35
votes
Accepted
How to climb a hill as a beginner
The gearing of your bike seems reasonable, the 26 front/34 rear combination will (eventually) make climbing hills easy. But till then…
Before you do anything else, take @cherouvim's advice and make ...
- 6,966
28
votes
Since hybrid bikes may be a compromise with no benefits, why are they still often preferred for commuting instead of drop bar bikes?
Simply, I reject the premise of your question and I'm sure I'm not alone. I say that as someone who has a tourer and a hybrid, and commutes on both - the speed difference is much less than the ...
- 55.7k
28
votes
Accepted
I have a 2nd broken spoke after 300km on a new bike, is it the wheel or me?
Not enough points to comment, so here is an answer instead, based mostly on my own experience.
I've been using a bike as my main, if not sole, mean of transportation for the last 20 years or so. ...
- 396
27
votes
Accepted
Why aren't 16" wheel city bikes more common?
I have ridden bikes with different sizes of wheels, from 29" MTB/622 Road wheels, through 20" folder, 12" scooters, and one folding A-bike with 6" wheels.
My perception is that ...
- 120k
26
votes
Accepted
Can’t seem to put the wheels back on the frame
That's not the correct skewer for the wheel. I think you likely are using the rear skewer in the font wheel. Front hubs are typically 100mm between the drop-outs, rear are 130 or 135mm (or even 145mm ...
- 75.3k
25
votes
Accepted
Should I avoid hard-packed crusher dust trails with my hybrid?
You are absolutely fine riding the Trek FX 7.2 with the Bontrager tires on that trail. That gravel surface is not any worse than rough, worn tarmac so go ahead and enjoy those trails.
You don't ...
- 75.3k
24
votes
Since hybrid bikes may be a compromise with no benefits, why are they still often preferred for commuting instead of drop bar bikes?
You are wrong that hybrid style bicycles have no advantages over drop bar road bikes. You kind-of invalidated your premise by saying hybrids are a compromise, which means by definition certain ...
- 75.3k
22
votes
Accepted
What type of bike I should buy if I need to ride with a toddler
A 3-year-old affects the bike's balance and handling, so you want something quite forgiving. Suspension will make you work really hard with the extra weight bouncing around over the back wheel (even ...
- 55.7k
20
votes
Accepted
Can I ride on the beach with 32c tires?
While my initial attempt with lightly deflated tires was not a success (I could only bike 100 m before being exhausted) my second attempt went much better.
Based on your helpful answers, comments and ...
- 2,221
20
votes
Accepted
Are air forks suitable for everyday use?
First of all, you don't need a suspension fork on a hybrid. Look for a hybrid with a high volume tyre instead. For your example of cobbles see this answer for some research performed by Schwalbe.
...
- 18.2k
19
votes
I have a 2nd broken spoke after 300km on a new bike, is it the wheel or me?
I suggest you get the wheel rebuilt properly, once and for all (probably by a different bike shop).
A well-built wheel should be able to handle even riding off kerbs or small unavoidable potholes ...
- 55.7k
18
votes
More Speed Needed - Hybrid Bike
You can certainly buy more speed with either new components or a new bike, but it wouldn't be my recommended course of action.
In terms of buying speed, aerodynamics and rolling resistance are the two ...
- 18.2k
17
votes
How to climb a hill as a beginner
Just keep on doing the same route and you'll see progress very fast.
Also this will soon not be true:
It's not so fun on the way back though
Some tips to make it:
make sure that the tyres are ...
- 6,597
17
votes
heavy and want to ride again
Personally I wouldn't replace the fork, but I'd make smaller changes and start riding.
The back wheel takes more impact than the front, because a greater proportion of your weight is over it. So far ...
- 55.7k
16
votes
Accepted
How to improve my performance on a commute?
I posted a comment
Slick tires would make a difference, if you're not using them. Maintaining 24 kph on a hybrid that you ride one day a week is pretty good. The next two increments after slick ...
