Questions tagged [repair]

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.

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70 votes
7 answers
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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 ...
Precipitous's user avatar
  • 1,233
56 votes
11 answers
257k 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 ...
Alessandro Cosentino's user avatar
55 votes
4 answers
100k views

What is the difference between brake cables and derailleur cables?

What is the difference between brake cables and derailleur/shift cables? When I look online for replacement cables I see "brake cables" and "shift cables." From the images they all look the same. ...
npsantini's user avatar
  • 1,907
49 votes
21 answers
54k 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 ...
Ryan Olson's user avatar
32 votes
10 answers
38k 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 ...
Anthony K's user avatar
  • 6,233
31 votes
7 answers
71k views

Is rubber cement in stationery stores the same as in tire patch kits?

Is the rubber cement that you can buy at the stationery shop: the same as what's in the little tubes of cement that come with your patch kit: If not, then exactly what is different? What makes tire ...
RoboKaren's user avatar
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28 votes
28 answers
52k 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 ...
Zippy's user avatar
  • 383
28 votes
8 answers
123k 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 ...
TheOne's user avatar
  • 381
25 votes
11 answers
63k 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 ...
Moab's user avatar
  • 881
24 votes
8 answers
60k views

Putting pin(s) back into chain

While trying to put a new chain on a bike, I rather stupidly removed the "wrong" link in the chain, and it's already very short, so I can't simply remove yet another link in order to get the "correct" ...
errantlinguist's user avatar
23 votes
4 answers
13k 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 ...
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22 votes
8 answers
97k 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 ...
John Doucette's user avatar
22 votes
10 answers
57k views

How many years an aluminium frame lasts in a touring bike?

How long does an aluminium frame lasts in a touring bike? [Removed extra questions to be clear.] Background So far I preferred aluminium vs. steel for many reasons, but if steel lasts significantly ...
olee22's user avatar
  • 1,358
21 votes
7 answers
5k views

14 "Trashed" bikes acquired for free. Worth repairing and reselling? What do I look for?

Very new to this, bike repair specifically. I tried my best with the tags. I'm mechanically inclined, like to tinker, and have many tools (not bike specific). Learning and time aren't really an issue. ...
PlayfulShad0w's user avatar
21 votes
5 answers
2k 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 ...
Matt's user avatar
  • 337
20 votes
1 answer
5k views

What do I do when I am unsure if damaged carbon fiber is safe to use or needs replacing or repairing?

Intended as a canonical answer to the many questions we have about damage to carbon parts. It is well known that carbon fiber parts can be damaged and fail, and carbon parts can be fragile when ...
mattnz's user avatar
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19 votes
10 answers
10k views

Why using a puncture repair kit instead of a new inner tube?

I am a casual rider (~30 km commute as often as possible) in an urban setting. Reading this SE site to learn about biking (the resource is extraordinary, even though I don't understand every ...
WoJ's user avatar
  • 1,103
19 votes
9 answers
48k 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, ...
user avatar
19 votes
6 answers
8k 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 ...
Gwen's user avatar
  • 603
19 votes
5 answers
842 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?
Johan Dahlin's user avatar
  • 2,888
18 votes
14 answers
3k 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 ...
Starx's user avatar
  • 2,958
18 votes
9 answers
614 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 ...
mfg's user avatar
  • 938
18 votes
2 answers
54k views

Chain slipping off derailleur jockey

Last week, I had to abandon a training ride due to my chain slipping off my rear derailleur jockey wheel. This would only happen when shifting, and most often when either shifting chainrings or ...
Stephen Touset's user avatar
17 votes
13 answers
1k 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 ...
17 votes
4 answers
9k views

Did I pay too much for repairs on road bike? Should I have bought new?

I originally paid $250 for a Schwinn road bike on Amazon 5 years ago. It's been a really solid bike, even though I know it's just a mass produced brand. I didn't know any better and did no repairs or ...
Joe R.'s user avatar
  • 171
17 votes
7 answers
3k views

How to mount tires without tire levers?

Videos like this give the impression that mounting a tire with your hands only is stupidly easy. Now during my life I've mounted quite a few tires myself (probably ten times at least), always trying ...
MaxD's user avatar
  • 854
17 votes
6 answers
25k views

What does vulcanizing solution in patch kits consist of? Can I buy it?

I have a pile of old patch kits for inner tubes that are complete except for the little tube of "vulcanizing solution" that comes in patch kits. With time, these tubes crack, or have a cap fail to ...
mako's user avatar
  • 395
16 votes
11 answers
4k views

How to transport an unusable bike AND a set of wheels without a car?

