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Help understanding effect of Crankarm length on gear ratios Trying to learn more about bike fit and gearing, and having trouble understanding the effect of crankarm length on gearing. In an article on bicycling.com it states "The relative jumps between gears stay the same, but the overall range will feel slightly easi...	Also you get less injury's and pain with shorter cranks
How did my stolen carbon frame bike get from D.C. to Guatamala? My bike was stolen from the downtown DC on nov 11 2017. It was locked and was stolen in the middle of the day. I had put a bluetooth device, more specifically Tile in the seat post of the bike. I figured it may help me locate my bike if its ever stolen or ...	Could be an mistake, or that that Tile noticed you bike was stolen and made up a report that its in a location far far away.
Cheapest way to make 8 speed folding bike a good climber I'm planning to buy an 8 speed Dahon Mariner D8 folding bike (2018 version). I'm going add some bike bags to it and do little bit touring so I need good climbing performance. It's a bit difficult to climp steep hills especially with the bags. I believe it has 52...	Gearing - if you shrink the single chainring, then you have lost top-end gears. Weight balance is bad then too - I've had the rear wheel simply loose traction on climbs, mostly when I've put a bit of extra push on it to get up and over a lip, or a bit of loose gravel. Downside, it will be expensive.
What are the benefits and drawbacks of different recumbent seat styles? I've just bought a project recumbent. It has no seat yet. There are many different types - why would I choose a mesh one over a solid one? Mesh style - a HPVelotechnik "ergomesh" "Bench" style - a HPVelotechnik "bodylink seat" This same shap...	Rigid seat presents more power because the rider's back is firmly supported, where a cloth seat has more give and will flex on every power stroke.
Converting 3×7 speed into a 2(chainrings)×1(sprockect) I own Firefox Rapide 21s, which has Acera 7s(14-28t) groupset are rear and Tourney 3s(28-38-48t) groupset at front. In a recent accident, the rear derailleur took some impact and is bent now, it doesn't latch on to 7th &1st gear. I went to a mechanic he applied so...	Without a rear derailleur one cannot switch gear on the front chainring. You seem to want to convert the bike to single speed to avoid paying for a new derailleur, but the conversion will certainly cost more!
Friction shifter for Rohloff speedhub? This is might be trivial for someone who actually have a one, but after countless hours reading and watching about the Rohloff speedhub I can't answer this question myself. AFAIK the OEM grip shifter is not the most loved feature of the system. It can't be used with drop handleba...	The 2-cable system also makes it pretty simple to keep the bike going should one cable fail, since you can shift the bike with a wrench, something that wouldn't be possible if there were a spring trying to return the hub one direction or another (unless that were accounted for in some design). With the Rohbox and profi...
How to tell if a chain should be replaced with park chain checker when it doesn't fit? I have a park chain checker CC-3.2 which has two sides to indicate when a chain reaches .5% and .75% wear. However, since I often have some filthy chains due to off-road riding and daily commuting and multiple bikes, I lose track o...	Chain is < 0.75% wear, it will hit on the outer edge of the tool and the indicator will not drop between rollers.
Swap 7-speed for 9-speed I have a Giant Defy 9-speed road bike, and a thief stole the front wheel. I found a good deal on a set of used Bontrager (Edit: Mavic Aksium) wheels, so I bought them as a set. I want to swap both wheels so that they match, and also because the new wheel is 72g lighter. Probably a higher qual...	As Criggie mentioned you could rebuild the rear with your existing hub - but - you may need new spokes and you need to know how to build a wheel and have the appropriate equipment. You did not get a 'good deal' on the nice 7-speed wheelset because it's not compatible with your bike.
Ultra durable MTB for heavyweight rider (370lbs)? Some might remember me from this post . So basically after finding a fix for my dutch bike I was riding around London I now actually moved back to Germany. To the countryside to be exact and to the hilly countryside as well! With lots of forest. So now I am looking int...	Fat tire bikes tend to be massively overbuilt.
Preventing my trunk-mounted bike rack from being stolen I am new to all this - got a bike as a retirement present and bought a Saris Bones 2 bike rack. It seems to me as it is just clip on it could be stolen while I am happily off riding my bike - is this a serious risk or am I just being paranoid? If it is, any soluti...	If the bike rack is harder to steal than just breaking into the car (which is trivially easy for those that don't care about damage) it is as secure as possible.
Why does my rear derailleur's indexing work for either the high or the low gears, but not both? I am adjusting my rear derailleur indexing. It seems impossible to find the correct tightness. When I tighten the tension with the tension barrel adjuster, I have one of two problems: either it is too tight and the derailleu...	If the components are correctly matched, especially on a bike that used to work fine with no changes to components, in my experience the most common cause of this kind of problem is the gear cable itself having too much friction - either from poor routing, a crimp or just being old.
What makes a good floor pump? There are so many options, mainly because of the own-brand alternatives. So how do I choose a good floor pump? What should I look for? <Q> It must have a good pressure control and display; it should have a proper pressure range. <S> It should have a good connector with detachable/replaca...	Cheap bicycle pumps that depend on the tire's own valve are useless, you are just pumping up the dead volume of the hose. I'd say it must have a good sturdy build and should be stable. I've never seen one that didn't have adapters for both types of valve, and YOUR bicycle only has one type, so you won't be constantly c...
How do you keep from coasting too much on a bicycle? Something that has always confused me about working out on a bike. I want a Hybrid to ride for fitness. I do not want the Road bike, mostly because I'm not going to ride on the road (I am too afraid of being run over). The Hybrid will be on paved trails. Plus, my...	If you find yourself going downhill at a speed that even your highest gear makes you pedal too fast, feel free to coast. But remember that on road or track, your first priority is safety. Generally, you should have a preferred pedaling rpm, or cadence There are also different regimens of training for different purposes...
