'd say if the cranks are the same length and the wheels a and tyres are the same size there will be no difference in cadence. So they will potentially feel different if you can notice the ...
Very nonstandard question: Is there any way to widen a tire by combining it with some other tire (cut and re-glue)? Brace yourself - this is not normal. I have an old 22" rim (37-501, 22x1-3/8) and all I can get is skinny tires for it. But I'm an idiot and I really want a wider tire on that rim. I want it so bad I am ...	The only solution I can think of that might have a chance of not killing you would be to take the existing tire, that fits the rim, grind down the tread, and then glue the wider tire around the outside (like retread truck tires.). You can have any tire size shape or colour you want. In your case you would want two 22" ...
Does sunlight damage helmet? Lately I am wearing my helmet also on my daily commute to work. Of course I don't wear it while sitting at my desk, and it sits on a drawer next to the window, where in the afternoon it is exposed to sunlight with little or no air flow. Can this lead to long term damage of the helmet? T...	Sunlight will not break your helmet after several rides, but years of exposure may substantially affect the performance of the helmet during an accident.
Record Bags for Bikes I do a local community radio show once a week as a volunteer that I can cycle to but the issue is a often take vinyl records with me. Anyone know of bags/panniers that can hold some 12" vinyl? Cheers <Q> Or modify the bag yourself to attach to a pannier by stitching some hooks or loops of Velcro...	You could also buy a pizza delivery bag and bungee strap it to a front or rear rack.
Outside of Schrader valve is inflating. This isn’t right, is it? My wife has an old Moulton bike. I was inflating her tyres (small wheels, tyre imprinted ‘50 pounds’, when the rubber surround of the Schrader valve started inflating also. It all seems quite airtight, but I don’t think it should do this, and I wonder wh...	Generally this is a failure of the tyre bead, and its no longer seating properly in the rim.
Why does shifting under power affect shift quality? I recently was attempting to shift up a hill and observed that The shifting levers on the handlebars displayed significant resistance to my pushing them. Despite several rotations of the crank, the bicycle had not shifted gears. Googling around, I've seen people...	Applying greater pedaling force does put the chain under greater tension - that's how the pedaling force is transmitted to the rear sprocket and hence to the rear wheel.
Recommendations on how to make grips more comfortable? I find that on longer rides on my Trek FX3 that my palms (particularly my right palm) go numb from the pressure I am exerting on them. I appreciate that part of this is related to my posture and the need to strengthen my core muscles. Was wondering if there are a...	If you're able, riding hands-free for a short distance can give relief, even if the hands are still hovering over the bars. You could try: adding some bar ends, or ergonomic grips like Ergon GP2
Experience biking with child trailer during winter? What's your experience biking with child trailer during winter in the city? I live in Cracow, Poland. Recent winters were almost snow-less, but it's <0°C cold and slippery anyway. I am used to biking alone but never hauled 60kg behind me on a slippery road. Here ar...	Most important will be braking - your method may need to change, and if that's not enough you may need to fit your trailer with a brake. But if there are bicycle paths, even along those neatly cleaned streets, keep in mind that it may be icy and slippery the whole winter. Brake 80% with the rear brake, and only in a st...
What kind of chain to buy for internal gears? What kind of chain should I buy if my gears are internal in a drum? I have seven gears but should I buy a one speed chain? What would happen if I would use a seven speed chain? <Q> The chain you need is 1/8 inch chain, usually sold as singlespeed chain. <S> A derailleu...	For an internal gear hub (IGH) bike you probably need a 1⁄8 inch (3.2 mm) single-speed chain.
How do I thread rear derailleur cable through this adjuster? this is a Lemond Zurich from around 1999 that I'm converting to 10 speed in rear. I can't get the cable to thread past this metal part that seems to be a fine adjustment for rear derailleur. I can't pull it apart. There is a spring mechanism between the part ...	Being able to spin the adjuster and housing around the cable enabled me to pass the cable through (spinning the cable within the housing, when it is attached to the bike, is very difficult).
Threading Shimano chain, over or under lug? I have an MTB with Shimano Deore/SLX components. I just replaced the chain. Should the chain go over the lug as I have it in the picture? <Q> Shimano seems to keep a lot of their documentation online , you can find your specific manual there. <S> For example, the site ...	The way to determine whether the chain is threaded correctly is to see whether it drags on the keeper bar when it moves. The pictures definitely show a chain that is routed incorrectly on the wrong side of the derailment prevention plate.
Installing a Bottle Cage without Mounting Screws/Threads I have a Next PX 6.0 mountain bike that I bought at Walmart a few years ago. It did not come with pre-installed mounting screws and/or threads for a bottle cage. The frame has large, strangely shaped tubes (oval-ish is perhaps the best way to put it), so many a...	The approach I've seen is to use hose clamps to hold a bottle cage to the frame.
How to service a Shimano TZ rear mech? I'm trying to swap out the top jockey wheel on a rear shifter mechanism. The bottom jockey wheel simply unbolted as expected but the top one seems to share a shaft with the main spring rather than having its own bolt. I can twist one of the cage plates a complete turn but it doe...	Manufacturers are relying on you not being able to work it out, or as in this case replace a riveted shaft with a standard bolt.
What GT bike is this? I am thinking of buying this e-bike off of Craigslist but I am having difficulty figuring out if it an actual e-bike or a regular bike that has been converted. I wiki'd the list of GT hardtails and Google Images didn't show me anything that popped out. What we know: Hardtail Mountainbike The ...	The whole bike looks like an overgrown BMX with a derailleur and rider bars with a reinforcement strut. Doesn't look anything special - theres a one-piece crank, indicates a cheap low-grade bike. The whole front wheel looks like its been swapped out for one of those hilltopper electric kits, which are not bad for a sim...
