Most Popular
1500 questions
24
votes
5 answers
Spokes keep breaking - bad hub or bad build?
Background information
A bit of background information (I'll try keep it brief): Last year I bought an old but unused bike, 5 speeds with internal gearing.
Apparently the shop bought a lot of bikes somewhere in the 90's (not sure), but never got…
abstrask
- 439
- 4
- 10
24
votes
6 answers
Would a military helmet make a safe alternative to a bicycle helmet?
I am in need of a new bicycle helmet and have been exploring some alternative options. One possibility I am considering is visiting my local Army Surplus store and getting a helmet there. I only use my bike for commuting, 3-4 miles in a single trip,…
CatsAndCode
- 351
- 1
- 2
- 7
23
votes
9 answers
What to throw money at when trying to level up your biking from an older, generic bicycle?
With the start of the global health crisis 2 years ago we re-discovered the joy of biking. By now my wife is really hooked on it and likes to bike a lot (judging by Google Fit she's done over 3000km since March and we intend to keep going until the…
Vilx-
- 975
- 1
- 8
- 16
23
votes
6 answers
Why did curved forks disappear?
Forks on historical bikes are often curved forward in a smooth curve, sometimes called a "French bend". This is sometimes claimed to add a small amount of compliance and comfort. It effectively increases the rake and trail without slackening the…
Erlkoenig
- 1,913
- 7
- 23
23
votes
3 answers
What happened to Belgium's bicycle registration scheme?
As a youngster visiting Belgium in the 70s and 80s, I remember being intrigued by the registration plate, (a stamped metal disc, usually attached to the front forks IIRC), attached to all bicycles.
More recently, I notice that these no longer…
spender
- 331
- 2
- 6
23
votes
11 answers
Cycling to work - 30 mile return
I have recently made the decision to commute to work via bike. It’s about 14 miles each way (so just under 30 miles return). I initially started on my old bike but it clearly wasn’t really appropriate for what I consider a fairly long commute, so I…
Charliegtr
- 239
- 2
- 3
23
votes
7 answers
Which kind of tube valve is the best?
What kind of valve is the best one, a Presta valve (6mm) or a Schrader valve (8mm).
Which has the best reliability, which one is easiest to fix a flat on?
Johan Dahlin
- 2,888
- 3
- 25
- 30
23
votes
1 answer
The chemistry of mixing sealants
It's become a fairly common occurrence in shops to be faced with a tubeless wheel that was doing fine, slowly started having issues, and hasn't had a sealant re-up in a while or ever, but what sealant was used is either lost information or one you…
Nathan Knutson
- 84,914
- 3
- 90
- 214
23
votes
18 answers
Keeping my ears warm while biking in the cold with a helmet
Biking in the Northeast has become a challenge lately because of the cold; my ears freeze.
I can't wear a hat (because of my helmet) - I never actually tried, maybe I can.
Sometimes I'll put my hood on and then my helmet on top of that, it looks…
Welz
- 339
- 2
- 4
- 10
23
votes
14 answers
Should I drive or bike to work?
I'm going to start a job next summer as a sailing instructor. I've volunteered before and biked the 3.6 mi (5.8 km) commute a few times a day on a mountain bike I found trashed a year prior.
I'm thinking because I'll have my license by next summer I…
user39045
- 231
- 1
- 2
- 5
23
votes
8 answers
How should I approach hills?
I've been biking to work 2-3 times/week this summer and I enjoy it for the most part. My big problem is that my ride is mostly downhill on the way in to work and mostly uphill on the way home. These aren't mountainous climbs or anything but for a…
theycallmemorty
- 331
- 2
- 4
23
votes
13 answers
How long is the life cycle of a bicycle?
This may not be a particularly practical question, but I wonder how often do you find yourself looking for a new (or another) bike? There are, of course, two main aspects of it:
Mechanical decay. If you drive a car, you know to lube it every 3000…
StasK
- 357
- 1
- 2
- 6
23
votes
2 answers
Can cycling adversely affect male fertility?
Is there any evidence to suggest that cycling adversely affects male fertility?
Anthony
- 381
- 2
- 5
23
votes
10 answers
What makes a bike stay upright when moving?
What makes a bike stay upright when it is in motion? What is the relationship between speed and stability? Is it a linear relationship?
I could ask this on the physics site however I am hoping for a relatively simple answer. I took an…
sixtyfootersdude
- 8,516
- 15
- 61
- 110
23
votes
9 answers
At what point does a road become too busy/fast to ride on safely?
Upfront, I'm willing to admit that I have some nervousness when it comes to commuting by bike that I need to get over. However, I want to know if all of that nervousness is unfounded, or if some of it is valid.
I live in the Southeastern U.S., where…
user30152