Mountain bike (MTB) can mean almost any kind of off-road bicycle. Wide knobby tires, flat handlebars, maybe shocks, probably a sturdy frame...
26
votes
12answers
4k views
What type of tires can prevent goatheads?
We have a lot of goatheads1 in our area, and they have a tendency to do something like this to bike tires:
Unfortunately, I ride a road bike (specifically a Kona Dew), so I have much smaller, ...
1
vote
1answer
26 views
Is there any replacement for the chainrings of a Shimano STX crankset?
I have a Shimano STX Crankset (probably FC-MC series or similar, around 2001) with worn out chainrings (5 Arms). Is there any contemporary replacement opportunity for either the chainrings or the ...
1
vote
1answer
42 views
FC-M330 replacement
I have a Trek 4500 with a Shimano FC-M330 crankset. I need to replace the crankset and was hoping that someone could tell me the current replacement. I believe that I have narrowed it down to the ...
3
votes
1answer
54 views
upsweep and backsweep for mtb handlebars
Characteristics of the following bars for MTB are:
• 780mm wide
• 30mm rise
• 5˚ up-sweep
• 7˚ back-sweep
I know what effects do the width and rise have on the feel and riding. But what about ...
-2
votes
0answers
67 views
Looking for a solid MTB/hybrid bike for my girlfriend
My girlfriend is 5' 1" and I was looking at this bike: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/3htw_womens_xiii.htm#geo
but wasn't sure if motobecane bikes are good or not. She's new to biking ...
3
votes
0answers
80 views
Suspension fork - Can you leave them locked for a long time?
My bike's two years old (about 1800km on it, almost all road and bridleway) and kept in a garage. Back in November or so I locked the front suspension fork for road-riding, and over the winter ...
3
votes
2answers
166 views
Can a 10-speed mountain bike chain be used on a 10-speed road bike?
I would like to use a Shimano Deore XT Chain CN-HG94 on my road bike. Are there any differences between roadbike chains versus mountain bike chains that prohibit this?
Sample Road Bike Chains:
Dura ...
3
votes
1answer
107 views
Bike type suggestion for packed limestone trails
Sorry, for the beginner question.
Where I live (Ontario, Canada), I am lucky enough to have a number of packed limestone trails (former railways). Those are fairly flat and great for bicycling. They ...
3
votes
2answers
171 views
How do I align my front brake disk with the caliper?
I have manual Avid disc brakes.
I took my front wheel off like I've done hundreds of times. When I put it back on the wheel is aligned properly with my fork, but the disc presses against one of the ...
0
votes
1answer
121 views
Minimum mountain groupset hard enough to resist abuse
I'm looking to upgrade my mountain bike and I would like to get something better than I have, if justified. I've never ridden any groupset better than alivio/deore, which work ok for me and have ...
3
votes
5answers
259 views
Are single-speed bikes better equipped to handle cog/chain wear?
I need to decide between a single-speed and multiple-speed bike.
I usually ride multiple-speed mountain/city bikes in the highest gear anyway (around town). They're not intended for that, and doing ...
3
votes
1answer
112 views
Does riding with suspension locked do any harm long term
I bought a Trek 4300 MTB a few months back as my main intent was to ride off-road on local dis-used railway paths. I've since moved house and my main use of the bike is now for my commute to work. ...
-1
votes
2answers
189 views
Looking for the right bike
I have been needing a new bike and I need some help with what kind of bike I should purchase. I plan on riding on mainly paved side walks but when traffic is bad I need it to endure riding over curbs ...
3
votes
1answer
148 views
Is my disc brake caliper correctly mounted on the frame?
I have been in the process of upgrading my bike a bit. A friend of mine convinced me to upgrade my brakes from my stock Shimanos to some disc brakes. After having a look around and asking question, I ...
1
vote
1answer
126 views
Why are 3 inches mountain bike handlebar hard to find? [closed]
I'm looking for a new handlebar, ideally 3 inches. But looking in some of the online shops it seems quite hard to get 31.8mm bar clamp diameter handlebar with 3" rise.
Do you know if there is any ...
3
votes
5answers
9k views
Clicking sound coming from pedals/pedal spindle/crank
I recently bought a Trek 4300 series MTB, but after only several weeks of use, I'm getting a clicking sound coming from both sides of the pedals.
It seems particularly pronounced when more torque is ...
12
votes
7answers
2k views
How can a beginner cyclist build up power?
I am a 44-year-old guy, 250 lbs (yes, overweight). I have not been on a bike in over 15 years. I just picked up a 12 Trek Marlin (Gary Fisher Collection) this weekend, and after riding for about 2 ...
8
votes
4answers
250 views
Recovering confidence after a fall
One month has passed since I fell on a mountain bike trip. The accident wasn't critical, it just left a huge scratch. The accident happened during a fast descent when my front tire hit a little crack.
...
0
votes
0answers
147 views
Good cheap mountain bike without gears or shifter [closed]
What is a good cheap mountain bike that doesn't offer a gear box sort of thing. I'm new to this world so please clarify names as well. :)
The first bike that I rode, and with which I got decent at ...
2
votes
2answers
133 views
Can I damage a tubeless rim using a wire bead tire on it?
This question is very similar to Can I use a standard tyre on a tubeless rim? but while the answers there set out that it's possible I'd like to understand the risks of doing it.
I recently saw a ...
6
votes
3answers
166 views
How to cut carbon handlebars
Last year, I installed carbon bars on one of my mountain bikes and I'm finding them too wide. I've been told that taping over the points you're going to cut at will prevent fraying/roughness, but what ...
4
votes
1answer
117 views
What to do about a stuck chain link on 10 speed chain
I put a new chain on my bike and after 3 rides or so, I developed a stiff link. I'm not sure what caused the issue, but now it barely bends at the pin at all, unless forced. It causes skipping ...
3
votes
3answers
8k views
How long should MTB disc brake pads last?
I'm fairly new to mountain biking and I was able to put in around 900 miles on my first set of brake pads on my Giant Anthem X2. At that point they started grinding metal on metal. I went and bought ...
5
votes
6answers
6k views
Choosing good slick tires for a MTB
I have an MTB with tires that roll very badly on pavement because of plastic spikes. I'm looking to get a pair of slicks and I'm hoping to get some advice here. My bike is a 29", I think they current ...
14
votes
7answers
6k views
How to get the tyre back on to the rim easily?
What is the best/easiest way to get the tyre back on to a rim after removing it to fix a puncture for example?
Some tyres can be really hard to get back on to the rim. I don't like using the tyre ...
0
votes
2answers
136 views
Chainline Alignment Front and Rear
Although I have read Sheldon Brown's All About Bicycle Chainline article I'm still struggling to understand a key point.
If you are running a different chainline to the manufacturers (new crankset) ...
3
votes
2answers
316 views
Do I need to take my weight off the bike to lock out the suspension?
I've recently bought myself a new mountain bike (my first since my schooldays...) and it has front suspension with a lock-out function. Suspension is new to me and I'm not sure how to use the ...
5
votes
4answers
289 views
How to care for a steel frame?
I'm considering getting a steel frame to upgrade from my aluminum xc bike. As it will be my first steel frame I'd like to understand if there is more after ride care required than my current bike. ...
2
votes
3answers
313 views
Should i get a hydraulic or spring type rear shock on my full suspension mountain bike?
I have not bought one yet, and i am very new to the sport. The type of riding I will be doing is dirt jumps(rather large ones), and rugged trail riding. I used a BMX for these things previously, which ...
1
vote
3answers
187 views
How much smaller frame is ok?
I'm looking to buy my first MTB and I had an online calculator tell me to get a 17.5". My measurements are height: 177cm and leg 76cm.
Thing is, I found a bike that I REALLY want, but it's the last ...
3
votes
2answers
184 views
What is a better gearing combination for downhill?
One of the tracks I've been riding recently is testing both my skill level and my bike. The track is a combination steepness and roughness that makes it significantly different to what I've previously ...
14
votes
7answers
11k views
Front suspension or full suspension mountain bike
I'm considering buying a mountain bike and have narrowed it down to two models (make and model aren't important for this question). One model is a full suspension bike (front and back), the other is ...
11
votes
4answers
486 views
Why do I always get punctures in my rear wheel?
I get probably five times as many punctures in my rear wheel as opposed to my front wheel. I run a good pressure and don't get obvious pinch flats.
Does anyone have a logical reason why this could ...
6
votes
2answers
269 views
How do I determine current value of a used bicycle?
I'm looking at purchasing a 2012 Trek Cobia from a private seller. The bike was about $1,200 new. The bike appears to be in almost new condition and contains all original equipment. The seller wants ...
0
votes
1answer
84 views
How to separate ODI grips from lock on clips?
Are there any tricks to separating ODI grips from lock on clips. I'm worried that if I go at them with a screwdriver I'll end up damaging the clips.
6
votes
6answers
5k views
brake lever will not return
My friend has a mountain bike that survived last years Queensland's floods (Australia, that is), but is all battered and bruised after not being ridden for a year. With my beginner's repair skills, I ...
1
vote
0answers
66 views
Sizing and buying advice for a 6'6" Canadian [closed]
I am a:
Canadian
6'6" tall man with 36" pants inseam
University student on a low budget ($250-300)
and am looking for a bike. Obviously that's a "tall" order but hopefully you all have some ideas. ...
2
votes
2answers
216 views
How to deal with long pre-bled brake line?
I bought and installed a set of pre-bled hydraulic brakes onto my bike to replace the mechanical discs that came with it. My future plan is to buy a new bike, transfer the brakes to my wife's bike and ...
1
vote
3answers
796 views
Is my interval training routine effective for mountain bike training?
During these winter months I am currently attending the gym 3 times a week. On each of the days I start my training on an exercise bike with the following:
5 minute warm up
30 minutes, 1 minute ...
5
votes
2answers
141 views
converting from MTB to hybrid, what should I consider
I regularly ride MTB off road and used to use the bike for commuting too.
I recently bought a hybrid for my commuting in addition to my MTB.
What should I consider in terms of maintenance and riding ...
7
votes
3answers
287 views
Could I switch tires on an MTB to tires with less friction if I mostly use the MTB in a city environment?
I thought MTBs were OK to use in the city but the friction from the tires seem to hold the bike back more than other tires would.
I got a mountain bike (Scott) and it's less than optimal on flat ...
-2
votes
4answers
716 views
How many people use their mountain bikes for road riding? [closed]
In March 2012 I purchased a Cannondale Synapse Alloy 6 road bike. I put around 2100 miles on it during the year. This year I'd like to do a bit more mountain biking, but not any real hard-core ...
4
votes
5answers
7k views
How to find a mountain bike that can handle a heavier (250-260lbs) rider?
I am a 44 year old man that is very heavy (250–260lbs(113-118kg)) and I am looking to buy my first mountain bike to do some riding on the weekend to burn off some of this fat I have.
2
votes
2answers
323 views
Can I run a wheel with a 130mm hub on a mountain bike with 135mm spacing?
I'd like to build a wheelset that would work on my cross bike or my 29er, assuming I had disc brakes on the 29er and rim brakes on the cross bike, is there any way I could use a 130mm hub (that fits ...
13
votes
12answers
26k views
Converting a MTB to a Road Bike
I just bought a new MTB and am planning to change my previous MTB into a Road Bike.
How do I do it? What kind of parts do I need to change or add or remove?
I am not looking to for a full ...
1
vote
1answer
348 views
How to mount Galaxy S3 on a mountain bike [closed]
I want to mount my Galaxy S III on my mountain bike. I already use a case that suites me well, so I don't want to go for another case. What I'm looking for is a mounting system which will mount my ...
2
votes
1answer
193 views
What happened to 69ers?
For a year or two, I remember there being a pretty big buzz around 29" front wheel, 26" rear wheel mountain bikes. They seem to have fallen off the face of the earth. What happened?
0
votes
0answers
99 views
What is the best hard trail 26in frame for me under 800 eur? [closed]
I am buying a new frame. I have decent kit: Mavic EN521/hope hoops wheelset, 140mm tapered velvet dla fork, full shimano slx groupset. All I need is a new frame because my old one is damaged (though ...
0
votes
2answers
214 views
Life expectancy of a cycle tube and tire?
Can anyone please let me know the life expectancy (no of km or time period) of a cycle tube and tire?
Let us consider different cycles (MTB Hybrid Roadbike) and different terrain (off-road slightly ...
5
votes
1answer
262 views
conversion to rigid fork
Is it possible to put a rigid fork onto a 120mm travel hardtail without upsetting the handling?
I used to ride a Kona P2 fork on a 96 AA frame, which I suppose was designed for a max. of 100 mm ...
