All Questions
14
votes
4answers
4k views
Whatever happened to solid bike tubes?
As a child I had solid rubber inner tubes in my bike. They were a pain to get on but after I never had a flat again!
Now I've recently started biking again and have had two flats in two days, each ...
6
votes
6answers
2k views
Ever seen a locking bag that could be locked to the bike?
This might take a little explaining.
I've got stuff on my bike that removes easily and could be stolen: head light, tail light, cyclometer. If I'm riding to a concert or something, I don't want to ...
4
votes
4answers
604 views
How can I get started riding without spending a fortune (too much)?
I've just recently moved to a city (Seattle) where owning a car seems less appropriate than it has to me in the past. Before, I lived in a far more suburban environment where biking was more-or-less ...
4
votes
3answers
6k views
Heavier Thicker Chains and Gears for Winter due to Salt?
I have two bikes: one having gear-things outside and one with inner-hub. The gear-outside-bike has suffered a lot due to the salt during this winter, the other hilariously looks like a new one. I ...
26
votes
9answers
3k views
How to do a track stand?
I want to be able to do a track stand. I can almost come to a halt on my bike without taking my shoes out the cleats - but not quite.
In theory, on a fixed wheel it should be easier, but I can't ...
19
votes
10answers
1k views
What to wear when it's cold?
If I put on heavy clothes it will be very hot inside them after the warm-up. If I wear only a T-shirt I'll freeze.
What's the solution?
I ride around 20 km in a hilly city, with temperatures between ...
10
votes
5answers
3k views
How much to eat and drink during a 50km ride?
I want to try a 50 km ride for the first time, to be completed continuously one morning.
The most I've even done before is an 18 km (70 minute) each way commute (out in the morning and back in the ...
8
votes
6answers
2k views
Bike Size to Human Size Conversion Chart
I am just shopping for used bikes right now online. I want to try and save myself a trip to visit the bikes by determining which bikes will fit me.
Does anyone have an approximate height-bike size ...
28
votes
5answers
3k views
Should I change both tires when I need to change one?
I know that it's a best practice in a car to change all 4 tires if you change 1, although in practice, it's only done if 3 need to be changed. Does the same thing hold true of a bike?
22
votes
7answers
2k views
How do I determine the correct position for my bicycle seat?
I have been suffering from IT band problems on my outer knee, which I'm pretty sure were caused by raising my seat height too much. I raised the seat on the advice of a friend who said that a higher ...
18
votes
2answers
438 views
How to wash a bike properly?
I use my bicycle in a typical urban commute setting. No extreme MTB, but it still accumulates some dust and grime.
How should I wash my bicycle?
14
votes
7answers
5k views
What is the biggest component difference between a cheap road bike and an expensive road bike?
I am shopping around for road bikes now, and I wanted to know what components to look for. I am not talking about the frame, carbon or otherwise, I mean types of shifters, brakes, cranks, rims, etc.
14
votes
11answers
555 views
Urban Cycling Safety Innovations
Portland, Oregon is one of several U.S. cities with a progressive bicycling culture. A couple of innovations the city has implemented are "bike boxes" and "sharrows".
Bike boxes are road markings ...
14
votes
4answers
1k views
Should I buy a PVC or aluminum roller?
I'm currently trying to choose between the CycleOps PVC roller and the CycleOps Aluminum roller. How big of a difference is there between them? I don't really care about riding the roller outdoors, so ...
11
votes
4answers
42k views
How can I tell which size chain my bike uses?
After learning how to break a chain and reattach it, and also how to add and remove a master link, I find that I can now do much more in the way of maintenance at home. I'll no longer need to bring my ...
9
votes
8answers
322 views
Map during touring?
Do you attach your map to the bike or have some sort of desktop or how do you maintain your map during touring? You surely need some sort of cover but if you have how do you attach it to your bike or ...
8
votes
5answers
2k views
What type of chain lube is best for winter riding?
