Repairing your bike when something is broken. REPAIR is not the same as MAINTENANCE, a separate tag. Repair is what one does only when something is broken. Maintenance is what one does on a regular basis.
33
votes
6answers
8k views
Can I ride home with a broken spoke?
I noticed a wobble in my back wheel while commuting in this morning. Broken spoke. Is this a problem that I should take care of before my 7 mile commute home, or can I pick up a spoke and repair it at ...
21
votes
8answers
1k views
Alternatives to buying a repair stand?
I'd like to buy a repair stand, but I can never seem to convince myself to drop the $100 minimum it seems I'd need to spend. Has anybody had any success building a stand themselves, or is it worth it ...
19
votes
11answers
2k views
Do glueless tube patches work as well as glue ones?
Quite a few years ago I tried some glueless patches for repairing my punctured tubes while out on the road, and found that they rarely stayed on for very long. I know that technology has advanced a ...
15
votes
13answers
407 views
What tips do you have for making temporary “get me home” repairs?
I do some mountain biking in remote parts of wales. I usually carry a minimal tool kit: pump, spare inner tube, and multi tool.
I'm wondering if you have any temporary 'get me home' repair tips I ...
13
votes
7answers
668 views
What tools on a multi-tool do I actually need?
I feel like there are almost as many bike multi-tools out there as there are bikers. In a single trip to REI, I found nine different bike tools each ranging from only four to over thirty individual ...
13
votes
4answers
385 views
How do I align a wheel?
I broke a couple of spokes on my wheel, now it's all bent, how can I align it back again? What kind of tools do I need to do a good job?
12
votes
16answers
3k views
What is a simple mnemonic for remembering the thread direction when removing pedals?
Given that pedal threads are different on the left and right pedals: the right side pedal has a right-hand thread (removes counterclockwise, installs clockwise); the left side pedal has a left-hand ...
12
votes
3answers
398 views
What is the maximum number of pucture repairs an inner tube can take?
Any thoughts - my spare tube that I carry in my bag currently has a dozen or so patches on it, but still works fine. I'm tempted to keep going to see how many I can get on there until it get ...
12
votes
3answers
3k views
Repairing a bent bike frame, is it worth it?
I have a bike with an incredibly bent frame. The bike itself I have tried to replace with other inexpensive bixes, but this one just had a certain geometry that I keep wanting to resurrect it. It is ...
12
votes
2answers
2k views
Sequence for a complete road bike overhaul
I have a road bike that I plan to completely overhaul soon. Over the years, and with several bikes, I have overhauled most every component, but have never managed to do this for an entire bike, start ...
11
votes
4answers
3k views
How do I know if it's worth restoring my bike?
I found myself in need of a bike, but buying a new one is out of the question. So two possibilities remain:
buy a used one for a low price;
fix one of my old bikes.
But here comes another problem ...
11
votes
7answers
252 views
Riding Repair Kit
As most of my riding is limited to intra-city commuting (on bus routes) or on bike paths, I have not really faced a dire need for a repair kit while riding. I am looking into pulling off a three hour ...
11
votes
9answers
4k views
Patch or replace tube?
Is it worth patching a tube on a mountain bike, or just replace it with a new one?
There are a lot of 1/2" - 3/4" thorns here in Texas, and I use 26 x 1.95 tubes.
Any particular patch type/brand ...
10
votes
13answers
1k views
What are the most important things to bring on a ride?
On one of my recent ride, my bike broke down. My rear derailleur got pushed into the rims and broke. Since I have never gotten stuck like that before, I've never bothered to take anything with me ...
10
votes
4answers
686 views
Are bicycle helmets repairable or disposable?
Suppose I wear a bicycle helmet, and I fall hard and my helmet cracks. Do I buy a new helmet or can I try repair the old one with some glue?
10
votes
8answers
15k views
How to get a very tight tire back on the rim?
I needed to change the tube as a consequence of a flat tire and I am in the situation that it's just impossible to put the tire back on the rim.
In almost ten years of experience with road bikes and ...