What is the foam tube on the top of bmx frame for? What is the foam tube found on some bmx bikes for? Here's an example: Besides for advertising, I'm guessing its there to save biker's legs when doing tricks, but I could be wrong, because I've seen most bmx bikes without it. What exactly is it for? <Q> Fine prin...	It's to ensure that young boys who ride BMX bikes will be able to have children when they grow up. It's exactly to save biker's legs as you guessed - for flatland bmx.
How to fix an old bike I found? I'm new here and have a few questions if that's OK. I have been wanting to get a bike to ride around the beach town I'm close to so I mentioned it to my husband he asked what I wanted and I said we could just pick one up at a thrift store and if it needed a few things we could fix it up...	Alternatively, you can take it in to your local bike shop for a tune up and safety check. Try twisting the bars while holding the front wheel between your legs to make sure the bars don't turn with a decent amount of force.
Conical head tube: does it really make huge difference? I am looking forward to getting a new mountain bike and in various reviews sites they are really focused on if a bike have conical head tube or not. In many cases it is the first thing listed as pro (or cont in case the bike don´t have it). It suppose to make th...	Forks flex mainly at the lower head-tube bearing race (this is true even with traditional road forks that are curved to rake them), so increasing the diameter of the steerer tube at that point will stiffen it. With some bikes, you may actually want that flex, as it will dampen some vibration.
Does having bigger wheels mean less effort pedaling? Assuming that we are using a fixed-gear bicycle and width of the wheels are the same, I wondered, does having bigger wheels mean I need to less effort to get from point A to point B in an urban setting? I'm thinking based on the formula for circumference: Where ...	If you decide that you cannot modify the sprockets of a fixie, then the wheel size (which is actually much harder to change than the sprockets) will affect the cadence for a given speed. Regarding work: at any pedal-to-road ratio the physical work is exactly the same. But, in reality, there are limits to what you can d...
How to install flat mount road disc brake calipers on IS mount bike? I have custom MTB frame and I bought a pair of Shimano Hydraulic road shifters.They have on Shimano BR-RS505 Road Hydraulic Brake Calipers Flat Mount when instead my frame takes standard IS 51 mount (+adapter of course for it). What kind of adapter s...	Just an update on this topic:I have now checked what is available on the market and realised (as we have discussed previously here) that the easiest way to achieve my goal is changing the calipers to post mount.
Ghetto Tubeless w/ Gorilla Tape on a BMX Bike or Dirt Jumper - Good Idea? Why or why wouldn't you go tubeless on a 20" BMX or DJ bike? Got a lot of pinch flats recently and was look for a better solution than having to buy a tube every day/ I was considering doing the gorilla tape method on my 20" single wall BMX.....	You would build up a lot of sealant between your tube and tire over time. Weight - much less a concern for DJ and BMX bikes. Cost - slime is not cheap. In reality, most riders could afford to loose 100 times more weight than the difference tubeless makes.
Riding in single line Is it safest for a group of cyclists to ride in a single line? Is it required for cyclists to ride in a single line in a narrow bike lane, or can they pass on the left in open traffic? <Q> In general it depends on the road or trail, <S> how wide it is, <S> how straight or twisty, how visible the ...	In this case, it may be better to ride two-abreast because that makes it impossible for cars to pass, whereas riding in single file might result in some cars trying to make unsafe passing manoeuvres. This depends very much on the situation, and on local law.
Unable to get into a 'TT' position, is my bike fit wrong, or am I just fat? I've been road cycling since July 2017. I am an overweight guy, the cycling has helped shed some kilos but I'm not at my ideal weight yet, and most of my weight is stored in my belly. A month after getting my bike, I got a professional bike fit...	If the bike fitter did their job correctly, then would have set you up for your current level of flexibility, strength and desired riding style. Regardless of your weight, holding an aerodynamic position isn't easy: it requires some core strength and flexibility.
Why do I keep getting cut looking flats? My flats are causing some deep confusion. In the last year I've replaced at least 12 inner tubes because I keep getting flats. They are not puncture or pinch flats, they look like cuts to the tube, sometimes small incisions sometimes long gashes. They're always the back tire ...	Note that doing this on most rims could easily create problems with the tire bead not wanting to seat evenly near the valve, but from what I can tell this issue tends to come up on rims that are odd-shaped with deep well sections. In other words, it is not any of the usual causes of repeat flats from the rim side. I us...
What if I choose replacement tires narrower than my current tires? I have been looking for some tires I could buy but I couldn't find exact numbers (My current tires are 27.5 x 2.8) I found one which was 27.5 x 2.10 or should I get one which is 27.5 x 2.1 Both of them are the same price but I don't know which one to g...	Tire sizes have to be appropriate for the rim width; wide tire on narrow rim could have some control issues/sloppiness (and if you had rim brakes, that could also cause some rubbing). Whether you can, or want to drop to a 2.1" from a 2.8" tire in terms of ride and handling depends on what type of bike you have and what...
Use of winter (studded) tires on only one wheel? Does anyone have any thoughts on use of winter (studded) tires, such as the Schwalbe Marathon Winter tires, on only the front or rear wheel (and with a standard tire on the other wheel)? <Q> One winter tire is better than none if you're going to be riding in snowy condit...	With a studded front, stability to avoid wiping out is there, especially in those obnoxious snowy ruts.