- 17.2k
14
votes
What type of bike I should buy if I need to ride with a toddler
After @ChrisH's thorough answer (+1) I thought I'd give an experience report.
When my kids were small, I used a general purpose touring frame for this job. It has more relaxed geometry than a road ...
- 17.2k
14
votes
Are air forks suitable for everyday use?
Air forks have two kinds of service - a lower leg service and full service. For the purposes of this discussion, consider a full service is something done to fix problems like the fork not holding ...
- 47.8k
13
votes
Accepted
What pressure should a tire have?
Each type and size of tire has a different pressure range. The range is written or embossed right on the side of the tire.
The actual pressure you choose is dependent on what you are using the bike ...
- 75.3k
13
votes
Accepted
Hybrid vs Touring weight carrying capacity
Other points - you've assumed that from this pair, all steel bikes have lower load limits than aluminium ones.
a. This is a sample of two, and we can't be confident that either represents the "...
- 120k
12
votes
Accepted
Is it cost-effective to upgrade an old-ish Giant Escape R3 commuter bike with entry-level branded parts (wheels, drivetrain)?
Cable replacements, chain, tubes, all those are "consumables" Even spoke replacement is not an uncommon problem to have periodically. A bike isn't a cellphone to be discarded when its a bit tired - ...
- 120k
12
votes
Accepted
Pros and cons of mixed hydraulic/mechanical brakes vs pure hydraulics
Background
For most of cycling history, we've actuated derailleurs and brakes by pulling cables. One of the possible disadvantages of cables in general is that as the cable housing exerts a bit of ...
- 28.4k
12
votes
Accepted
My front brakes contact the rim at different times instead of simultaneously. Is that normal or are they misaligned?
When I lightly apply the brakes only one part makes contact with the wheel
There are two adjustment screws (Spring tension centering screw on the picture below) which are meant to center pads of V-...
- 14.2k
12
votes
I just want to know if my pinarello is legit and what is the model. The serial number at the bottom is 00000_05430
It's a fake.
The Dogma K was only made in carbon this bike is certainly not
carbon.
This bike also misses the asymmetric rear end with curved seat stays.
Finally this bike doesn't have the very ...
- 18.2k
11
votes
Fairings for an Upright Hybrid Bicycle?
I have read an article regarding partial fairings for upright bikes.
It is interesting that a partial fairing will reduce the energy needed to keep the bike rolling at 35km/h while in a fairly ...
- 111
11
votes
What type of bike I should buy if I need to ride with a toddler
Depending on your budget and family enlargement plans, what you can also consider is to buy narrow, 2-wheel cargo bike like below.
It's easy to ride, like traditional bike and can be seen as multi-...
- 2,683
11
votes
How to increase speed on my hybrid bike with flat handlebars and 700X35C tyres?
Before looking to improve the bike, I'd look to improve your fitness. I was able to average 13–14mph on my hybrid for 1–1.5hrs; at that time, I was commuting 3–5 miles each way per ...
- 16.9k
11
votes
Should I avoid hard-packed crusher dust trails with my hybrid?
For that trail you've got a very suitable combination of bike and tyres.
I'd happily ride all day that on my 32mm marathon supremes, which are more of a road tyre than you've got. We have a similar ...
- 55.7k
11
votes
Why aren't 16" wheel city bikes more common?
I cycle round a city (Chester) every day, typically covering five to ten miles in a trip. Even though this is on allegedly high quality roads the reality is that there are a lot of potholes and other ...
- 619
10
votes
How to climb a hill as a beginner
There are no shortcuts, it's about building the legs, and lungs, and body. There may be some factors that could make it a little easier, but the main factor is getting strong enough, which takes some ...
- 1,174
10
votes
How to make a derailleur work in opposite directions?
When you switch to the crankset behind cogs, you need to move the derailleur above the cogset.
Think of it as rotating the entire drive train 180 degrees forward or flipping the entire bike over the ...
- 21.6k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible