51
votes
Accepted
Why does my bike constantly break/need servicing?
The bike you have is a decent low/mid-range hybrid bike with entry-level name-brand components. It should absolutely be mostly trouble-free with basic maintenance for a daily 4 mile commute. While ...
- 741
26
votes
Accepted
As an enthusiast, how can I make a bicycle more reliable/less maintenance-intensive for use by a casual cyclist?
I think you are probably worried about nothing, the bike probably needs much less maintenance than you think.
Like you, i'm an enthusiast, i ride quite a lot of miles/km, however unlike you I dislike ...
- 18.5k
23
votes
How to patch glass cuts in a bicycle tire?
I periodically check and pull out the street glass shards
I have been doing the same for as long as I have a bike. Glass shards, small sharp stones, nails, drawing pins... name something I haven't ...
- 7,311
20
votes
Why does my bike constantly break/need servicing?
Firstly, I do agree with some of the other answers that riding better can help - my main hazard is glass, and I simply got fewer punctures as I got better at spotting and avoiding it. Knowing how to ...
- 3,017
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.
...
- 18.5k
17
votes
How to patch glass cuts in a bicycle tire?
The only times you need to consider the tyre is if the hole is large enough for the inner tube to poke through, or if the hole is in the thin sidewall
I once had a hole that was ~1 mm across, and ...
- 131k
17
votes
What is the purpose of a tread pattern on city/road tyres?
Schwalbe has another page on this - https://schwalbetires.com/technology-faq/tread/#:~:text=On%20a%20normal%2C%20smooth%20road%2C%20the%20tread%20has,smaller%20and%20the%20contact%20pressure%20is%...
- 53.1k
17
votes
As an enthusiast, how can I make a bicycle more reliable/less maintenance-intensive for use by a casual cyclist?
In addition to all the other good advice here, there is one change you can do that will turn the gearing into a virtually maintenance free, rock solidly durable solution: Replace the chain-shift with ...
16
votes
Accepted
When to change quick release springs
Those springs help center the quick-release skewer on the hub. They're a convenience--they make it faster to re-insert the wheel on the frame--but they are not necessary at all.
Which means that ...
- 30.5k
16
votes
Why would solid rubber tubes be no good to some?
In short: High rolling resistance, high mass, bad comfort.
Even virtually puncture proof pneumatic tyres with very thick rubber layers like the Schwalbe Marathon Plus perform better in those aspects.
...
- 29.3k
15
votes
Can a new chain significantly improve the riding experience? If yes - what else can?
The one substitution that will probably give you the most bang for your buck is better tires. High-quality tires roll with much less rolling resistance, have better grip, weigh less, and roll over ...
- 30.5k
15
votes
What is the purpose of a tread pattern on city/road tyres?
In my experience, smooth or treadless tyres are perfectly good in the dry, and on smooth/good roads.
Smooth tyres are adequate on wet smooth roads.
Wet AND oily roads, or wet AND gritty roads is where ...
- 131k
15
votes
Does washing the bike (not the drivetrain) actually prolong the life of any components?
You are asking if washing more than the drivetrain has any benefit?
In the winter you want to remove salt to reduce corrosion (even aluminum corrodes), especially from drivetrain parts since they are ...
- 3,291
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 ...
- 53.1k
13
votes
Why does my bike constantly break/need servicing?
If it's bad luck, it's very bad luck. Some of those are issues I haven't faced in 30 000 miles (handlebars and BB shouldn't work loose). Mudguard and chain case issues could probably be fixed with ...
- 62.5k
12
votes
Accepted
How to patch glass cuts in a bicycle tire?
If it's a large enough cut that the tube pokes through the tyre once inflated, then the best solution is to use a regular tube patch on the inner surface of the tyre with the vulcanising glue just ...
- 4,177
12
votes
Accepted
Increasing a 32T chainring to a 36T - will it fit?
Quoting this website from Specialized:
All models use a 12 speed drivetrain with a single front chainring. 32t minimum and 34t maximum (with chainguide) or 36t maximum (without chainguide)
You've ...
- 17.4k
11
votes
Accepted
Which threaded fasteners on a bike should not be lubricated?
Basically every metal-in-metal thread on a bike should get some kind of treatment, because at the very least none of them are perfectly corrosion resistant, and as you say, thread lubrication helps ...
- 88.2k
11
votes
Accepted
How long do inner tubes last?
Generally speaking,
Inner tubes will last forever, until you get a flat
Unless the tubes are very old - I'm talking 15+ years - you don't have to worry about them dry rotting, cracking, or ...
- 759
11
votes
Accepted
Should I cover my bicycle overnight while bikepacking?
As Daniel indicates - overnight moisture on a well maintained bike isn't a concern. A little rain won't hurt. Others may disagree but I wouldn't get a cover.
But, depending on how much rain there is ...
- 24.3k
10
votes
Accepted
What things to check on road bike after a long trip on poor roads
I think road bikes are actually more durable than a lot of riders give them credit for. Unless you were seriously crashing into potholes there should not be any damage (although you may have picked up ...
- 75.9k
10
votes
Why does my bike constantly break/need servicing?
That's a lot of problems for a bicycle that's used for such short distances.
It's possible that you're being hard on the bike. One thing you should always try to do is to lift your weight off the ...
- 17.1k
10
votes
Accepted
Can time-till-rest be used as a hub-regrease-and-repack flag?
Keeping tabs on the condition of the hub as you describe could provide some interesting data that does relate to how in need of maintenance it is, but it also has these issues if you were trying to ...
- 88.2k
10
votes
As an enthusiast, how can I make a bicycle more reliable/less maintenance-intensive for use by a casual cyclist?
There's a non-technical part in your question that I'd like to address: it's your brother and not a generic random person that you won't have contact with afterwards. You know him, and you can ask him ...
- 24.6k
10
votes
Accepted
Are small, portable medium-pressure washers susceptible to damaging some components when washing a bike (like with high-pressure washers)?
German MTB-News did test multiple portable power washers inlcuding the Kärcher OC3 and Bosch Fontus. While the Bosch has more power, they say both are strong enough that you should be careful with the ...
- 2,782
9
votes
As an enthusiast, how can I make a bicycle more reliable/less maintenance-intensive for use by a casual cyclist?
Install sintered metallic brake pads, as they don't wear as fast as organic ones.
Check your brake discs, some cheap discs are only for use with organic pads.
Also you could get thicker discs (2mm ...
- 2,782
8
votes
How to dry out the inside of a bicycle frame?
The most important thing to do to keep the inside dry and prevent excess rust is a proper drain hole on the underside of the bottom bracket. Outside of issues with heavily salted roads, drain holes ...
- 88.2k
8
votes
Accepted
How to test bike after upgrades?
Revised to make a more standalone answer, rather than rely on the context given by @FalseIdentity's question, and to incorporate some of the commentary.
As with all testing, we want to find problems, ...
- 17.3k
8
votes
How to tell when to change steel front fork?
Forks are not a 'wear component' that need to be replaced periodically. Bicycle frame makes are clever enough to make their products sufficiently durable and it's not something riders generally need ...
- 75.9k
8
votes
Accepted
Can a new chain significantly improve the riding experience? If yes - what else can?
There are two aspects to the question. You asked about what parts would improve the riding experience with maintenance or replacement. You also could consider upgrading some items as they wear out.
...
- 36k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible