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1500 questions
22
votes
4 answers
How to tighten a brake?
This is probably a really basic question but I'm confused by the whole brake mechanism so...
My left (front wheel) brake has to be pulled in really far before it actually starts to brake (I guess before the brake pads touch the wheel). What do I do…
Ricket
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22
votes
3 answers
How can I recycle a broken titanium frame?
I have a titanium frame that failed at the down tube. Consensus among bike shop people and the manufacturer is that it's beyond repair.
Is it economical/worthwhile trying to recycle this amount of titanium? If so, how should I go about doing so? If…
Will Vousden
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22
votes
8 answers
Removing a stuck pedal
I'm sure this question must have already been answered somewhere here, but it doesn't show up in any search results I make...
I'm changing the pedals on a 40 year old bike. Pretty sure the pedals are original. The left one came off fine.…
John Doucette
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22
votes
13 answers
How can I look unsafe to a car driver but be safe
This research seems to show car drivers give you more space if they think you are more likely to do something unpredictable.
It claims that where a cycle helmet often results in drivers giving you less space.
So how I make a driver think I am not a…
Ian
- 6,113
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22
votes
11 answers
What is the downside to me purchasing a road bike instead of a hybrid?
I'm about to move to a place closer to my work where I'll be able to ride to and from the office (9km ride each way).
I'm not super fit but I occasionally ride to work from where I'm living now which is a 14km commute on an old mountain bike with…
Diskdrive
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22
votes
8 answers
Why do my disc brakes squeal when wet?
Picture the scene... It's just been raining and you are getting ready to commute home after work, you cycle out on to the tarmac, the scent of fresh rain on hot tarmac fills your nostrils, you notice a pedestrian push the button on the traffic…
Wez
- 998
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22
votes
8 answers
How much easier is it to go fast on a road bike and why?
I have a very comfortable ~500€ basic mountain bike with 2.2" tyres and 27.5" wheels on which I can maintain an average of 24-25 km/h on a windless day on flat asphalt when I'm feeling strong. I cannot keep pedalling in top gear continuously.…
Matyuka
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22
votes
6 answers
Are single chainring mountain bikes usual?
I just bought my son a typical+ mountain bike in a typical Frech sports shop (a BTWIN 530 at Décathlon) and realized that it has only a single sprocket at the front, and 9 sprockets at the back:
I have never seen that before (not that I looked very…
WoJ
- 1,113
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22
votes
4 answers
Why can't I use my new pedal indoors?
As seen below, I got a paper slip telling me not to use my new pedals on indoor equipment. I don't want to anyway, but I wonder — if threads would fit, is there any real reasons not to do it? Probably there is, because they wouldn't limit their own…
Mołot
- 1,116
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22
votes
5 answers
How often should hydraulic disk brakes need bleeding?
The brake handles for my disk brakes became very loose four months after I bought the bike. The bike shop bled the brakes and put new oil in them, which sorted it.
They're feeling a bit loose again (6 months later), but not as bad as last time. I…
Richard
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22
votes
12 answers
Why is a road bike faster than a city bike with the same effort? How much faster it can be?
Why is a road bike faster than a city bike with the same effort? And how much faster it is? (if someone have measured it)
Motive of the question:
My current bike is a city bike with front fork shock absorber and seatpost shock absorber under the…
Ahmed Elkoussy
- 329
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22
votes
12 answers
How can I charge my phone while cycling?
I have an HTC Hero, which is a great phone, but the battery life is pretty poor if I'm using the GPS and music player on it as well. The phone uses a mini-USB connection for charging, and I have a Powermonkey portable charger just in case my phone…
Wilka
- 1,688
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22
votes
10 answers
How to store bicycles outside during winter
Okay. I have a bike which I would like to store for around six moths. Winter temperatures can be as low as -30 C. The problem is that I do not have an indoor storage space, so it is going to reside on a balcony. We also have lots of snow.
So, my…
user194076
- 321
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22
votes
5 answers
How do I reduce slack in the chain of a single-speed bicycle?
I have a single speed bicycle that has some slack in the chain and threatens to come off. How can I reduce this slack?
Drew Stephens
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22
votes
6 answers
Should unconventional colors be avoided for lighting?
Red/amber lights in the rear of the vehicle, white lights, in front of it: that is the good old convention and certainly switching their places is a bad idea.
A quick search, however, shows other colors available to purchase. Concerning "to be seen"…
user39828