I've read a lot about wet vs dry chain lube and there doesn't seem a definitive answer on whether to use wet or dry chain lube in the winter. Some forums are full of people saying they only use dry ...
7
votes
5answers
301 views
What can I do to be sure I'm getting a fair deal when buying a used bike?
I've been looking at used bikes but I'm worried that I will get taken advantage of because I don't know a lot about bikes. Are there key questions or things I should look for when shopping for a used ...
6
votes
3answers
395 views
How can one estimate drag for a bicycle?
I am curious how to estimate drag for a bicycle. This has two different framings:
Find the amount of power required to ride at a certain speed. That is, when one is traveling at a constant speed, ...
6
votes
1answer
303 views
How are tire sizes measured?
I tried getting a good measurement with my caliper, but the flexibility of the tire doesn't help much. Let's say I have a 26"x2.125" tire. I know this fits on an ISO 559mm bead seat diameter rim, and ...
29
votes
4answers
859 views
Building from scratch VS buying new
What are the pros and cons about building a bike from scratch VS buying it new?
25
votes
6answers
9k views
How to store a bike outside and still avoid rapid decay?
I've got insufficient space to store my bike inside. I fear however that it will rust away within a few years. My question is twofold:
A) Will this be a problem?
B) What can I do to prevent this ...
15
votes
5answers
630 views
Does drafting cause resistance to the lead rider?
I know that when riding close to another cyclist, I expend less energy to go the same speed. But does the Conservation of Energy "law" mean that the lead cyclist is going to expend more energy to ...
12
votes
5answers
610 views
Which kind of tube valve is the best?
What kind of valve is the best one, a Presta valve (6mm) or a Schrader valve (8mm).
Which has the best reliability, which one is easiest to fix a flat on?
11
votes
7answers
3k views
How to store bicycles outside during winter
Okay. I have a bike which I would like to store for around six moths. Winter temperatures can be as low as -30 C. The problem is that I do not have an indoor storage space, so it is going to reside on ...
11
votes
4answers
234 views
How to encourage people close to me to become cyclists?
Sometimes you try to help somebody get into cycling (buy girlfriend a bike, fix up a
friend's bike, give a bike to family, help friend shop for bike) and they never
really get into it and fall back ...
9
votes
2answers
2k views
How can I tell if a chain has a master link?
I need to remove the chain on my internal-hub cruiser to clean it (i.e., no rear or front deraileur), and I'd rather not remove my back wheel if I can avoid that. What do I look for to find the master ...
8
votes
1answer
199 views
Water safety during touring?
This question raised a new sub-problem of which I was not at all aware of.
I carry a heater to boil the water before I drink it but I am unsure whether it removes all dirt from water. Please, note ...
8
votes
2answers
1k views
At what height should I have my seat on a road bike?
I am currently riding a loaner from my brother in-law, and I have set the seat height based upon feel. I was wondering though as to how I can set it to the right height for me to ride more ...
5
votes
8answers
4k views
Are there substitutes for chain lubricant?
With long journeys and particularly during winter I have noticed that the salt erodes the chain very quickly, even when I have lubricated the chain beforehand. When you are missing proper chain ...
4
votes
4answers
373 views
Carrying water during touring?
The earlier question, here, raised this question about carrying water.
How do you carry water during touring? Do yo carry it in panniers, water-bags, bottles, containers or elsewhere? How does your ...
20
votes
7answers
2k views
What are the pros and cons of panniers vs messenger bags?
I was shopping for new panniers and thought it might be worth it to also check out messenger bags as an alternative. What are the basic pros and cons of each?
I started out using just a regular back ...
11
votes
3answers
2k views
Should I oil my seat post?
In a previous question I asked how to remove rust from my seat tube/post. In the comments of one answer somebody said I should be oiling my seat post to prevent it from rusting into my seat tube, but ...
8
votes
4answers
4k views
29" wheels - what advantage do they provide over smaller wheels?
I was wondering what advantages 29" wheels give. From what I understand they are well suited to mountain biking. Are they any use on road bikes perhaps?