Have multi-speed non-freewheeling bikes ever been common? Prompted by a recent question I was pondering the idea of bikes with variable gearing (derailleur or otherwise) but without the ability to freewheel. Have such bikes ever been widely used? They would appear to share many of the advantages and disadvantages of...	Anyway, the only advantage of a fixed-gear drive in the hilly area I can think of is that it spares the rim/disc brakes on longer descents as you can somewhat control your speed by resisting the pedalling (similar to Jake brake in trucks).
What is the difference between city (urban) and mountain bike helmets? Is there any substantial difference between city (on the left) and mountain bike helmets (just examples)? I understand that cycling in mountains is different in terms of risks from city commuting, however, my impression is that the safety standar...	But the only relevant data I can think of are the crash ratings--if you hit the ground, to what extent is the helmet judged to have helped prevent some injury. I'm not aware (but open to being better informed) of any differences, per se, between helmets marketed to mountain bike/off-ride riders vs. those marketed to co...
My left pedal keeps falling off My left pedal keeps falling off, I think it's loose, or I'm not tightening it properly, but every time I ride my bicycle it gets loose. <Q> There’s a best case scenario and a worst case scenario. <S> Neither is too terrible. <S> Best case scenario: <S> Your pedal is just loose. <S> ...	When the bearings stop moving freely, your force gets transferred to the threads, thus defeating precession and unscrewing the pedal.
Could a flat tyre two days later be due to a clumsy service? I had my bike serviced on Monday. Part way through the workshop called to inform me that they thought both tyres were perished and needed replacing. I trusted their judgement and gave them the go ahead. It was fine on Tuesday and Wednesday. Today - Thursday ...	I think the tubes are crap, and probably have bubbles (voids) in the rubber that fail quickly when stretched. You might be able to find a foreign object that caused it, but it's possible you won't with a typical puncture. Un-inflated tube circumference is much less than what it used to be. I now try to use "oversize" t...
It is dangerous to bike with 5/36 spokes broken? I've got an old bike (not a sport bike, just an old fashioned granny bike). The chain was super loose so I have to tighten it, the tires are fine. The rear wheel, although reasonable aligned for how abandoned the bike looks has 5 over 36 spokes broken (3 on one side and...	Since it is the back wheel, you are not risking the front wheel seizing on something and getting thrown over the handlebars. In terms of safety, it's very difficult to give any advice other than "get it fixed.
Why does a loose pedal destroy the crank threads? Can someone cite with sources the process by which a loose pedal pretty quickly destroys the crank arm threads necessitating a helicoil repair? I'm interested in how the thread on the crankarm gets destroyed in these cases. Shouldn't the pedaling action tighten the p...	If the crank thread has taken a tiny bit of damage and is stiff (or it's just stiff anyway), pedalling won't screw the pedal in at all.
Protect chipping frame from metal bike lock with Sugru What's the best method to stop a Kryptonite Mini d-lock scratching/chipping an aluminium frame? Stickers have already been applied as a first layer of protection. Is there something similar to the LifeLine Rubber Frame Protector that could wrap around the metal p...	Wrapping around the lock like you suggest is a fine method.
Do GPS computers always need online account I am looking to buy a GPS computer. I have looked at Giant's NeosTrack and Garmin's Edge series. Looking at the manuals, it is not entirely clear to me if you have to set up an online account. I would rather not because I value my privacy. The main thing I would like to do is...	All Garmin Edge models can be used without any sort of online account. However if you want to push your ride recording/location to a service like strava etc, then you'll need an account with them.
How to lock up a bike with a rear wheel lock? Really did try searching for this but couldn't find an answer. I'm getting a bike with a rear wheel lock like this: Since the rear wheel is locked to the frame then would securing the front wheel and frame to a solid object with a ulock/chain be enough? Bike is around $15...	For a valuable bike I would likely use a good quality U-lock, a good quality fixed point and use that to lock the front wheel and frame.
How much should a long distance touring bike weigh? I'm planning in the far future to do a long ride of around 3000km (~1864mi). As I just have a single speed, I've been looking at what is in the market "designed" for that purpose in the price range 1000-2000€/$ and everything is around 14-15kg (30-33lb). Is that norm...	Similar to the frame and wheels other components are often selected for strength and durability over weight, which further adds to the heavier weight relative to a comparable non-touring bike. Unless you have a decent amount of experience with touring, I wouldn't worry about something that does 3000 km tours without br...
Bike or e-bike/trike good for the rain My aging mom is looking to start biking to work as a way to stay healthy. But as an aging women she needs certain things so that she feels safe and comfortable riding a bike about 15 minutes each way. It must be somewhat covered to provide protection from the elements. 3 wheels...	A little drizzle should not stop a person from riding when a good coat is used and a hood/hat or helmet with rain cover if a helmet is the norm where you are. Have her try out bike seats in different heights. Familiarity with route, weather, and mechanics of modern bicyles I have used a recumbent trike for 5 years, jus...
My Supercycle chain keeps breaking randomly I have an almost brand new Supercycle bike and for some reason, the chain keeps breaking on it. What could I be doing wrong <Q> You have a low quality bike. <S> The low quality shows as failures in various parts, in your case the chain. <S> No need to go fancy and expensive, ...	An immediate solution would be to replace it (either chain or the entire bike) with a decent quality one. If the material is not tiptop then it will suffer some small fractures and corrosion will set on it.
How to configure an Avid Speed Dial brake I got this brake lever on my new bike and I am looking help how to configure this. I do not know what purpose the red screw has on the top I reckon this has something to do with the name "Speed Dial" but I cannot figure it out, neither on Google nor on YouTube. I just get sho...	If I understand correctly, this is for changing modulation so the same lever can be used with either linear pull cantilevers or disc brakes. Avid does provide a user manual for the Speed Dial 7 that describes what the different adjusters do.
