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15 votes
7 answers
11k views

Are road brakes designed not to brake too much?

All of my cycling fellows always told me that it's much more difficult to fully stop a road bike, compared to a mountain bike, because "road brakes just don't work so well" (and perhaps because of ...
heltonbiker's user avatar
15 votes
8 answers
15k views

If a derailleur cable snaps on a long ride, how can I keep going?

A couple weeks ago I rode around Crater Lake, a 35 mile ride with over 4500 feet of cumulative elevation gain – the sort of ride you really want functional gears for. The night before my rear ...
nhinkle's user avatar
  • 3,883
15 votes
2 answers
4k views

Why are almost all bicycle tyres cross-ply/bias ply and not radial construction?

Most times when I see a failed bicycle tyre (one where the threads are showing through) they look something like this, with diagonal threads clearly visible Here's a random manufacturer's cutaway ...
Criggie's user avatar
  • 124k
15 votes
5 answers
2k views

Most favoriable collision with a car? How should I act before collision, supposing enough time?

Suppose a car is going to collide with you. What can you do to minimise the consequences? By collision I mean that it may be intentional or an accident. Anyway I am looking for tips on how to act in ...
user avatar
15 votes
3 answers
2k views

What kind of flat is this?

I'm stumped. For the last yew years I have been getting flats that look like this: As you can see, it's a tiny, tiny hole that can only be found by inflating the tire to twice its size or so. I know ...
JKnight's user avatar
  • 253
15 votes
9 answers
2k views

Is cycling in the Netherlands without a helmet safer than cycling with a helmet in the USA?

We moved to Netherlands and no one seems to wear a helmet. My teenage child did have a helmet but said she lost it. When my wife wanted buy her a new helmet, my daughter said she will refuse to wear ...
Tom's user avatar
  • 175
15 votes
6 answers
3k views

What is the "3 foot law" and which US states have it?

Some states seem to have something called the 3 foot law to keep cars away from cyclists. Why 3 feet? Which states in the USA have it?
WireGuy's user avatar
  • 597
14 votes
1 answer
9k views

What effect does changing the stem length have on my bikes handling

I'm finding that when jumping my mountain bike seems to be very nose heavy no matter how far back my saddle is. What effect will moving to a shorter stem length have? My bike, a Boardman FS-PRO came ...
davefiddes's user avatar
14 votes
3 answers
19k views

Is it safe to ride on an unevenly bulging tyre?

Most of the tyre looks fine, true and straight but the section photographed shows bulging. The rim itself is true, is this safe to ride on?
Matt's user avatar
  • 977
14 votes
5 answers
8k views

Why doesn't Shimano use shadow technology on road derailleurs?

Shimano has been using their 'Shadow' technology on their high-end mountain bike rear derailleurs (> Deore) for many years. In addition to the benefit described in the images below (from here), ...
JohnnyO's user avatar
  • 243
14 votes
2 answers
3k views

How do I remove the wheels from my bike (not a typical nut)?

I just bought a used Kona Roundabout bike and I can't figure out how to remove the wheels. I've never seen this connection before. The same connection is on both the front and rear wheels and ...
user31085's user avatar
  • 143
14 votes
3 answers
14k views

Using Anti Seize in place of Grease

I bought Nickel Anti-Seize to prevent any corrosion issues between metals, and I generally like using it on my vehicles on bolts and anything I plan on removing later. I'm wondering where it would be ...
Ehryk's user avatar
  • 3,953
14 votes
2 answers
1k views

Are fluorocarbons in chain lubricants a real environmental issue?

Some chain lubricants contain fluorocarbons like PTFE or other substances called PFAS. Is this a genuine environmental issue? Should I avoid all lubricants containing fluorocarbons? I have heard that ...
juhist's user avatar
  • 18.6k
14 votes
6 answers
5k views

What to do when a car turns into a side road (etiquette)?

If a car is turning right onto a side road and not an intersection, what must I do? Perhaps I am 25 feet/7.5 meters (and another cyclist just passed the car that's turning right), should I A) Try ...
Jake's user avatar
  • 265
14 votes
7 answers
915 views

How do you decide your route to commute to work?

I'm seriously considering bicycling to work, and I'd like some advice on the way to choose a route. Specifically, I have these two options: Go on a path with only 2 cross streets, but a road that is ...
PearsonArtPhoto's user avatar
14 votes
2 answers
405 views

Unicycle recommendation [duplicate]

I know that this is a 'bi'cycle forum, but I'm going to chance it and ask for unicycle buying advice. What should I look for when buying a unicycle? I probably will do some leisure riding with it, ...
milesmeow's user avatar
  • 2,363
14 votes
1 answer
6k views

What powder is used inside an inner tube?