Can you reattach an SRAM powerlock? An advert for their PC-1031 chain on chainreaction said the Powerlink Powerlock was one time use only; you couldn't attach the chain, detach it and then attach it again without a new Powerlock. I understand Powerlocks probably only guaranteed the first time, but in practical terms...	For 10 speed and above, SRAM sells the Power lock , which is a one-time use way of closing a chain.
Choosing frame size when still growing I am about to purchase a 2018 Kona Sutra touring bicycle but I need some advice on how to know which is the right size for me. My measurements are 174cm tall with a 79cm inseam. I was advised that a 52cm size frame was the right size but I am 18 years old and I still have the pot...	If you do grow, you can get a new bike in a couple of years, if you don't grow you're not stuck with a too large bike. Unless you're very unlucky or your growth has been delayed for some reason you should be within minor adjustments of your current height for the foreseeable future.
For fitness's sake, is it better to ride with low cadence in high gear or higher cadence in medium gear? I've started riding to get fit and lose weight. As part of that, I set little challenges for myself, eg: "I'm going to ride these next two blocks as quickly as possible in the highest gear". I'd be pedaling slowly a...	However our ability to ride hard comes with some limitations on our ability to sustain the effort level for very long or to consistently repeat such effort, and so to increase the calories metabolised most people simply ride for longer durations. The gear you use on your bike is of little to no relevance.
What are the brake housing stoppers on the end of the brake housing called (see pic) My brake cable snapped while riding my (80s road) bike one day so I replaced it. After replacing I noticed that the piece fixing the housing to the brake was missing so that when I pulled the brake lever the housing comes too and it d...	They're essentially part of the brake lever. You can just order any of them from an online reseller, or find a shop that has them.
Are there any major outstanding recalls of bicycle parts? Sometimes bike companies don't get things right. Are there any major recalls people should know about? Where can people find information on recalls? There is one answer which has places to find information on recalls (for a given country). Other answers could ...	The US Consumer Product Safety Commission is the organization responsible for recalls and safety issues in the US. Brakes The Avid Single Digit 7's have been recalled :
Bike travel bags, hard cases, and homemade bags I am regularly using airplanes for transportationbetween race destinations. In fact, travelling witha bike is always a very stressful situation. Usually, I amvery afraid when I have stopovers, because mostof the airport staff do not handle my bike bags politely. In line w...	Even with the very best case, your bike could be damaged - either accept it as a cost of travel, or purchase travel insurance that covers the bike.
Buying a DH frame to build an Enduro? First of all, I haven't set my budget yet but I want to build a full suspension MTB in the near future. I was thinking if it is a good idea to build an Enduro bike with a DH frame. I mean I know the suspension travel for DH is longer, so logically 'maybe' I can put an Enduro fork ...	If you are doing this to get a better Enduro and a Better DH bike, I believe this is a really bad idea. Given the manufacturers are fully aware most people have an S ( refer Rule 12 ) of 2 or 3, they spend a lot of time producing a wide range of bikes that in their range, there is one that will as close to a perfect co...
Is white spirit a too aggressive degreaser? Talking with a friend about maintenance on bikes, he told me he uses white spirit to degrease the chain, as it is effective and also offer some kind of waterproofing in case one forgets to lubricate the chain again. Talking with my bike dealer he advised to not use it, as ...	Just wash away the remaining white spirit on the chain, or use paper and burn it afterwards if you want to save the environment. In the end I don't think it matters, as long as you are cleaning the chain regularly and lubing it properly. New chains come factory lubed with a very robust and long lasting lube that is muc...
How does one wear leg warmers without them sliding down? I seem to always have my leg warmers fall down. They seem a little tight, and I wear them under my bike shorts. Are they any tips to keep up around my thighs instead of my falling to my knees? <Q> So I would suggest a good pair of leg warmers with a nice grip on ...	I find I have to get this fit just right on the lower leg and upper leg, with a bit of slack in the knee area, if my knee area is noticeably tight, or either lower or upper leg not tight enough, then the leg warmers are going to start sliding down.
When shifting both left and right shifters, what's the preferred sequence? My technique has always been "easier, then harder". When switching to the big chain ring, I first downshift at least twice on the right (easier) and then upshift on the left (harder). When switching to the small chain ring, I first downshift o...	It doesn't really work to ask or answer this question independent of rear cluster gear count, range, and chainring tooth difference. Sheldon Brown calls the technique "Double shifting" .
Question on new bike assembly If I order a Fat Bike online it will come in a box.Is the assembly hard to do for someone fairly good with their hands? <Q> This depends how much it was assembled before going into the box. <S> I've had one bike that just needed the stem bolts to be loosened and the stem rotated, plus the ...	Double check that you've got the pedals the right way round, then grease the threads and do them up with your fingers for severalturns before finally tightening with a pedal spanner (a thin 15mm open-ended spanner) The level of expertise required will vary by the brand and the complexity of the bike.
Is it normal Allen keys are loose fitting? I notice on my chinese made Norco that the keys are very loose fitting.I know there are different sets of allens but I seem to remember them either fitting snugly or not at all. The reason this concerns me isit feels like I could strip the hole especially on the brakes whichha...	Very loose suggests using imperial aka fractional/SAE wrenches, whereas virtually all Allen bolts on bikes are metric. If you don't own the right tool, buy the right tool, whether it be a workshop P handle driver or a quality multitool for on-bike.
Maintenance for an idle bicycle kept indoors? I have recently bought a six-speed transmission bicycle, basic yet the latest one. But owing to my busy schedule I am not able to go for a ride on it, and the cycle is always left idle at one place. So, I wanted to know how I can at least maintain my bicycle, so that it do...	Keep some air pressure in the tires or hang the bike up off the floor if you can. Just keep it clean with light lubrication on the chain. The quickest way to ruin a bike is to leave it outside in all weathers. Protect rubber parts from the sun - keep the bike in the shade or cover it.
