By Jim Langley One of my favorite things on rides with friends is coming to their rescue, fixing breakdowns and keeping everyone rolling – not standing by the side of the road waiting. If you enjoy solving problems and being the hero for your riding pals, I bet you feel the same way. All it takes to be a hero and repair most common breakdowns is a little bicycle mechanic … [Read more...] about Be A Hero on the Road
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Tips for Easy and Safe Wheel Removal and Installation
By Jim Langley This week’s Tech Talk provides some basic wheel tips to help with this key bike-maintenance skill. Removing wheels is required to fix flat tires, put bicycles in small vehicles and trunks, makes it easier to clean a bike, and is step one of swapping out “training” wheels for your “race” wheels, too. Tip: I’ve long used a trainer for warm-ups at races because … [Read more...] about Tips for Easy and Safe Wheel Removal and Installation
Lubing Brake and Derailleur ‘Pivots’
By Jim Langley Last week we went over don’ts and do’s for bike washing. The final don’t was to not forget to relube after cleaning the bike. I said “be sure to lube the brake and derailleur pivots.” To this advice a reader named Michael wrote, “What type of lube do you recommend for the brake and derailleur pivots? I ride mostly dry pavement and use Pro Gold ProLink on my … [Read more...] about Lubing Brake and Derailleur ‘Pivots’
10 Bike Washing Don’ts and Do’s
By Jim Langley Winter riding can wear and tear bicycles quickly because of the grit and crud that gets all over the frame and components. Also, excessive moisture can remove essential lube from the drivetrain, which accelerates chain, cassette, chainring, derailleur pulley and front derailleur cage wear, too. This is why it’s best to clean bikes immediately after inclement … [Read more...] about 10 Bike Washing Don’ts and Do’s
Quick Follow-Up re: ‘Cheating’ at Intersections
By John Marsh First off, thanks to all who took the time to comment last week on several of our articles, in addition to my piece on intersections: Jim Langley's Tech Talk looking at rim brakes vs. disc brakes, and the Question of the Week about rear flashers. (Click the links to see those articles again, and to read the many comments.) Your comments, as always, were … [Read more...] about Quick Follow-Up re: ‘Cheating’ at Intersections