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.
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 ...
9
votes
8answers
13k 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 ...
8
votes
2answers
357 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 ...
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 ...
13
votes
4answers
382 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?
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 ...
14
votes
13answers
404 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 ...
9
votes
4answers
5k 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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
10
votes
4answers
656 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?
6
votes
3answers
390 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
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 ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
How to take apart this rear BMX hub?
As shown in the photo, what tool do I need to take this rear hub apart? I assume I need a tool which will fit in the 4 notches.
The problem I am trying to fix is that if you pedal, the rear cog spins ...
3
votes
3answers
591 views
Best practice for patching snakebite pinch flats on skinny tubes
So, I tend to run 700x23c or 700x25c tires on my commuter bike. Sometimes I'm lazy and forget to check the air pressure and inevitably get a pinch flat when I hit some stationary object, pothole, or ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
Slipping gears on new Electra Townie 8i
I just got an Electra Townie 8i bike and the gears are acting weird. I hear clicking noises when pedaling and sometimes it slips down to a lower gear. This is especially true for 4th gear.
Is this ...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
When do bearings need to be replaced?
How do I know when bearings need to be replaced?
Should I go by time? Or is there a symptom to guide me?
2
votes
3answers
573 views
Vibrations in frame when pedaling
Recently, when I pedal sufficiently hard, I begin to feel vibrations through the whole frame of the bike. They are not so strong as to make the bike un-ridable, but neither are they road chatter. I ...
2
votes
4answers
736 views
Which size spoke tool. Currently size 14
I have this spoke tool. The number I use on this tool is 14. I use it on a hybrid mountain bike.
.
I want to get one which is easier to use but I do not know which size.
Here are the available ...
2
votes
5answers
6k views
How to straighten a bent derailleur hanger?
I've bent (again) my derailleur hanger. It's a replaceable hanger but for this summer I can't get an original one and I know that the non-original one I can get is made in a harder material and could ...
1
vote
1answer
676 views
How to determine size of freewheel?
My previous question was: How to take apart this rear BMX hub?
How do I determine the size of my freewheel to replace it?
I have seen on bicycle sites that a freewheel comes in sizes like 14t, 16t, ...
1
vote
2answers
5k views
Shimano Revoshift repair
My bike has a grip shift (Shimano revoshift) which isn't shifting through all 8 gears. Even with the gear cable removed (it recently broke) it will only shift through half of the gear numbers and ...
0
votes
3answers
787 views
How long does it take to replace bottom bracket bearings?
How long does it take to replace bottom bracket bearings? Is there anything that can make the procedure take more or less time? How does the type of mechanism affect repair time?