Should I change my Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyre? I'm here trying to decide if I should get a new Schwalbe Marathon Plus for my touring bike. I've just finished a 6000km tour in Australia, riding on paved roads with a heavy load. Here's the looks of it: Next month I'll be leaving again for another 5000km tour, this...	A tyre should be bought to match the conditions it's used in. There's plenty of life left in that tyre.
What tool do I need to remove this Joytech freehub? I have tried 10mm allen: too small, spins freely, with very little grip. Hub brand: Joytech On the outer side it has 9 ball bearings. Video showing right/drive side: Video showing left/non-drive side: It is a low-end (BSO-ish maybe), 170USD hybrid bicycle, ...	Unscrewing the bearing race will allow access to the internal bearings. Don't try and use an 11mm socket as they all seem to be like this, with an 11mm end on a 12mm shank. I tried by hand rorttating counterclockwise (looking at non drive side) and it didn't budge.. A long socket would also work but it would need to be...
How can I improve my downhill mountain bike as a commuter? I have started commuting recently to work and university with my bike. It's not ideal, but as it is, I'm not willing to invest in a new one, hence why I'm looking for suggestions to improve my current one. Weight is around 20-22kgs. The wheels are Schwalbe Big...	A road bike, even an old one, will be faster over paved surfaces and learning how to “float” over cobblestones and rough surfaces will help your mountain biking skills. If your suspension has no lockout functions, consider adjusting the controls till its harder with less sag and less rebound. You can get semi-slick tir...
Crack/fissure in the headtube My 2007 Ghost AMR 5700 developed a crack or fissure at the upper end of the headtube. I do not know whether it developed over time or whether there was a specific event leading up to it; it looked like that when I discovered it first. Still, everything else on it is in good condition. The...	If your headtube showed cracks at any other place it would suggest machining tolerances not met. Aluminium has problem with fatigue and eventually cracks after N cycles of stress. If you want some value out of the bike, strip its components and sell them - or donate the bike to a local co-operative or bike charity as a...
How to remove a threaded bottom bracket? How to take this thing off? I think this bike is from West Germany. What tool do I need and is there a screwing direction trick? Thanks! (I am taking this off to repaint) <Q> That is called the bottom bracket and houses the bearings through which the crank axle sits. <S> You'll ...	You can use an old/rubbish flat screwdriver as a drift too, by putting the end into the corner on a notch. Buying the right tool is an option, but depends if you're going to get value out of it.
How to clean disk brakes? I want to clean my disk brakes and am wondering if it is sufficient to only remove the pads and use water & soap when washing the parts. If not, is there a list of stuff to avoid when cleaning disk brakes? Thanks! <Q> In most cases a mild bike wash soap gets you past the minor services, no ...	Most manufacturers of disc brakes recommend cleaning it with alcohol-containing material and a clean cloth.
Is this tire properly fitted on the rim? My tires are 622 x 38C, and on the rim it says 622 x 21C (m̶i̶n̶i̶m̶u̶m̶ ̶t̶i̶r̶e̶ ̶w̶i̶d̶t̶h̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶r̶i̶m̶ ̶s̶u̶p̶p̶o̶r̶t̶s̶,̶ ̶I̶ ̶b̶e̶l̶i̶e̶v̶e the rim width ).These tires cost around 18 dollars each. I've spent some time on: making sure I haven't pinched the tube and ...	Probably neither the rim nor the tire are faulty, but they require more effort to center the tire. -Any tyre wobble is not classed as normal, though it will not do any harm to you, the bicycle or your bike's performance. If you take an innertube and inflate it, looking at the valve, you'll notice it has a weird shape a...
Bike with a hi-ten steel frame for getting around the city? Recently I bought a new bike which has the following characteristics: Size of frames: M (44cm) / L (48cm) / XL (52cm) Wheel size / Number of gears: 26 "/ 21 Frame: HI-TEN Steel Fork: HI-TEN steel fixed 26" Hedsch: A -HEAD 1-1 / 8 " Stem: ZOOM, Steel A-HEAD, M...	A steel frame is also more susceptible to corrosion, but this can be mitigated by taking care of the bike. I have 4 bikes, and the one I keep for just riding around a city is high-ten steel. It helps if you store it inside, or cover it if it's stored outside. If you had a aluminum framed bike some other friend would co...
Do hybrid bikes break/misalign easily? Hi I recently bought a Brodie hybrid bike from a local bike store for ~$600 and as I know nothing about bikes I just trusted their recommendation to buy it. However on the way home today I made a mistake and fell. I was right next to my garage when I fell so I wasn't going very fa...	Fixing this just takes loosening the axle bolts or quick release, setting the wheel back in the dropouts, and then tightening everything back up. Any problem such as this isn't really going to be related to the type of bike as much as the quality of the bike and the type of the accident.
How much does a front wheel last with disc brakes vs calipers? I've read that the calipers end up "eating" the rim. How many km in the city or touring (with a normal use of the brakes) does it take to destroy a rim? Is it something to worry about? Considering that I already have calipers and I'm planning to change the...	Beyond that, if they have problems, its usually easier to replace the brake than repair it Cable disk brakes have the same adjustment requirements as rim brakes, easier pad replacement than rim brakes and in all probably about the same level of maintenance. In terms of rim wearing out, its not something I would factor ...
Stiff knee, can I use a shorter crank on one side? My left knee is stiff and arthritic after 5 operations. If I have the saddle high enough not to over-flex that knee, I can barely touch the ground ... as I am elderly and not very agile, this is not safe! It was suggested to me that a shorter crank on the left side o...	One solution in addition to @Willeke’s suggestion of different geometry is an e-assist or e-bike . The motor assist would help with starting when you need a lot of torque; with maintaining a constant speed because the motor can provide power during the half of the cycle that your leg can’t.