7
votes
6answers
2k views
Kickstands and mountain bikes
Why is it that many people often recommend against using kickstands on mountain bikes? Does it have something to do with offroad riding (perhaps something could get caught there?), or are kickstands a ...
7
votes
3answers
1k views
Summer rain jacket recommendations
I'm commuting an hour each way each day in summer now and it rains sometimes.
I have a GoreTex jacket which I bought 10 years ago for walking in. With additional inner warm clothes I wear it in ...
3
votes
6answers
763 views
How can I find an adult-sized passenger trailer? [closed]
Are bicyle passenger trailers limited to child sizes? I have looked for larger sizes but most stores only offer trailers sized for children. It would be an inline trailer sized for a small to medium ...
37
votes
14answers
7k views
Bicycling apps for Android [closed]
I have an Android smartphone, with GPS, accelerometer, 3G internet connection, and other features that seem useful for bicycling. Are there any good bicycling apps on Android?
One app per answer ...
31
votes
7answers
2k views
What advanced cycling skills are useful for a commuter or city rider?
I'm a commuter; I mostly ride around the city to get to work, go shopping, visit friends, and stop by the pub. I have basic cycling skills down; proper mounting and dismounting, signaling turns, ...
47
votes
16answers
4k views
How to clean up at work after a commute?
I would like to bicycle commute to work, but we don't have showers or any place I can change. How can I clean up and carry clothing? My office is business casual, but I need to look neat and ...
47
votes
12answers
1k views
Is pollution a problem in urban cycling?
I usually ride a bicycle in Barcelona. I'm concerned about pollution and I take an anti-pollution mask. Of course, some people scream because they confuse me with Hannibal Lecter but currently that's ...
20
votes
4answers
465 views
Basic toolkit for bicycle maintenance
What should be in the basic toolkit for someone that wants to maintain their own bicycle?
I'm looking for something for your average day to day maintenance and tools that I will get the most use out ...
17
votes
2answers
914 views
Practical cleaning routine for a commuter bike
I regularly (almost daily) ride my bike, often in bad weather. I mostly ride on roads, but sometimes through parks, forest etc. on unpaved surfaces. My bike is usually rather dirty, at least the lower ...
14
votes
15answers
3k views
iPhone 4 bike mount recommendations
Can anyone recommend a good bike mount for the iPhone 4?
There seem to be a lot of reviews for the old models.
Update: I'm mounting this on a Trek 1.5 Triple with Bontrager SSR VR bars.
Update: ...
13
votes
12answers
475 views
Where can I find local bike routes?
Where are the best places to find bike maps with local routes and trails?
Places I typically reference when searching for this includes:
Most local bike shops (LBS) have local maps available or for ...
15
votes
2answers
3k views
What exercise should I do in the gym to assist with hill-climbing?
I have a few events coming up this year which have a fair amount of climbing (one is over a hundred miles with about 6500ft of ascent - that's an average of just over 1% for the entire distance). ...
14
votes
2answers
4k views
Explaining the effects of frame geometries
I asked about buying a bike here, and someone asked on my behalf about test-riding a bike before buying.
My question is, what should I know, or should have known, about the sizing or 'geometry' of a ...
13
votes
6answers
2k views
Night cycling: Is it worth using electroluminescent wire?
It's currently winter in the UK, so for my commete to and from work I need lights and reflective surfaces for safety. I've read about local people losing their lives cycling, so I don want to make ...
13
votes
6answers
883 views
Cross Training routines for longer rides
I am trying to build up to longer rides (75 - 100 miles). I usually only have time for one long ride a week. I can squeeze in one or two shorter rides of 20 miles or so. How can I build mileage under ...
12
votes
4answers
458 views
Optimal Maintenance Schedule
It is forecast to rain this weekend so I was thinking I would drop a tarp down over my living room floor and give my bikes a bit of a tune up.
Question
What maintenance needs to be done on your ...