I just cut open an old inner tube I had laying around and noticed there is a white powder in there. What is it? Why is it there?
allyourcode's user avatar
14 votes
5 answers
11k views

Why does a loose pedal destroy the crank threads?

Can someone cite with sources the process by which a loose pedal pretty quickly destroys the crank arm threads necessitating a helicoil repair? I'm interested in how the thread on the crankarm gets ...
RoboKaren's user avatar
  • 29.2k
14 votes
7 answers
2k views

How to mark seatpost position?

Is there an effective, non-destructive way to mark the seatpost position? We share some bikes within the household, meaning that the saddle height is adjusted often. When I had an affordable Decathlon ...
Szabolcs's user avatar
  • 996
14 votes
10 answers
120k views

What makes a folding bicycle so difficult to ride?

I got a folding bike from Citizen (like the Miami) with dreams that I could take it on the road with me when I go to conferences but it's REALLY hard to ride very far with it. Is it because of the ...
tooshel's user avatar
  • 331
14 votes
4 answers
2k views

What is a good way to learn how to ride a bike on rollers?

After seeing a few questions about rollers pop-up, such as this one, it has spiked my interest in these things again. So how do you learn how to ride on rollers? How long does it take you to get the ...
deemar's user avatar
  • 4,863
14 votes
2 answers
6k views

Why does my inner tube have brown liquid inside? Now with internal photo

I flatted the front wheel going up a climb the other day - I heard the pop and the PSSSSHH, and I could see a geyser of pale "steam" or vapour coming out the puncture. I swapped out the tube for the ...
Criggie's user avatar
  • 124k
14 votes
4 answers
7k views

Why are derailleur jockey wheels commonly made of nylon?

Almost all derailleurs seem to come from the factory with nylon jockey wheels . What is the rationale for the use of nylon (rather than alloy or aluminum)? Is it merely weight savings (which would ...
RoboKaren's user avatar
  • 29.2k
14 votes
4 answers
34k views

Spoke tension is way off but wheel is true, How do I fix this

After truing my front wheel, it seems that it is laterally true. However, the spoke tension seem very uneven, with a few spokes that are very taut next to other spokes which are more loose. If it ...
Benzo's user avatar
  • 18.2k
14 votes
3 answers
9k views

Is it safe to wear a helmet without a plastic covering?

A friend of mine gave me a foam bike helmet had the plastic covering removed from it. Besides for the plastic being removed, the helmet is in excellent condition. Is there any issues with using this ...
Bensstats's user avatar
  • 617
14 votes
4 answers
3k views

Mountain Biking And Clipless Pedals

I have never been seriously off-road on a trail with a mountain bike. I am curious; for any mountain bikers, do you ride clipped in on trails, and when if ever do you proactively clip out (e.g. like ...
Tude Productions's user avatar
14 votes
6 answers
11k views

How seriously should I take the maximum pressure rating of my cyclocross rims?

I own a very nice cyclocross bike that I use for daily commuting. It is currently fitted with relatively wide cyclocross tires (Continental Cyclocross Race 35-622) that I inflate to 4 bar (58 psi). ...
Emil's user avatar
  • 400
14 votes
10 answers
3k views

Techniques for safely leaving a bike for 1-2 minutes in a safe-ish place

In the last year, 3 of my friends got their bikes stolen by leaving them "just for a minute" in front of a shop "while watching them through the window". Nevertheless, sometimes I do the same. Maybe ...
Vorac's user avatar
  • 13.7k
14 votes
9 answers
2k views

Multi hour ride nutrition

Ok. We're talking about when you'll be on the bike for 5+ hours. For example, a Century or 200K. What is the best nutrition for a ride of this type? So, I'll be on the bike for 5+ hours, with few ...
user avatar
14 votes
10 answers
145k views

Why does my bike make a noise when I pedal hard?

When I pedal forcing a little with my right leg, the bike makes a noise that I don't know how to describe. I'll try to do it. It's like: a short "ting" a tiny bell if a small rock hits the down tube ...
jperelli's user avatar
  • 301
14 votes
8 answers
2k views

Sandals in the winter? Other winter footwear options?

I used Shimano cycling sandals during the summer months here in the Chicago, Illinois area. I'm wondering if I can use these during the cold winter months also or if different shoes are required. In ...
Tim Butterfield's user avatar
14 votes
7 answers
9k views

What are the risks of fenders/mudguards?

I've seen fender/mudguard descriptions that mention things like breakaway stays and discussions about the relative safety of metal vs plastic fenders, but I'm not getting what the concerns are. Can ...
dlu's user avatar
  • 7,046
14 votes
8 answers
7k views

How to improve one's bike handling skills?