Why are bicycles priced the way they are? This question may not fit the criteria here.Feel free to close or edit it. I spent six hundred dollars Canadian funds on a Norco Yorkville Hybrid.The rationale being that for that price I would get better than an entry level bike. It's a retirement gift to myself. I deserve be...	Yes, it's always fun to get the new shiny, but unless you are at the pointy end of the spectrum, you will get much more bang for your buck buying a few years old. At the very end it's not the bike that performs better than ordinary, it's your legs. While the newest framesets have all the aerodynamic and construction/de...
Weight limit for my bicycle i bought my mountain bike litterally an hour ago but i feel im a bit to heavy for the bicycle.I weigh 120kg (backpack weight included).Its a Avalanche Reflex 29er 2018 model with a size 20 frame.Am i just being paranoid?If its the wrong size then ill just have to do an exchange so any help A...	However on quality MTBs, that weight limit is calculated assuming the rider is going to be doing jumps and otherwise bashing the bike hard. tl;dr - You have a cheaply made bike which is why it's squirrelly, I’d return it and get a quality used bike. Especially if theses are cheaper 29" wheels you should check the manuf...
Type of Shimano "PlusMinus" (slot & Philips) screws Shimano uses a screw type that is a mixture between slot and Philips (PH): There's a "PlusMinus" screw type for electrician equipment like manufactured by Wiha : (Source: Wiha ) Are the Shimano screws officially PlusMinus types? Are they officially Philips (PH) ...	As far as I know, every cross-type Shimano screw is JIS, or at least they are in the sense of being designed to mate correctly with a JIS screwdriver.
(Apparent) chain slippage causes on new bike - usual culprits already eliminated I recently purchased a new bike (~7 weeks ago). Since day one, it has had an issue with chain slippage. I initially took it back to the bike shop from which I bought it, to be told that it was likely just down to "cables not yet being bedd...	The root cause could either be overly viscous/gummy lubrication causing the freehub pawls (or other engagement element depending on the design) to not spring back rapidly enough, causing incomplete engagement, or an issue such as a broken, mangled, or out of place pawl spring. The proper way to measure derailleur align...
Cause and diagnosis of wobbling crankset/chainring I was replacing the chain recently. When spinning the crank I noticed that the chainrings are slightly wobbling along the axis. I was able to see the wobbling with my eyes. First check I kind of verified the wobbling by holding a screwdriver next to the largest chai...	For me, that clicking sound nails the diagnosis - the only thing I have ever seen that causes that is an issue with your bottom bearing - either it isn't tightened up enough, or the bearings are worn and can slip.
How to get a broken torx bit out of a bleed screw? In the latest episode of my disastrous bike maintenance attempts, I got a sub-standard torx bit that broke off in the bleed screw of my Tektro Vela disc brake caliper. Here's a sligthly overexposed picture of the brake caliper in question, the bleed screw is circled i...	If there's a way to get out the broken bit with a suitably powerful magnet, that's got to be by far the approach that causes minimal further complication. It’s even better if you can get some moisture underneath the broken torx bit as you heat it up with the soldering iron tip.
Will a 2x with a clutch RD be just as effective as a 1x with a clutch and narrow-wide chainring on an mtb? I am continuously dropping my chain on my enduro mtb rides (currently 2x). The rear derailleur that my bike is currently running is a deore non-clutch. My chain will normally drop after riding rock gardens, jump...	IMHO provided you chain rings are in good condition, an XT clutch with new chain (and cassette if needed) will outperform you current setup of clutchless Deore. I almost never drop a chain on the 1x setup with a race face narrow wide ring.
Relation formula between fork length change to headtube angle and bottom bracket height As we know, changing the fork length will change bike geometry a bit. For example, increasing fork travel by 10 cm will make the headangle slacker and raise the bottom bracket. I consider to increase fork travel on my bike by 20 mm,...	Accurately measure the printed bike's fork length on the paper
Is this old chain of a different type? My friend's bike needs a new chain. Looking at the chain, it looks like the pins have a slot for a flat head screwdriver? Is this just cosmetic or does this type of chain require unscrewing the pins? If so could it be replaced with a regular modern chain (of appropriate type [10-s...	Different chains, including modern ones, have all sorts of patterns or markings on the tips of the pins. The horizontal marks on the rivets that you think are screw heads are just an artifact of the older riveting process. Its just drastically badly worn and needs to be replaced to avoid skipping and mis-shifts.
Do bike frames actually break so easily? I've been thinking of getting an MTB. Watching all those videos on YouTube of people doing cool stunts or even just riding in a forest off-road looks amazing - until I got to videos like this one: I've seen lots of posts on how to prevent breaking a bike frame, and I comple...	Many of those "bike failures" are a direct result of over stress on the frame compounded with user error. Damage, especially in carbon parts, is not easy to see without special equipment. This not to say that even with the best components a serious crash won't break things.
How do I improve my cycling at my age (77 years) I am 77 years old and newly come to riding a road bike. In the better weather I do between 75 and 100 miles per week, consisting mainly of fairly easy roads with four or five reasonable hills, depending on length of rides. I do routes of 17 miles, 23 miles and a Sunday r...	As my Ride Leader says, the secret to hills is riding more hills. I also map my rides using http://www.jonathanokeeffe.com/strava/map.php to combine my year's ride. One can relieve the legs by leaning the hands quite heavily on the handlebar/grip when standing, transferring the weight a bit forward and thereby letting ...
Flashing light when pushing bike with (constant) low speed When someone pushes his bike beside him in a constant (low) speed the light will not be at constant (low) brightness, instead it will flash with it's full brightness. Why does it work like that? <Q> This happens because the power from a hub dynamo (which tech...	The electronics may be programmed to switch to bright flashing mode at low voltage and low rpm/speed before the full charge at normal operating voltage and high rpm.
Is this crank usable or should it be replaced? I've been suffering from weird noises while pedalling for a couple of weeks. Noise has been isolated to the left foot, its definitely not the right side. After an inspection revealed no cracks or other badness, I pulled the left crank off with a puller. The lip aroun...	If that screw head prevents the puller from threading into the crank arm far enough, you can put a screw with a smaller head into the spindle and push on that.
Effect of drinking coffee before riding? I'm 173 cm with about 45 kg weight (underweight). In the same ride of 30 km with short but steep uphill and downhill, if I drink coffee I tend to feel better when riding, but about two hours after the ride I would feel weak and shaking. Note that I drink about 150 ml moccachino....	Your experience may just be the effect of the coffee / caffeine wearing off, plus any lessened impact due to the amount of caffeine you ingest on a daily basis.
Hit by a car bent rim I have a new 199.99 Schwinn I got from Wal-Mart a few months ago. Just the other day, a lady didn't stop for me and knocked me off my bike. The front wheel was stuck under her SUV, rest of the bike is fine. Now, it's still rideable but has a bent rim that wobbles when I ride. Is there a way to r...	As a safety precaution, don't ride the bike in the meantime. I agree that if the driver was at fault, she should be paying for a new wheel.
What photos should I include in an ad of a bike? Now and then I have to sell a bike on an internet marketplace (e.g. Craigslist, Facebook). What type of photos should I include in the posting to convey useful information to potential buyers? <Q> Short version: As many as you can. <S> Slightly longer version <S> :I...	When I take photos of my bike, I particularly focus on the following: Front and rear brakes, showing the pad thickness as well as alignment with the wheel and forks to show set-up of the pads. A non-drive-side view shot of the whole bike. However, it's vital that if you take ANY photographs, they need to be of decent q...
Skidding/skipping a fixie with ratio 48/16 I'm a noob. I have a single speed with 48/16 ratio with flip-flop wheel. I wanted to try what is a fixie and installed pedal straps. I tried to lock a rear wheel, but it just pushing my hard and keep spinning. I don't see how I can stop it :( I guess it may be related to r...	the easiest way to start learning how to lock your legs correctly is to alleviate weight to rear wheel.
Mountain front derailleur for braze-on mount? I'm converting a Giant 2006 carbon road bike to flat bars. It has this setup: Ultegra 6600 Triple, braze-on mount, bottom-pull, 52/39/30 105 5600 10-speed, 12-27 I have a set of SLX M670 10-speed shifters I'd like to use. The cable pull is (apparently) wrong on both ends...	Get a road flat bar shifter set.
Can I use Rockshox tokens with my Sektor fork? (Fuel EX 5) I would like to experiment with ramp control with tokens but I cannot find out if my fork is compatible with the regular Rockshox tokens, is it too low end?? Thanks. <Q> The Sektor fork does not appear to have a compatible token. <S> From the Rockshox web site...	Black bottomless tokens are compatible with the following Solo Air forks: RS-1, SID, Reba, Bluto, Revelation.
Seat post slipping down It looks like my saddle/seatpost is slowly sliding down into the frame, so every 2–3 months I have to move it up by 1–2cm. Yet I tighten the clamp pretty tight, so I can't move the saddle by hand. Is this a common thing? Should I fix something? I weigh about 55kg and cycle on the road, about 5...	If it's an integral clamp, or none of the above fixes it, and it's not an undersize post, then some of the more advanced, shop-tool-requiring fixes can come into play, such as reaming the seattube or knurling the post.
Which kind of bicycles is better and comfortable for shorter communtes, 4-5 km daily This kind straight handles or this kind? <Q> My priorities: Right size for you. <S> A must . <S> Light weight as possible/desired Low price - it needs to be do a simple job without being a thief magnet (at least here) <A> The...	I would say gearing would play more difference than type of bike.
Please help me identify the specifics on my older Giant Sedona? I was generously given this working, older Giant Sedona. I have searched and searched, high and low to find out specifics on the bike, to no avail. I've been to Giant Bicycles website, there's no info available about older bikes and you can't register an o...	7 speed rapid-fire shifters, panaracer smoke and dart tires, non descript black quill stem, giant branded aluminum bar, saddle and grips (which were thin and hard, but after a while I got so used to them that any other grips felt mushy).I can't recall the rim manufacturer and model, but they were 36 spoke....a great bi...
How to re-terminate frayed brake cables? I've bought and installed new cables for my bicycle, but I didn't have any cable-ends to crimp the ends. I've been riding for a few days now and just noticed that one of my cable ends has unwound itself due to movement or vibrations. Now I have a frayed set of wires sticking out...	If that fails, cut off the cable to a point where you can twist it back.
Rental bike for holiday: wise to change handlebar style? For my next cycling vacation I am evaluating the possibility to locally renting a bike instead of taking mine along: the costs are equivalents and I would save the hassle of carrying the box around. The rental services I am exploring offer either city/touring bi...	Drop bars may be more aerodynamic, but not by enough to make up for a bad geometry you can't adjust in the field, and if you're touring with a slow group, being able to blast round and get off the bike sooner isn't much help. I'd stick with what you're used to.
How can I fit a bigger rear tyre when limited by the front derailleur? I've recently bought a hardtail, just an entry-level bike, but I've only got entry-level skills. The tyres it came with are WTB Nano 2.1". They aren't exactly ideal for the sort of conditions we have in the UK in winter (lots of deep mud, wet tree ...	An eccentric rear hub would also do, but I am unaware if there are any designed for non single speed systems. Plus, one tire is cheaper than two, and if any one asks just tell them the setup is more aero (#AeroIsEverything - /sarcasm). With 9 speeds (11-34 teeth range) in the back and 32 teeth at the front, one might s...
Magura rim brake does not work well on a new rim I have a bike with 20inch wheels and Magura HS11 rim brakes . On the rear wheel I have just replaced the rim, because the old one had split after many thousand kilometres. The new rim is an Alex DM24 406X24 . The old one was another wide aluminium rim. The Maguras we...	It is expected that new braking rim surfaces, brake disks and pads are less efficient in the beginning. You could clean off the braking track using Isopropyl alcohol and clean tissues.
My bike goes up one gear at a time, but down two: is this normal? Just over a year ago I bought a new bike (a Giant Escape 3) with a trigger gear system - my previous one had a grip-twist to change gears. After riding and experimenting for a while, I was able to determine that the trigger down didn't shift a single ge...	Old lever or twist gear systems allow this fast change by design, indexed system needs "reload" to be able to change. Depending on the year of your Giant Escape 3, it either has Shimano EF40 or EF41 shifters.
Why shouldn't I care what model/make/year my bicycle is? We often get questions on bicycles.stackexchange about identifying a bicycles manufacturer, model, make, and year. Often these questions are downvoted or closed -- usually with a comment attached to them that it's not necessary to know the exact model/make/year ...	In cases of vintage bikes and none traditional bikes, knowing the bike manufacturer/make/model and year can help track down old and obsolete parts, and the real problem is solved by knowing this information. In total, there is too little to gain from answers for the community in the short and in the long run to make th...
Can a tire that blew off a rim be safely used on another rim, and under what criteria? I have a set of tires where one of them blew off the rim on my bike after I slightly over-inflated it. I originally asked a question about this here , and there are more details at that link. The tire did not appear to sustain maj...	Not only is it possible to install some tires on the wrong diameter rim, but also a tire that is too wide or narrow for the rim may blow off.
How to avoid hand strain when landing with a road bike? Whenever landing from a bunny-hop or jumping a couple of stairs, my hands strain just above the wrist. How can this be remedied? Things I have tried: Warming up before going out. Position the handlebars, so that the hoods are parallel to the ground, so that my...	You want to land flat and carefully set the bike down. You might get benefit from doing some hand/forearm exercises too, to increase the control inside the wrists.
Aluminium rigid fork for winter I'm looking for the bike for winter riding and found this one . It's all good, except for the fork: some people say that aluminum rigid forks can not absorb vibration and therefore are bad for the winter 'cause there's firm snow and ice, which is not smooth at all. So, are they right ...	Your choice or tires is going to make a much bigger difference than a carbon fiber vs aluminum fork. In this case, a suspension fork does not make much comfort difference compared to a rigid one — there are no roots or rock gardens in St Petersburg.
My folding tire has kinks in it I just bought my first set of tires. They were of the folding type.Even after unfolding and leaving them overnight they still had kinks in the bead. It is a bit unsightly but that isn't the issue. Do the kinks affect the way they should be installed? <Q> This is completely normal for fol...	When installing the tires with kinks, they do slip away from rims more often than perfectly round tires. Leave the wheel fully inflated overnight before riding the first time, and check it again before your ride. There's no need to align the kinks to something, or anything like that.
Flat tire after inflating to max pressure Bought a used mountain bike for mom. The bike wasn't used in quite a while . Mom used it for 3 weeks , tire pressure was ok but it needed some air. So I pumped air in both the tires to max recommended psi on the tire. After sometime , both the tires were flat. I did not hea...	If it blew up at the rim, check the rim tape as well as it will blow up again with another tube if not fixed.
Long post v-brake (or canti) shoes? (Canti studs not sufficiently inboard) Someone built me a small, custom recumbent bike recycled from older bike frames. He did a generally decent job, but seems to have messed up placing the rear canti studs. They should have been spaced inward toward the rim at least 5mm per side. A...	Some v-brake pads have permanent shoes in which are fixed replaceable pads. A rear wheel with a wider rim could make up the gap, depending on what you have in there now. There are v-brakes, mostly early and/or cheap ones, that use smooth posts.
Is there a trick to inflating a flat tire with deep section rims? I have a Schwinn floor air pump and its nozzle is the kind you push down and flip up the lever to connect. With a brand new inner tube installed I could not get it to connect with the valve as I have rims with a deep section, with these particular rims e...	The real answer is you need inner tubes with longer valve stems.
Uneven friction in front hub after rebuild I serviced my old mountain bike after 6 years of use. This included replacing balls and regreasing the hubs of the bike. When I tightened the lock nut on the front axle and checked for wobbling the axle felt like it was okay (no wobble). And when checked if the wheel turned fr...	Uneven wear in the ball bearings can cause this.
Keeping cables free of dirt when in transporting Any ideas on how I can keep grit and all of the other nasty road stuff when transporting my bicycle 2,000 plus miles this spring to get home? It will more than likely be rain and snow on the way. They will be on a bicycle rack behind our Chevrolet Equinox. The suggestion...	Another is to wrap the bicycle parts in something like trash bags taped tightly to the bike, leaving the parts necessary to grip onto the rack exposed.
Compatibility of bar end shifters and 10 spd Tiagra I want to try an aero bar type set up, with bar end shifters on my 10 speed Tiagra road bike, do I need a particular bar end shifter to do this? <Q> With Tiagra in particular this answer is different from if your bike had any other 10-speed group. <S> Presently ther...	Any 10 speed shifter made by Shimano will of course work. Each shifter model will specify which group set it is compatible with. So if you have 4700-level Tiagra the answer is no
I get dizzy when I dismount. Causes? Saturday I went on a ride with the local cycling club. At a certain point in the ride (after about 20 miles/32 km), I was extremely tired to the point that I decided to get off of the bike and walk for a space. After dismounting I became so dizzy that I fell over (and don't remembe...	On a bike, you'll be dehydrating yourself considerably; combine that with your blood pressure medicine and I'll bet you're experiencing a very similar problem. In that case, you reduce the risk by eating more while you ride* and by listening to your body more and backing off when it's getting too much.
Is it better to get a commuter bike with a front suspension or without one? Is a commuter/city bike without front suspension comfortable? <Q> Commuter or city bikes are designed for paved surfaces. <S> Suspension forks add weight, which brings a different type of discomfort as you have to exert effort to move that weig...	A suspension fork on such a bike is not going to add much comfort, except perhaps when riding over potholes or kerbs, which are avoidable. A commuter bike can’t fail or you’ll be late for work. There will be times when instead of doing the commute, you may want to do a social ride with friends along riverbanks and othe...
I have got 29er tires and I want to upgrade to 29 plus Hi I am just about to take delivery on a new bike (Carrera Hellcat) with 29 inch wheels however I want to upgrade to 29 plus wheels and I have found some tires that will work but will my normal inner tube and wheel work with the 29 plus tires? Thanks in advance. ...	Your frame and fork clearances should allow wider tires. Some people use 27.5+ wheels on 29-ers, but if bike geometry is not an empty sound for you, you might consider doing some calculations before going that way.
How can I make better use of the dead space under my bottle cages? There's an annoying/useful bit of space under each of the bottle holders on all of my bikes; I currently strap a spare tube there (which keeps the right tube on the right bike). The tube is in a bag but the bag tends to snag and rip, and dirt/grit gets ...	You could try a DIY custom fiberglass tool compartment for that area. Another option is to mount things directly to the waterbottle cage mounts.
Can I make this bike fit me? There are two questions here really though they both have to do with fit. Today I tried a Baad Raad electric fat bike.This question isn't about batteries or fatties.I just wanted you to know this bike will be used on rough trails,snow and whatnot. The question is about fit.This is a one ...	For a good fit, your saddle must be high enough so that your leg is almost fully stretched when going through the lowest point of the pedals. Bikes take this further - the frame is not adjustable without making it heavy and unreliable, and unlike an aircraft, frames are relatively cheap compared to the the rest of the ...
Keeping the bottom of your legs warm in very-cold-weather biking I come from a country with a warmer climate,but am now living in the Netherlands. It's not that bad really, but in winter, it sometimes gets to -5°c / -6°c - and occasionally with strong head wind when I cycle to work. I'm also very sensitive to the cold,...	I would suggest shoe covers, which look like a boot and cover the ankle.
What is the proper way to cut brake cable housing? Unlike this question , mine is about cutting the housing. All I've used with random success has been a pair of pliers with a good sharp inner cutting tool. Is there a better way, or a proper tool for the job? I am trying to avoid pulling the inner wire cable and fr...	I've cut cable housing with a Dremel and an abrasive cut-off wheel.
Help selecting between wire/folding tires I’m hoping someone can help me decide whether to go with the wire bead type or foldable Kevlar. What are the advantages/disadvantages of each? The bike is an old Fuji that originally came with 700x19c tires. I’m not an avid biker just riding around on bike paths mostly on...	Kevlar beads are lighter and are used in higher end more expensive tires.
Can I use fiberglass cloth and resin to fix tiny holes in fenders? I'm trying to restore an adult tricycle and the fenders have multiple very small rust holes in them. Can I cut fiberglass cloth and make a "sandwich" with them with the fender in the middle and then cover both sides with resin? Or would a substance lik...	Take care to sand away any rust beforehand and treat the rusted part with rust removing chemicals. If the holes are small there is no stress here so any way of filling them is fine. You want to clean the fender to make sure the resin will adhere. Bondo would be fine as well.
I rode a children's bike, now the chain is sagging - is it ok to shorten it? I know that I shouldn't have, but I had a go on my son's bike ( https://www.giant-bicycles.com/au/xtc-street-20-2012 ). I think that I stretched the chain. It's sagging now with about 3" of vertical play at the point between the cogs. So - ...	This is often referred to as "stretch", but that is misleading - the chain does not lenghten due to being pulled, like a rubber band, but because the friction in the links wears down the material. Bicycle chains are very strong (and chains on children's bicycles are usually similar to chains on adult bicycles).
Rain Booties that go over Cleats I use clipless pedals for bike commuting, and I'm looking for suggestions on waterproof "booties" that can go over a pair of cycling cleats. I can find some products on-line, but can't ever see the bottom of the "bootie" whether it covers up the cleat or not! What's the name of the th...	So, if you want to keep your feet truly dry, you need to start with fenders with a good mud/spray flap to keep most of the water off your feet and legs in the first place, and leg coverings/tights/pants that direct most of what does get on you away from getting inside your shoe tops.
All gears shift smoothly, but won’t shift into 1st gear/large cog. Help? So I was tuning my newly acquired bike today and working with all 8 gears on the rear derailleur. I managed to properly set the high limit screw as well as cable tension so all gears shift smoothly from 2-7. However, when I try to shift to 1st gea...	From what you describe, it seems that pushing the derailleur inwards manually to get it onto the largest sprocket was tightening the shifter cable - that is suspicious, it should have loosened the cable. There could be debris, twigs or such inside it.
Old Shimano Altus Hub disassembly. Clockwise or counter clockwise? I hope to squeeze a bit more life out of this old Shimano Altus hub and apart from having to build my own tool: Do I have to turn the inner part with the two notches clockwise or counter-clockwise? Edit: Thanks to you guys I just needed to buy an All...	If you do take it apart you must answer the question of what you're going to use to keep the ball bearings in place when putting it back together that's also not too thick for the purpose. It is left-threaded, turn clockwise to loosen. One thing you definitely want to do is to disassemble it inside a white bowl.
Gears shift perfectly when suspended on rack, but not on the ground? So I had recently solved some issues I was having thanks to the community. I re-tuned my bike on a suspended mount and everytning looks great. On the ground, all of the gears work smoothly except for shifting into 8th gear (8 speed rear derailleur). T...	A worn rear hub could cause a wobbling or light tilting in the cassette while under load. I would also check the cables while the bike is mounted on the stand and see that the clamps or the bike position (handlebars sitting at a hard angle, pulling on cables) are not somehow affecting the tension in the derailleur cabl...
110mm crank on 73mm BB shell I have a roadbike with a 73mm BB shell and I recently bought a Tiagra compact crankset that has a 110mm bolt circle length. However, I can't get enough of it to come out the other side to properly attach the left arm of the crank. This is really upsetting because, as far as I can tell, Shi...	If you need to get a different crank you’ll need to figure out what type of bottom bracket you actually have - one for threaded shells or one of the press fit types. You need a mountain bike specific crankset. I checked the axle length on an older 105 crank I have lying about, and the shell with of the bike it came out...
Making a left hand turn as a commuter I am thinking about commuting to school on my bike and wanted some advice on it. I do live in a very bike friendly neighborhood, but the thought of turning left on a 40mph road (no stop lights nearby and people speed) does scare me a bit. What are your recommendations for turning ...	If you can't cross lanes to get to the turn lane safely, then just stop on the shoulder and wait for a pause in traffic. As you will soon learn if you do commute on your bike, safety is mostly about being visible to motorists, being aware of what's coming behind you, and taking the safest route. I highly recommend inve...
Installing a new Shimano compact crank on an older bottom bracket? I would like to know if I could install a new Shimano compact crank on an older bottom bracket that has a center bolt extraction system? Do I need to change the spindle in the bottom bracket? Do I need a new crank extraction tool for the new crank syste...	New Shimano cranks do require a new crank removal tool.
Are disc brakes weak? And what is "bedding in"? I've owned a couple of department store bicycles in the past with caliper brakes and I set the brakes up properly so when I squeezed the brakes the bike stopped pretty quickly. I test-rode a bicycle from a bike shop a couple of days ago which had disc brakes, and it was ...	The bed-in process heats up the brake pads and rotors which deposits an even layer of brake pad material (transfer layer) to the braking surface of the rotor.
Gates Carbon Drive vs single-speed chain, long term lifespan and maintenance I'm looking to get a new bike which will require the smallest amount of maintenance. The bike will have an internally-geared hub and I have the choice of single speed chain or belt drive. I have been looking at the Gates Carbon Drive and inv...	Don’t run a belt too tight, it will wear out your BB bearings (I’ve done that test). A SS chain should last a lot longer than a derailleur chain. In my opinion, the dirty belt seems to spin much better than a muddy chain. Price is not much of a factor, when the positive aspects are considered.
What happened to double eyelets? Whenever I talk with old wrenches about wheelbuilding, they always seem to talk about double eyeleted rims as the pinnacle of strength and quality. However, it seems most modern, high-end rims have no eyelets at all, let alone doubles. The only models still in production that I know of ...	The main thing they do is spread the load to both walls of the rim in order to reduce the risk of fatigue cracking. It's worth noting that in a sense, when a box-section design is what you want, double eyelets actually are more relevant than ever. Funnily, we actually have many more new rims available with them now the...
How to fix a metallic bicycle basket to the back rack? I've been using plastic cable connectors , as can be seen in the picture below, to hold a bicycle basket fixed to the rack. However, they loosen up every couple of months. What would be a better solution (easy to do, and more durable)? <Q> I would look at 3~5 sm...	While you can certainly improvise something using metal fasteners, you could also consider buying a dedicated basket fastener .
Is movement in my bottom bracket an issue which requires attention immediately? TLDR; my bottom bracket has movement when it shouldn't but no other issues / sounds / clunking. If I'm riding a few miles a day, is this likely to break catastrophically, or will it last another year or two issuing the odd warning sign? Th...	If there is play in your bottom bracket it means that the bearings are loose or worn out, it should be repaired soon because it will influence the whole drivetrain negatively, like sprockets and chain. A cartridge bearing is relatively cheap these days, and is well worth doing even on a beater bike.
Is it worth buying carbon fiber road bike for short commutes? I'm planning to use a bike for rather short commutes (max half an hour), will the carbon fiber be noticeably more comfortable than aluminium one? <Q> Comfort isn't really an issue for a 30-minute ride, as long as the bike fits. <S> For a commuter bike, I'd b...	Upgrading the seatpost, saddle, and tires will make the bike plenty comfortable. Also, for any given price point, an aluminium bike will have better components than a carbon bike, so will probably be more enjoyable to ride. Money can also be spent on more or better clothing - which will make a big difference in comfort...

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