Bike Repair

Rear derailleurs (shown in Figure 14-1) have been known to give even experi­enced bike mechanics headaches at times. They do double-duty: keeping the chain under tension and guiding it back and forth between the cogs as the rider shifts. Slight changes in tension of the …

Like many other parts of the bike, there are a plethora of different styles of handlebars on the market. You can find handlebars for road racing, mountain biking, touring, and everyday riding. Of these different types, two shapes are predominant — the drop-down road-bike style …

If you’re lucky, you’ll never have to repair your bike anywhere but in the comfort of your own shop at home. But nobody’s that lucky. The fact is, if you ride long enough, sooner or later you’re going to break down on the side of …

In This Chapter ^ Preventing flat tires ^ Removing a wheel, tire, and tube ^ Patching a punctured tube and fixing a tire ^ Putting the tire, tube, and wheel back together again hy does it always seem like a flat tire comes at the …

If you buy a new chain, you’ll find that it’s probably much too long for your bike — manufacturers sell chains longer than necessary so that they can fit a variety of different types of bikes. You need to make sure you’re using the proper …

In This Chapter ^ Performing a safety inspection of your bike before you ride ^ Assembling a tool kit for daily rides and extended trips ^ Minimizing wear and tear and preventing accidents ^ Cleaning and lubricating your bike after a ride ^ Stowing away …

Earlier in this chapter, we cover important bike parts and how they work together as different systems to support the bike’s proper functioning. Here we want to take a moment to mention some other very critical bike parts or “systems” that are discussed in great …

Wheels are an amazing feat of engineering — a handful of thin spokes woven together to provide enough structural integrity to support the weight of a rider going across various types of surfaces. To accomplish this feat, the spokes must be laced to the wheel …

Frame materials are often compared based on the qualities of strength, stiff­ness, and weight: ✓ Strength: Strength refers to the durability of the frame. If you crashed, a stronger frame would be more likely to survive the crash intact. For a mountain bike that’s going …

Just as important as adjusting the handlebars is finding the right position for your saddle. If your saddle is set too high or too low, you’ll lose efficiency as you pedal and may even cause strain or injury to your body. We can’t tell you …