10
votes
4answers
6k views
Removing a stuck pedal
I'm sure this question must have already been answered somewhere here, but it doesn't show up in any search results I make...
I'm changing the pedals on a 40 year old bike. Pretty sure the pedals are ...
8
votes
7answers
3k views
When should you replace tires after getting a flat?
A nail punctured my rear wheel tire today while riding.
My question is, how do you know if you need to replace a tire or simply repair it with a tube repair kit?
The hole looks pretty nasty. The cap ...
8
votes
2answers
367 views
What should I do to get an older bike into good condition
I recently bought a hybrid human/electric bicycle at a garage sale, and I've been working on getting it into usable shape again. It is about 10 years old, and needs some work. The battery was quite ...
8
votes
7answers
9k views
How to remove a crank arm with stripped threads?
A friend called me up yesterday after a mis-adventure during his attempt at a bottom bracket overhaul. He stripped out the threads on the (left) crank arm while using a Park crank puller. In a pinch, ...
8
votes
2answers
784 views
Is it possible to repair a dent on an aluminium frame?
I have Centurion Cyclo Cross 4000 bike. Recently I got into an accident with a car door. As a result I have a significant dent on my frame(see the photos below).
I have two questions:
Is it ...
8
votes
5answers
592 views
How can I tell if a rim is bent or if the wheel is just out of true?
How can I tell if a rim is bent or if the wheel is just out of true?
8
votes
4answers
2k views
How can I tell a bike is safe after a crash?
I was recently in an accident where a car pulled out on me. I hit the car around the front wheel and me and the bike went over the bonnet and landed on the road, the other side of the car. I was ...
7
votes
3answers
973 views
Restoring an old xUSSR bicycle for commuting… Feasible? Silly?
I've got a very old bicycle from the xUSSR days in my garage (outside UK atm). I'm not sure what year / model it is, to be honest...
I've been commuting to work (8.5 miles each way) almost every day ...
7
votes
5answers
392 views
Is a tire patch kit really necessary for urban commute?
I'm cycling for urban commute, on well-maintained roads and bike paths, Vittoria Randonneur "puncture resistant" tires, and at no point on my ride am I more than 1/2 mile (usually within 1/4, I bet) ...
7
votes
2answers
324 views
I was in a collision the other day. What should I check?
I was making a left hand turn the other day when a u-turning vehicle t-boned me.
I somehow managed to land on my feet, but the bike didn't fare as well. It landed on the drive side.
My back wheel ...
7
votes
5answers
225 views
Patching waterproof panniers
I've managed to tear a couple holes in my panniers. Nothing enormous; they can still hold their contents, but they definitely need patching.
What would be a good way to patch them, keeping them ...
7
votes
1answer
541 views
If the chain/cog no longer drives the wheel, can this be fixed?
Suddenly (without anything sounding like it was broken) the chain no longer turns the back wheel. The cogged part of the wheel is turned by the chain but this doesn't turn the wheel.
Is this ...
7
votes
2answers
160 views
Buying a CO2 tyre inflater
I am thinking about buying a CO2 tyre inflater. I have never used one before and have 3 questions:
Do they have enough pressure to get a road tyre up to full pressure (~100psi)
When you use a ...
7
votes
1answer
158 views
Do I need to get a replacement bike for this broken chainring?
I wanted a cheap commuter bike, and just received this bike from Amazon. I have little knowledge about bikes, but looks like the middle chain-ring is broken to me.
Is this indeed broken, or is it ...
7
votes
3answers
236 views
How can I properly replace the hose on this older Schwinn pump?
I have the following Schwinn bike pump. It’s pretty old, perhaps 30 years or more. I like it a lot.
Some years ago, I changed to Presta valves; for this I needed a new head. I got a Topeak ...
7
votes
1answer
362 views
Older Carbon Bike Safety
I have an older Trek 2100 that has carbon fiber tubes with aluminum stays (The frame is used early 90's 2100/2150/2200/2300 road bikes)
After a recent accident with a car (going down hill, guy pulls ...
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 ...