Bormio (Italy) to Annecy (France) multiday bike tour I'm planning a cycle tour from Bormio (Italy) to Annecy (France), estimating about 80km / day. Has anybody done this? Any recommendation for routes, preferably taking in cols / passes along the way. <Q> One option is to cross the border to St. Moritz, take a combin...	Your minimum is one border crossing from France to Italy, or two from France to Switzerland to Italy, or you may hop back and forth. The most direct route between Bormio and Annecy goes through Switzerland, which has a network of national bike routes which consists mostly of well maintained side roads. Regardless of wh...
Fitting a 9-speed 11-50T cassette on MTB: which derailleur? I'm trying to understand if its possible to fit a 9-speed 11-50T cassette (found one on Ali) on my MTB. The plan is to go 1×9. The problem is that I can't seem to understand the if a specific derailleur can handle that. The rear derailleur in mind is Shimano ...	A 11-40 cassette just works OK with the B-screw screwed in all the way or using an even longer replacement screw. You might be able to use a hanger extension, but that will make the small gears even worse. You could try a Shimano 10-speed derailleur and if it doesn't work ok (which it likely won't), try tweaking it. Ca...
cogs for front wheel See this wheel. Can I put two freewheel cogs on it, instead of one freewheel and one fixed? (driving clock and anti clock, so both driving forward)Then get this wheel onto front steel fork, by bending open a bit?I haven't fully worked out the driving thing yet, so can't explain it.Thanks <Q> If you...	If you just needed a freewheel on the right hand side, just use a single speed bike rear hub. Consider that spreading the fork will un-align the front dropouts.
New to cycling, questions about over doing it I just got my bike last week, it's a single speed. I bought it to go ride the forest preserve trails near me for exercise and I don't know how far I should be riding before I'm pushing myself too far too soon. I've rode the past 2 days, 6 mile per day. Is this a good amount...	Get enough rest, listen to your body (a bit of muscle soreness and exhaustion is okay, real pain or dizziness is not) and you should be fine. The same distance can be a very different amount of effort depending on the surface, incline etc. Except the case of some serious health issue (heart, breath, knees related ones)...
How can I reversibly uglify a bike? I'm likely to have to commute to somewhere that's less than ideal for security. The whole thing is less than ideal but it's only for a couple of weeks. Using using the beater bike I already have isn't an option: it's 23 km under time pressure, and sometimes I'll have to use the h...	Adding some rusty bits and pieces from the other bike would help. Once I was hauling some long boards, so I wrapped parts of frame and brake cables with cheap painters tape (one that is more like paper).
Why do only downhill mountain bikers wear full face helmets? A lot of cyclists are concerned about safety and having the proper equipment, but I have never seen a cyclist riding in the city with a full-face helmet, nor have I seen a full-face helmet marketed for city/road riding. Is there a reason for this? I have a ...	Full face helmets are much hotter and heavier than regular helmets. The probability of jaw injuries from survivable accidents while road biking is even lower than that for traumatic brain injury (people rarely face plant from their road bike).
Bicycle left outside for over a year. Possible to save? Two years ago I was knocked off my bicycle by a car and was too scared to cycle for a long time, and left my bicycle outside uncovered for over a year. That was a mistake. Now, WD-40 applied to the chain did not help much. The chain still won't bend. I think clea...	You may also have to replace other parts like brakes (pad set, cable), front shock, tubes, cassette, chainring, etc ( depend on the bicycle condition ) especially if they got rusty. Pump up the tires and make sure they hold air. I think you should show it to a mechanic and get his/her advice.
Where are stolen bikes sold? I live in a city on the east coast. I recently had my bike stolen. The frame was locked to a bike rack using a u-lock. They either picked or cut the u-lock. My simple question is: where do thieves sell stolen bicycles? More specific questions: If they sell them on Craigslist, how far a...	I suggest checking local pawn shops and the like with your bike receipt and serial number in hand.
What is the deal with serrated/non-smooth rim sides on a bike wheel? I recently decided to replace the rear wheel on my road bike since I couldn't disassemble the old Helicomatic freewheel I now have a new rim, which oddly has slightly serrated sides (I'll add a picture tomorrow), while the original wheel was smooth....	At different points in time it's been done to increase brake friction for rim materials that can otherwise be subpar in that regard.
Is it possible to replace a MTB crankset to a Roadbike crankset on an MTB frame? I just want my bike to go as fast on a road and can go trails as well. Update: I got a gear calculator app and this is what I would get if I upgrade my cassette and chainrings. A more than 10kph difference based on my normal cadence of...	Another option is to change the chainrings for larger ones, but that can have issues with too-large a jump between chainrings. You can fit any compatible triple crank you want.
Popping/flexing, but not when pedaling hard My road bike is making very noisy popping/flexing sounds when pedaling. There are multiple sounds in a semi-regular pattern with each pedal stroke, and I can feel extra movement through the pedals as I hear the sounds. The sounds are most pronounced at moderate intensity ...	I would suspect a problem in the bottom bracket, but would also check pedal spindles and bearings.
Restoring a steel Japanese bike from the early 80s I recently picked up a Shogun 2001 touring bike from the early 80s. It's hardly been ridden and has a beautiful double-lugged frame with F&R racks, Al fenders and brazed-on threaded fittings for all of those those. It's an 18-speed with Shimano 600 DX brakes & hubs, De...	Those pedal adapters are possibly Q-factor adapters, intended to increase the width of the pedal platform. They are Shimano Dyna Drive, a system that has bearings partially inside the crank and no axle through the pedal instead of the setup with bearings under the foot.
