Bicycles Stack Exchange
Bicycles Stack Exchange

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1500 questions
36
votes
11 answers

How do I open a master link in a chain?

How can I undo a chain that is closed with a master link? Inspired by comment from https://bicycles.stackexchange.com/a/39284/19705
Criggie
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4 answers

What should I look for in a good pair of cycling shorts?

I don't currently own a pair of cycling shorts. I just wear a pair of running shorts underneath some running leggings. I'm thinking of getting my first pair of cycling shorts, but as there are so many choices available, what should I be looking for?…
Mark Ingram
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36
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3 answers

Difference between Cyclocross, Touring, and Road Bikes?

My question is "What is the difference between Cyclocross, Touring, and Road Bikes? Also what are their intended uses (their place in the cycle 'community'?)" I have looked at What is the difference between race/road and cx bikes? and it has…
Cardon Fry
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36
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4 answers

How can you recognise a quality steel frame?

I'm looking to buy/build a road bike and I would like it to: last 100 years have a low environmental cost As I'm not interested in shedding grams (a diet would be more helpful for me), I'm leaning towards a steel frame. But steel frames are often…
Will Hardy
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35
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7 answers

Bike shop did too much work on my bike - do I need to pick it up?

A month ago I bought a 90s Trek road bike for $100 off of Craigslist. It was my size but it had sat outside untouched for over a year so I took it to my local bike shop for a tune-up. I was expecting to pay around $150-200 for stuff like new brake…
Trek Senda
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35
votes
5 answers

How to choose a bike for a very tall and heavy person?

So I have wanted to ride a bike for a long time, I do strongman training, I am 6'6 (200cm) tall and kinda fluctuate between 440 - 480 pounds (200-220 kg) depending on what training I am on. We are going in and out of lockdown in Australia and I…
Phil
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35
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6 answers

Why do bike tires suffer from frequent punctures whereas car tires don't?

I have driven in my life 200 000 km by car and 20 000 km by bike. In my car, I have never had a single puncture. In my bike, my puncture count probably exceeds 5. Why do bicycle tires suffer from frequent punctures whereas car tires do not?
juhist
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35
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9 answers

What is the best breakfast right before cycling?

Sometimes I feel I will faint when I am cycling in the morning. I usually don't have this problem after lunch. My breakfast is rich in carbohydrates, but maybe I'm eating too much or missing some nutrients.
Jader Dias
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35
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9 answers

How can I check tire pressure without a pressure gauge?

I would like to tell if my tires are correctly inflated, in this case road tires, but I do not have a pressure gauge. Is there a handy heuristic for checking the pressure? Could I do it, for example, by trying to squeeze the tire between two fingers…
Kirill
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35
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12 answers

Should I buy this (gently) used, 15 year old, helmet?

My neighbor is moving cross country and selling all his bike stuff. His helmet's a white Bell, about 15 years old. It's a bit scuffed but generally in pretty good condition. The only thing that worries me is some of the styrofoam is cracking off,…
tom
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35
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8 answers

How do I determine the correct position for my bicycle seat?

I have been suffering from IT band problems on my outer knee, which I'm pretty sure were caused by raising my seat height too much. I raised the seat on the advice of a friend who said that a higher seat gives more power in each stroke. By trial and…
ire_and_curses
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35
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16 answers

How to keep my testicles from freezing on a recumbent

I wonder how to keep my testicles (plus part of the perineum) from freezing. I ride a recumbent, which is making it worse because it exposes those parts to the wind much more and I use unpadded tights (i.e. no isolation from the padding). I have…
Nobody
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35
votes
7 answers

How to get a bike from one city to another in the U.S

I need to mail a bike from Portland, Oregon to Austin, Texas. I know that you can get free bike boxes from many bike stores, but how do you pack a bike to ship by mail or to check as baggage on a plane?
D Lawson
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35
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6 answers

Tactics for riding in strong winds

I happen to live in a windy climate. I often find myself riding against strong headwinds and sudden gusts seemingly coming from all directions at once. What are your tactics for riding in such conditions?
Tadeusz A. Kadłubowski
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35
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7 answers

How do self-adjusting hydraulic disc brakes work?

I have Avid Elixir brakes on my mountain bike. They are the only part of the bike that's a total black box to me. I understand the principle behind disc brakes, and I understand the principle behind hydraulics. I could draw a diagram of how this…
Benson
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