Are there any time tested ways to improve one's bike handling skills? Outside of regular riding (road) are there certain exercises one can do to increase body awareness on the bike, improve ...
ebrohman's user avatar
  • 5,508
14 votes
7 answers
7k views

Is it worth buying a high end light bike (8.5 kg) from 80' vs recent mid range bike (10kg)

I want to acquire my first road bike with a limited budget (~400€) but I'm faced with a lot of choices, found an old vitus 979 equiped with campagnolo chorus, a little rusty but really pretty and ...
Sidux's user avatar
  • 243
14 votes
3 answers
1k views

Touring with little kids?

I'm curious, has anyone gone on bicycle tours with small children? I did some long-distance camping touring a while ago and would like to do more eventually. For the moment, though, we have a toddler, ...
lmjohns3's user avatar
  • 461
14 votes
7 answers
34k views

Mysterious case: chain falling off large chainring, how to fix?

On my commuter bike I decided to rid myself of the small inner chain ring (which is almost never used) and front dérailleur (now redundant). However, I have come across an unusual problem. Whilst ...
user avatar
14 votes
5 answers
6k views

Is it poor technique or physiology that causes people to cycle with their knees sticking out to the side?

Why do some people cycle with their knees sticking out to the side instead of parallel to the frame?
MyFamily's user avatar
  • 507
14 votes
3 answers
4k views

Do mountain bikers yield to hikers?

I've seen rules and graphics online that basically say that bikers are to yield to hikers. Is this the generally accepted rule, and if so, how do you define "yield"? Background The areas I normally ...
Gary.Ray's user avatar
  • 16.3k
14 votes
6 answers
20k views

What harm results from riding with a stretched chain?

Due to sheer laziness, my maintenance amounts to an annual trip to the LBS. After moving, my new LBS suggested that I replace my chain immediately, before it destroys the drive train. What they didn'...
eswald's user avatar
  • 243
14 votes
0 answers
519 views

Does drafting a rider slow that rider down? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Does drafting cause resistance to the lead rider? Would the lead rider notice any difference if there was another rider drafting behind them?
WW01's user avatar
  • 1,109
14 votes
4 answers
3k views

Are revolights a good idea?

I've recently seen this: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/revolights/revolights-join-the-revolution?ref=spotlight Basically it's leds on the wheel + a timing mechanism + persistence of vision ...
Agos's user avatar
  • 685
14 votes
1 answer
34k views

Which pulley is which on my Shimano STX RC derailleur?

I disassembled my rear derailleur to clean it; when I removed the sprockets they basically looked the same; both jet black and caked with all sorts of black grease-like-stuff. I figured they were the ...
Nick T's user avatar
  • 343
13 votes
3 answers
2k views

What are the advantages of flat spoked wheels?

Following on from my earlier question about truing them, I was wondering if anybody could point out the advantages (and perhaps disadvantages) of flat spoked wheels?
Anthony K's user avatar
  • 6,233
13 votes
4 answers
4k views

I got glow-in-the-dark tape. Where do I place it?

Would I be able to use glow-in-the-dark duct tape to help illuminate a bike at night? I already ride with forward and rear lights.
Rick's user avatar
  • 429
13 votes
4 answers
27k views

How often should I clean my bike?

How often should I clean my bike? I've used it several times over the summer, but only once in muddy conditions, should I clean it after every ride or once per quarter?
user155695's user avatar
  • 2,913
13 votes
5 answers
784 views

Lock for extremely frequent use

Are there lock products out there specifically designed for easy handling when locked unlocked dozens of times a day? I'm using a normal, chain-based lock at the moment and I'm annoyed because I'm ...
Pekka's user avatar
  • 231
13 votes
4 answers
13k views

When do I need more than one bike? How many bike is enough? How many bikes is too many?

I see questions where people want a bike to commute, road ride, and take on trails. Not one bike will do it all. When do I need more than one bike. How many bikes is enough?
paparazzo's user avatar
  • 15.7k
13 votes
5 answers
19k views

Clipless pedals: Why clipping in so darn difficult?

I do understand that this question been asked million times, and million people have million different opinions and it's all down to personal preferences, yet I am struggling and need to find a ...
iLemming's user avatar
  • 245
13 votes
9 answers
13k views

What can I use for a DIY cable end?

I am in a pinch and need something to crimp onto the end of my brake cable to stop it fraying. There aren't any hardware shop's nearby and its a long way to the nearest bike shop. Any household ...
user avatar
13 votes
5 answers
6k views

Do expedition bikes offer advantages over standard touring bikes?

I have seen a few bikes marketed as "Expedition Bikes". They seem to be designed for the purpose of touring off-the-beaten-track. Typically they have 26 inch wheels and either butterfly or flat bars, ...
decvalts's user avatar
  • 347

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