Road bikes for tall guys I'm looking to find out about any beginner road bikes for tall, and somewhat larger guys. I am currently 6'8" and 305lbs. Been losing weight a lot, so I plan to be somewhere between 250 to 265 sometime soon. I'm curious as to if there are any good bikes for a guy of my size, or if I need to hav...	The most important thing is to find a frame that fits you - if you try to up-size a small frame, it means long seatposts with lots of leverage into the frame. Start with a used bike and see how it works for you before commissioning a custom bike.
Are there very deep (>40mm) rims with at least 32 spoke holes? I've been looking some days for different wheel options and it looks like it is really hard to find rims that fulfill the following: Deep rims (40mm or more) At least 32-36 spokes Durable (reliable for touring) Reasonably priced (range 400-600€ both) ...	As such, few if any manufacturer have developed a deep section touring rim as the functional use case makes little sense.
Why did both of my inner tubes blow out on a new bike I've only put 4 hours on? I bought a new Diamondback Trace hybrid bike about a month ago. Rode it twice for about an hour a piece and the last time for about two hours. I had no problems any of the times and inflated the tires to about 70psi each time, well within t...	So IF a tyre is over-inflated AND the ambient temp causes the air in the tube to expand then it MAY have been the cause of the blow out. Rubber is a material that behaves elastically in a limited range.
Can I swap a 700c onto a 26"/650b bike Can I put a 700c (28") wheel on a 26" or 650b fork, it looks like I'll have plenty of room but I would need to get something to move my v brakes as they wouldn't touch the rim <Q> I assume you have a mountain bike, as you have a 26"/27.5" fork. <S> Answering the question in the ...	You could find an appropriate cyclocross tire in that size that would be reasonable on a 26" MTB frame. If you change the wheel size, the steering geometry will be altered, usually with negative effects.
Precautions when riding in long-term low visibility Heavy fog or a narrow, overgrown and winding trail, can reduce visibility to 3 meters. Those conditions can continue for hours, and the safest approach 'don't go' cannot be always taken. I find that riding with appropriate speed as to be able to stop within those 3 m...	If you don't want to have to slow down or walk, bicycle where there are less or no pedestrians. A bright, focused light can be very helpful in situations low visibility or frequent visual obstacles. If you are in areas where there are many pedestrians, some form of audible warning is useful.
How to deflate a tire properly? I need to flatten my bicycle tire. What is the safest and best way to do this? What I mean by safest is: I want to reinflate it again afterward. <Q> It's quite common to deflate a tube for some valid reason, like you want to change a worn out tyre or replace a spoke. <S> If your valve...	If you want to completely deflate the tyre fast, you can use metal cap with special screwdriver to remove the valve from its case. A nail, or the end of a house key, or a Phillips-head screwdriver are all effective pokey things.
Fix up old road bike or buy new one? Coming back to riding after a long layoff, my Cannondale R500, purchased around 2000, according to the local bike shop, needs a lot of work - new wheels, cassette, chain, cables. Also replaced stem with a new taller one so I don't have to bend down as low. LBS is saying the tune-up...	Wheels are somewhat dubious -- that really depends on what the problem is, but replacement wheels of equal quality to the stock wheels that came with the bike are probably not exorbitantly expensive. Make sure the things the repair shop wants to replace are really needed.
I have changed the chain after my gauge showed that it's .75 worn. New chain jumps anyway. Why? How to deal with it? I am riding MTBs for over 8 years and either the rules and tools to measure the chain wear do not work or I don't understand how to use them.. I have bought Canyon Exceed with 1x11 SRAM drivetrain. I ha...	Take a good look at the cassette to see if any of the sprockets are worn. Perhaps make some intermediate statistics in which you do use the bad cogs and count the number of skips.
Options for carrying a smart briefcase on a bike (pannier or otherwise) Situation I don't own a bike: however due to a recent change of office location, I have worked out that I could cycle in half the time as driving through rush-hour traffic every day. I'm therefore interested in the idea of purchasing a bike Issue...	Rather than trying to balance the bag on top of a rear carrier, you'd want to attach it to the side. However, Banjo Brothers make a folding grocery pannier which allows you to carry bags of groceries on your bike.
Tools needed to unmount bike pedals My two pedals are squeaking a bit and probably need to be lubricated. But, I'm not sure which tools I need to buy to unmount them. What's the size of the square drive sockets to get to unmount the pedals? After googling the pedal size I see that the majority are 9/16", but the squar...	Pedals require a narrow spanner, as indicated by Willeke , thus an ordinary adjustable wrench ... could work but probably won't.
Bike handlebars loose with front wheel If I put my leg on the side of the wheel and rotate my handlebars in the direction of my leg, the bars get out of sync with the front wheel as seen in the image below. This is a threadless headset. Do y'all have any ideas? <Q> Tighten the pinch bolts, not the centre bolt. <S> I ...	You cannot tighten the bearings UNTIL you loosen the pinch bolts.
What to call bike brake levers with two gripping points? I have a Schwinn Letour bike which has brake handles that can be gripped from two different points, but the whole brake handle is a singly body of metal, as can be seen here: I am wondering what this kind of brake handles are called? <Q> I was hesitating to fla...	They are known as cyclocross or interrupter levers and are discussed here and here .
Do I need to be aware of my diet? I have recently started biking consistently: commute 2x 5km@12min from/to school + 1x 12km@22min in the evening before dinner almost everyday. Now I started reading and viewing deeper into the "cycling diet"-thing and realized that I generally eat a lot of sugar(cookies, chocolate bar...	So if you are training and wanting to be more fit, you should definitely focus on a good diet, but if you aren't concerned about your health otherwise, don't worry about it.
Clothing advice for beginner I've read online not to wear underwear with bike shorts. Unfortunately, I don't have cycling specific attire. What would be a best clothing to wear (below the waist, specifically) for first time 75 km ride on the road? Riding "Ride For Heart" in Toronto this Sunday, using Norco Cyclocross ...	You don't wear underwear under cycling-specific shorts because they have a cushioned pad in them that's designed to sit against your skin. It's likely to get wet (from sweat), so tight and inelastic (and wet) isn't a good combination ... However, for commuting (5–25km, depending on what route I take), I still just wear...
My 1000 watt rated hub only pulls 6.7A (321.6 watts @ 48v) suggestions? I am a big boy (~230lbs) living on a mountain. My 1000 watt electric hub powered by 78 18630 Lion batteries in 13 cells barely moves me level let alone up a hill (which was its intended purpose). I tested its current to find it only pulling ~6.7 am...	On a wheel stand there is not much resistence so the motor doesn't have to use much torque (current) to spin the wheel, so the power draw is that low. In your case you want the body of the motor fixed to the frame, and have the axle turn. To see how much power you can get onto the ground you need to use dyno again : Yo...
Is a road bike good for an Ironman race I am a race bike beginner and I am considering to buy a road bike. Is it doable to ride a road bike for an Ironman race or should I consider a Time-Trial bike? <Q> It will be good enough for a couple of years in all situations, not just triathlons. <S> You can upgrade it with s...	I suggest buying a regular road bike, have it properly fit and ride it.
Rear Bike Rack for Full Suspension? I have a Giant Warp DS3 and id like to get a rear rack but am struggling to find anything decent & compatible. is there such a rack? 2001 Giant Warp DS3 from Bicycle Blue Book. <Q> The two styles that work are a seat post mount rack or once that clamps to the seat stay. <S> Seatpo...	You can get racks, what you get will largely depend on the load.
Can't find any replacement original chainrings (SG A-52-42-30) . What can I use instead? I have an early 2000's Giant OCR 2 roadbike (3x8 speed) with worn out chain rings on the Shimano Sora FC-3303 triple crankset. The original rings are the SG A-type, 5 bolt, 130 mm BCD in 52T-42T-30T sizes. All I can find are used o...	If you do decide to change gearing, derailleur position and chain length will need to be changed, but you should probably be replacing the chain at the same time as as rings anyway, and also checking at the cassette for wear and replacing that if necessary.
Should I leave bolts in frame when I've removed component (mudguards for example) I've just remove my mudguards from my Ti frame and as usual I have put the bolts back into the frame where the thread goes into a tube - for example in the chain-stay bridge and brake bridge.I used anti-seize on the threads and did not do...	You should plug the with something for two reasons: 1) to prevent water ingress into the frame 2) the brazing or frame threads are usually bare metal so they will rust easily
Rohloff twist shifter is too slippery when sweating My Rohloff Speedhub is pretty slick, but unfortunately so is the twist shifter when I'm sweaty. In southern Florida, riding my trike, that's pretty much all the time. Switching gears already has higher resistance than your standard derailleur; when under a bit of lo...	In the same vein, you could use a piece of bartape or adhesive hockey tape, but those have a sticky back and will be harder to remove cleanly. Perhaps you can fit a short piece over your shifter
Is it normal that the tyre fits effortless the rim? I've been constantly having problems with my wheel going flat. I couldn't find anything on the rim but I changed the rim tape and I bought a new tyre. The old tyre was a bit worn. It was also fitting the rim too easy, something I was attributing to the fact that it w...	There is some variation in time bead sizes and rim wall heights that make some tires easy to install and some difficult.
2- or 3-speed fixie I am young...and dumb... so I want to ride fixed gear as all the other cool guys do.But without the trouble of having too high of a gear when starting away from a traffic light. So is it possible to have a rear derailleur with a two- or three-speed cassette and one front gear, while still having a ...	Without a freewheel any reverse force on the cranks would tighten the chain on the bottom crank-to-hub run, which would collapse the derailleur and create a mess of loose chain on the top hub-to-crank run, then the chain would come off of the chainring, which would jam the chain and rear wheel and cause a crash.
Are there any mini pumps that can be mounted on a wide rectangular frame? On my previous MTB (a hard tail from 2002), I had mounted a mini pump (not sure which brand) under/next to the bottle cage. The pump came with a frame mount and a velcro strip to secure it in place in the frame. When I tried to mount this pump o...	There are mini pump holders that attach directly to bottle cage mount points under the cage, and hold the pump to one side of the bottle.
Insect stings while bike riding This year, whilst bike riding, I was stung two times by insects, one time a bee and once by a wasp (most likely; I didn't see it but from the feeling, size and heat of the stung area I can't think of anything else). After some research on different websites ( https://www.roadbikerider.co...	Thus, I guess the only way to avoid being stung by insects is to avoid them getting onto your skin. I all my rides, either through forests or in the open air trails, I have never had a problem with being stung/bitten.
Is it a problem to have tires of different width? I received a new tire for my bike. I believe this is a "Hybrid bike" in English and looks more or less like that image courtesy of Wikimedia I use it to commute, 50% on bike paths and 50% on easy forest tracks. I have a normal pace (say, 15 to 20 km/h) without any sp...	Again, going at reasonable speed this is not a problem. The wider tyre on the back will be for comfort: more of your weight is on the rear and a wider tyre at lower pressure is better at absorbing the bumps. What's recommended is to sport to tires of the same width, or the front tire slightly wider than the back. The f...
Creaking which is temporarily resolved by tightening rear quick release My commuter road bike (Pinnacle Arkose 3 - actually a disc-braked cross bike, fitted with mudguards) has an annoying and loud creak, associated with each turn of the pedals - there is a creak each time a pedal passes the 2-3 o'clock position, on ei...	A syringe with a fine needle can get the oil behind the seals: Last place to check is the headset, again remove, clean and regrease: As the frame flexes the grit gets ground between the drop-out and axle or QR and the frame tubes can amplify the sound a surprising amount.
