When you clean your bike, you’ll likely remove a lot of lubrication and your bike will be thirsty for a fresh dose of oil and grease. If you’re a typical recreational rider, you may only have to give your bike a quick lube job every …
Bike Repair
Frame size is the most important consideration when fitting a bike. Unlike most other factors, the frame is one thing you can’t modify. If you end up with a bike that has a frame too small or too large, you won’t be able to adjust …
Of the three major forces which work against you as a cyclist — air resistance, gravity, and friction — it’s friction that our tireless little friends the ball bearings are designed to overcome. Bearings are one part of the bike that has changed little over …
Wheels are amazing things: Even though they have rims that are suspended by, on average, 28 to 36 thin metal spokes, they can take a tremendous amount of punishment. A wheel gets its strength from the equal or balanced tension spread across its spokes. Remove …
At this point, you should have a patched or replaced tube, a tire free of debris, and the enthusiasm of knowing that this pit stop is just about over. After you finish the final steps of putting the tire and tube back on the wheel, …
Brake cables are a critical component of your braking system. You can have new brake pads, but if your brake cables give out, you won’t be able to stop your bike when you need to. Each time you give a hard squeeze to your brake …
Just like other parts of a bike, a freewheel or cassette will eventually wear out and have to be replaced. You can identify a worn freewheel the same way you identify a worn chainring (see Chapter 10) — by the teeth. Here are some clues …
In This Chapter ^ Understanding how derailleurs work ^ Removing, installing, and adjusting the rear and front derailleurs ^ Changing derailleur cables ^ Removing and installing the shifters 7 his chapter covers inspection, removal, installation, and adjustment of the shifting system, including the cable system, …
How you store your bike is an important factor in its maintenance. Protecting your bike from the elements should be the most important consideration in storing it. Even for short-term storage such as overnight or for a few days, you should try to bring it …
If your local bike shop determines that you need a certain size frame, they’ll still need to have you sit on the bike to confirm that the frame’s dimensions suit your body type. Two 20-inch frames can vary significantly based on the dimensions in which …