So as you may know, I have recently assembled a bike, with great help from my friend. Problem is, wheels didn't arrive on time, rear rack wasn't available to buy until recently, and saddle post clamp ...
Mołot's user avatar
  • 1,116
16 votes
5 answers
8k views

Technique for self-adhesive puncture repair patches

Is there any special technique for using self-adhesive puncture repair patches? Today, I've had two different tubes fail within a minute of being inflated because the air pressure had split through ...
David Richerby's user avatar
16 votes
4 answers
60k 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 (...
Alenanno's user avatar
  • 275
15 votes
11 answers
5k views

As an enthusiast, how can I make a bicycle more reliable/less maintenance-intensive for use by a casual cyclist?

The details of this question may end up being quite specific to my exact circumstances, but I think the information presented in the answers will still be usable and interesting for the general case. ...
MaplePanda's user avatar
  • 15.5k
15 votes
11 answers
28k 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 ...
Diskdrive's user avatar
  • 619
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
6 answers
17k views

Why is a derailleur guard present only on more affordable bicycles?

Looking at http://decathlon.co.uk, I see a derailleur guard only on more affordable bicycles, e.g. this one. This one does not have it, and there seems to be no obvious way to install one. Are ...
Clueless's user avatar
  • 591
14 votes
5 answers
26k 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 ...
Greg B's user avatar
  • 1,263
14 votes
3 answers
23k 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 ...
mfg's user avatar
  • 938
14 votes
3 answers
71k views

How do I stop my brake from sticking?

The rear brake (calliper) on my road bike sticks. When I pull the brake it pulls down but only half springs back and there's then slack in the leavers. This is causing rubbing on the rim. It's a ...
James Hay's user avatar
  • 717
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
124k views

Deformed/uneven/bumpy wheel/tire/tube, how to diagnose or repair?

My bike has a deformation in the rear wheel, almost surely not due to the rim. At some point the tire has a "valley", causing it to bump instead of rolling smoothly. I'd like to understand ...
clabacchio's user avatar
13 votes
4 answers
6k views

Rear tire gets flat every month for unknown reasons

My rear tire gets flat almost every month without any obvious reasons. Few times it lost the pressure while riding but I do not see or remember puncturing it, and once it was on a good tarmac street ...
nightrider's user avatar
  • 7,711
13 votes
11 answers
4k views

Does anyone patch inner tubes anymore? [closed]

Many years ago I bought a 100 pack of REMA round patches from Amazon. And back then you could buy patch kits for $1 that had a few patches, something abrasive to sand with, and a tiny tube of ...
Ablang's user avatar
  • 167
13 votes
4 answers
3k 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?
sharptooth's user avatar
  • 1,204
13 votes
6 answers
4k views

How can I learn to take care of an old (70s era) road bike/get it back to working condition?

I found my mom's old road bike from the 70s tucked away in a corner of our attic. It's not in great condition and is pretty rusty. I don't know a lot about bikes from a mechanical or upkeep point of ...
Elizabeth's user avatar
  • 133
13 votes
7 answers
1k views

Minimalist setup for a "travelling bike mechanic"?

I have very little living/working space of my own and so, in order to keep my personal bike in working order, I need to be able to transport "bike mechanic stuff" (e.g. tools, screws, cables, inner ...
errantlinguist's user avatar
13 votes
7 answers
93k 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 ...
Nikos J's user avatar
  • 131
13 votes
5 answers
3k views

What are the downsides of a twisted wheel?

After a collision where somebody fell on me, my front wheel is twisted to the point that it slightly touches the brake once per revolution causing a soft screech. Logistically, I can't get to the shop ...
rumtscho's user avatar
  • 364
13 votes
6 answers
9k views

What's the strongest way to bond a cable stop to an aluminum frame?

I recently picked up another well loved GT road bike frame- it's in great shape aside from a missing downtube cable stop. The model is a ZR 4000 probably from 1999, it's 7005 heat treated aluminum. My ...
BEVR1337's user avatar
  • 761
12 votes
6 answers
8k views

Should I replace my bicycle tires if they have not been inflated in multiple years

A little over 5 years ago I bought a Magna bicycle. Within the first summer of riding it the rear brake fell apart. I finally got around to having he brake fixed this past month but I am worried about ...
Ai_OB's user avatar
  • 123
12 votes
2 answers
2k 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 ...
Artiom Chilaru's user avatar
12 votes
5 answers
16k views

Fix up old road bike or buy new one?

Coming back to riding after a long layoff, my Cannondale R500, purchased around 2000, according to the local bike shop, needs a lot of work - new wheels, cassette, chain, cables. Also replaced stem ...
Steve's user avatar
  • 251

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