Repairing stripped threads on a nut type bottom bracket I recently bought a used 2011 diamondback outlook mountain bike for $30 on craigslist. The bike however needed some significant work. The bearings in both wheels need to be replaced, the shimano 7 speed freewheel was rusted to crap and best of all, the rear brak...	Crank nuts/bolts are one of the higher torque items on a bike, meaning you don't really have much leeway for severely damaged threads. It turns out the threads were some very unusual M10 by somewhere between 1.75-2.00 thread pitch, and an M8 screw didn't seem to fit on at all.
Damping effects of carbon forks Around where I live the common wisdom is that on a road, gravel or similar bike, a carbon fork will cushion some of the vibration more than a metal fork. On some web discussion forums I see that opinion reiterated. I don't have any personal experience of it yet. If indeed it is the cas...	Carbon fiber is much stronger than it maybe used to be, and it is unquestionably lighter than a steel fork, so I wouldn't hesitate to get a carbon fork if you like the overall bike.
How to properly align the rear wheel to the bike (granny bike, single speed) I have an old bike in which the rear axle is like you can see in the pictures below. It has pedal-brake. I've been struggling with the wheel alignment with respect to the bike. Each time I put it in, I align it as much as I can making sure th...	The simple answer is that the axle bolts need to be torqued up tighter, so they grip the frame better. It looks like you have to move the rear wheel to the back-most position.
Bike wheel help for newbie I was wondering if someone could help me? I have recently bought a Specialized Allez Sport road bike (61cm frame) and due to my weight I’m looking to upgrade the wheel set straight away due to my weight 140kg. Having researched I have found that either Velocity Deep V or H Plus Son SL42 wheel...	Rim bead seat width should be compatible with the tires you have, or intend to run.
RB not ridden in 4 years unable to shift gear After a bit of advice. I recently dusted down my Carrera after a 4 year stint in the shed. Knowing that it had a few issues I dropped it in to my local Halfords store. It required a few things mending with the most relevant to this issue being the rear derailleur. I get ho...	If you grab the exposed cable and pull outwards you should be able to get the derailleurs to move a little. In general, I'd recommend taking bikes to a specialist bike shop rather than somewhere like Halfords: the level of clue is generally much higher and they'll actually make sure the bike is working before they hand...
Are 23mm tires on a 25mm rim (21 mm internal width) safe? Odd situation here, I'm putting together a 2nd road bike (I commute daily and need a backup for when my main ride needs adjustments, part replacements, etc). To stay on the economical side, I purchased Zipp 30 Course aluminum rim-brake clinchers: https://www.z...	In your situation, the only factor that limits tire width is frame/fork clearance, you will be fine even with a 23mm real width tire, not mentioning a Conti tyre that runs wider than claimed. Zipp should publish specifications for the range of tire sizes that their wheels will accept.
Is this bike salvageable? I have an old Peugeot Vagabond. It's been sitting out in the New Mexico weather for more than a few years. I'm wondering if it's worth trying to fix up, or if I should just go get a new bike? I tried to get the chain off (yes, with a chain tool), but it's not going to come off without conside...	If any of your bearings or hubs are seized, you’ll need to rebuild them which isn’t expensive in terms of parts (just bearings and grease), but is labor intensive and requires special tools. I’d sell the frame to someone who wants to rebuild it and already has all the parts — or find a donor bike with a cracked frame t...
Vibration and wobble after replacing chain I'm having a bit of trouble getting my back wheel on after replacing my chain. There is a wobble once per revolution. It wobbles such that, if viewed from above, it appears to spin straight for most of the revolution then veers to the right briefly then back to straight. Fur...	If it is very taut then it could be pulling the wheel to the side every time the cranks hit this position. Rotate the wheel slowly and find the spot where the rim pulls to the side.
How do carbon fibre road bikes handle rough conditions? I'm considering buying a entry level road bike for around 2000€. I'll use it for commuting every day 20km and for long rides up to 150km. I'll try to use an older bike when it rains, but I'll have to ride the new one sometimes. Also, on my longer rides, I can'...	Carbon road bikes, as they actually exist for the most part, are excellent at being structurally strong against all the typical loads on a bike, but are relatively vulnerable to incidental damage compared to metal bikes. Just be certain that the bike you choose allows wider tires if needed (for gravel...)
Broken fork and front wheel after head-on crash, need to replace headset? Crashed out a couple of months ago, broke my front wheel, fork, and left collarbone. The crash busted my fork pretty bad, I can't even turn the front wheel now without it getting stuck on the frame. Will I need to replace the headset as well? As ...	If the headset was damaged, how it happened was probably that the fork steerer banged against one of the races and dented it, which would cause your fork to feel loose in the headset and not turn smoothly. If your frame is made of carbon, you may need to do a further diagnosis, not for the headset but for the frame. I ...
Does toddler need a helmet inside a bicycle trailer? I am thinking about buying a trailer for my 1yo daughter. They are quite common in my region (southern Germany) but I haven't seen a single kid with a helmet inside. I know that there is no law that regulates it. Does trailer's manual ask to wear a helmet? Or are the...	If I had a child in a trailer, I would put a helmet on them. They may cause (smaller) injuries to their sibling next to them
Is it a good idea to lift the front wheel to go through small bumps? I was wondering if it is a good idea, when riding fast on a road bike, to lift the front wheel when I find a 5-10cm bump. Does it damage the rear wheel more? Is it good or bad for the front wheel? I feel like I don't feel so much the bump if I do th...	Doing so will help the rear wheel to bump over the obstacle and minimize risk of wheel damage.