6
votes
2answers
450 views
removing broken mudguard/fender bolt from eyelet
A couple of years ago I tightened the bolt attaching my rear mudguard/fender to the eyelet at the hub and it snapped, leaving a 5mm long section of bolt stuck in the thread. Since then I've tried ...
6
votes
1answer
3k views
Chain slipping off derailleur jockey (need suggestions ASAP)
Last week, I had to abandon a training ride due to my chain slipping off my rear derailleur jockey. This would only happen when shifting, and most often when either shifting chainrings or shifting ...
6
votes
2answers
219 views
What do I do when I don't trust my LBS to repair a problem they caused?
I have a Sturmey Archer 3-speed hub on an ex-single speed. I got a flat on my way to work and couldn't ride any more. So I jumped on the train and took it to the bike shop near work (the shop who ...
6
votes
3answers
396 views
What am I supposed to do when my chain falls off?
It happened when I "stepped on it" (on an empty residential street). It left the chain on the road.
What tool(s) and parts should I have had with me, to fix it?
It was replaced (new) two months ago, ...
5
votes
4answers
628 views
Sources of vibration at high speed in and around rear wheel
I’m experiencing vibration somewhere in the rear half of the bicycle when descending at high speed (say more than 30 mph), and I haven’t been able to pinpoint the cause. Everything looks fine, ...
5
votes
4answers
726 views
How long should spokes last?
Trek Fx 7.3, 1 year old, 1900 miles
3 days short of my 1 year bike purchase anniversary I discovered some broken spokes on the rear wheel. The bike shop gave me a new wheel they had in the shop, an ...
5
votes
1answer
179 views
There is a lip on my brake pad from bad positioning. Can I remove the lip?
One of my bikes had the brake pads positioned poorly and they developed a pretty pronounced lip where the pad hung off machined braking surface on one side. The bike is using cantilever brakes.
These ...
5
votes
1answer
112 views
Unused puncture repair patch - what's its useful shelf life?
Sometimes I fish around in my shed for a repair kit and pull out a pair of patches which have been sat around for a while (a year?) I find the patches are stiff (even though they're still in their ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
How do I get rid of this clicking sound in the back wheel?
Difficult to diagnose, I know.
Basically, I bought a single speed Schwinn a few months ago, and after riding it for a couple of weeks it started clicking in the back wheel somewhere.
I've taken it ...
4
votes
6answers
1k views
Why does the glue in a puncture repair kit dry up so quickly?
With puncture repair kits, generally you get like 6-8 patches and a tube of glue.
The only problem is I can really only use the glue for the first patch because once it opens, it just ends up drying ...
4
votes
3answers
281 views
Cost of maintenance of a roadbike
I am going to buy a bike and ride upto 1000 km or more in a month. Adding them, I think it will come to 12 k to 15 k per year on an average.
I will be riding on highways, so there won't be any ...
4
votes
3answers
384 views
how to repair large holes in inner tubes
I find that any hole, cut or tear larger than a pinprick is impossible to repair with normal patches because they are too soft. Even a 2-3mm slit will cause the repair patch to balloon out and burst ...
4
votes
3answers
307 views
Broken pedal on an old french bike
I broke the pedal of an old french bike (Peugeut Mixte 70's). The threading doesn't fit the one in modern pedals.
Now I am wondering if I should insist in finding an old french pedal or if I should ...
4
votes
6answers
2k views
For a slightly warped wheel, is it worth getting it repaired?
My son has a relatively cheap kids mountain bike, no suspension or anything flash, and after a minor crash into a friend the back wheel is slightly out of true. It only causes issues under braking ...
4
votes
1answer
138 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 ...
4
votes
3answers
3k views
Adivce on what to do next with crunching / slipping gears
About two weeks ago I took my bike to the local bike shop to get serviced. It was previously slipping gears under load and at the end I couldn't use the lowest gear going up hill it would just slip ...
4
votes
2answers
166 views
What is the largest hole a tire can bear before replacement?
Saw this question today. The tire in question has a 2cm long hole on the inside, from a knife.
I sometimes get puncture flats from e.g. glass. Never as big as 2cm. Usually if they're less than ...