New inner tube bulges near the valve when inflated I've installed a new inner tube in my wheel. I checked the tube doesn't make a knot. When I inflate the tube, it bulges near the valve, and this rubs against the brakes. REF tube: 32/47 609/642 REF tyre: 42-622 700 x 40C What could be the cause of this (wrong si...	It's probably a good idea to get one side of the tire off the rim and make sure the tube is installed correctly too.
Chain slips on low and high gear and sometimes when putting some strain into it I have been running an 8 speed cassette/freewheel, don't which cuz I never checked before it seized the other day.I was using it with a 7 speed shifter, not ideal I know but it worked OK just used 7 of the 8 cogs. As mentioned above, the o...	if your chains still slipping, shift to the smallest cog and loosen the cable screw , put tension on your cable and tighten it back up. The solution for you is to either: use 9-speed indexed shifter, use non-indexed shifter, come back to 7/8-speed cassette or rebuild your current 9 speed cassette with 8 speed spacers a...
Knowing what size bike to look for I am presently riding a hybrid that apparently is a bit too small for me, and I'd like to replace it with a road bike. Having ridden this improperly-sized bike for as long as I have (about 8 months, including one MS150), I am interested in making sure that the next bike I buy is prope...	As you say, bike sizes (either nominal seat tube length or small-medium-large etc) are only an approximation. Don't be afraid to ask to view and test bikes offered on Craigslist.
Reduced braking force in V brakes I have a foldie which has always had bad/weak rear brakes, which keep getting worse. To preempt the response that they are expected to be weaker than front brake, this isnt a question about weight transfer, or traction being lower in the back, or the rear wheel locking up sooner. Rig...	Concerning your inability to tightly grab the rim with your break pads: You should check the lever you are using. This indicates an enormous amount of wear, that is not justified by your mileage, whatsoever. You might want to replace the housing and cable.
Any knowledge on LaFree Electric Bicycle? I have this LaFree Electric Bike, all I really know about it is that it was made by Giant. I am an Electrical Engineering student and I am looking at bringing new life into it, would it be worth updating to more modern standards? Any information on this bike is greatly apprec...	Give the bike parts a bike safety check, and probably replace the brake pads just because ebikes are heavy.
Rear derailleur moves to much for each click - tried everything Two years ago I build a bike (flat bar) with SRAM 1x11. Around a month ago the rear-derailleur broke (guide pulley broke). I bought a new rear derailleur: Shimano 105 RD-5800-GS. After installation shifting got bad. The rear derailleur moves to far for e...	You started with a SRAM derailleur and a compatible SRAM shifter, which worked.
How to improve climbing speed new cyclist here. I've recently started riding and have worked my way up to a 50K in 2 hours 24 minutes, averaging 21 km/h. I noticed that I really wasn't able to carry my speed through climbs and would like to know how to improve. On flat ground I can go 23-24 km/h but am usually going at...	That being said, I really drive through the watts when climbing to keep cadence up. Summary: when I focus on cadence I am not as concerned with how slow I am going and push myself to try lower gears on familiar hills.
Why am I breaking Pitlock spring washers so frequently? I'm hoping some pitlock users out there can help me out. I've installed these on a pair of new bikes to add some protection for some expensive wheels. They seem to be a decent deterrent. My problem is that I can't seem to remove them without splitting the thin, no...	The solution was to install the pitlocks with the bike on the side to make sure once aligned the washer hexagons will stay flush outside the hexagonal recess - making one flat surface. The spring washers are wearing parts in theory but they shouldn’t break that easily.
Is this cone nut in proper condition? This is the original cone nut of a new coaster brake hub I bought recently. I didn't install it yet, it's new. What bothers me are those weird stains / corrosion signs on the bearing surface.It looks like the chrome plating is damaged (or whatever plating is on them) by corrosion ...	However I expect it is just a poor flashing of zinc or cadmium (both soft, shouldn't be cadmium nowadays), that would normally wear straight off the bearing surfaces as soon as ridden.
Is there a bicycle designed for slow riding? I enjoy my road bike, but recently my children have become old enough to ride, but still very slowly. I'd like to be able to ride with them on all or mostly flat pavement, but the road bike just isn't pleasant for slow riding as it takes more effort to balance and isn't tha...	Generally speaking, a bicycle with a longer wheelbase will be more stable when ridden slowly.
Chain shifting when back pedaling On my bike I found that when I backpedal, if the chain isnt perfectly straight, it is prone to shift to a more central gear. E.g would be if on the small chainring and the largest cog, backpedaling even a turn or two seems to result in a shift to the 2nd or 3rd cog. I came across a sim...	If you watch the chain closely when you pedal backwards, you can actually see the top of the chain go slack and flop around a bit. If there is a grinding feel to it or it feels very stiff a bit of maintenance may be due. There is too much grease inside
Could you reduce the weight of a Santa Cruz Chameleon down from 12.82 kg to 10kg (2018 model)? I am currently thinking of getting my first mountain bike, I have ridden a lot of cyclocross and am used to a 10kg bike but am not that familiar where you could save weight on a mountain bike. What components would you use t...	You could save weight on the wheelset with carbon hoops, lighter tires, lighter cassette. As others have noted, you're better off looking at the Highball, which is more XC than aggressive/trail.
Would a recumbent bike be allowed at an ultra endurance event? & Why is no one using one? When I look at ultra-endurance races, for example, https://www.transcontinental.cc/ I always think two things: Wow! I want to do this This is ideal for a recumbent bike! So, I wonder: Would this be allowed? I kind of assu...	There are endurance rides specifically for recumbent cycles, sometimes alongside sit-up bikes and sometimes 'bents only. I don't see anything in the TCR that expressly forbids the use of recumbents but it would be worth reaching out to the organizers to make sure. Weight - recumbents aren't inherently heavier, but cost...

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