Most Popular
1500 questions
21
votes
6 answers
Night cycling: Is it worth using electroluminescent wire?
It's currently winter in the UK, so for my commute to and from work I need lights and reflective surfaces for safety. I've read about local people losing their lives cycling, so I want to make myself as visible and safe as possible. I currently…
Peter Bridger
- 1,539
- 3
- 15
- 17
21
votes
7 answers
How do I use the plastic backing on patches?
It seems that the patches I buy for fixing inner tubes come in one of 2 types. Both have metal foil on the stick-to-tube side. One has paper on the other side, the other plastic.
With the paper ones I can peel off the foil, glue them down, wait a…
Duncan McGregor
- 1,347
- 2
- 9
- 19
21
votes
6 answers
How do I change a road bike into a commuter bike?
I have a road bike that I commute to work on, just a 9km trip each way. I also have some tightness in my lower back, especially since I usually sit in front of a computer screen. My wife wants me to change my road bike set up so that I am no…
Anthony K
- 6,233
- 9
- 42
- 63
21
votes
6 answers
Larger tires on a road bike
I am curious if anyone has put larger tires (mountainish) on their road bike. I am thinking about doing this to do some riding on gravel roads/touring/commuting from rural areas. I have an older steel Norco. How rough can I ride this with bigger…
sixtyfootersdude
- 8,516
- 15
- 61
- 110
21
votes
3 answers
Is it harmful for a hydraulic brakes bike to be put upside down
I have heard that bikes with hydraulic brakes should not be left upside down. If they are, 15 minutes should be allowed before the bike is used.
Is there any truth in this? What process could be happening?
I am asking this because I sometimes leave…
Vorac
- 13,698
- 19
- 82
- 153
21
votes
4 answers
Why does cable routing utilize alternation of sections of shielded and unshielded cable?
Why do manufacturers do this? What's even more interesting, many a bike have the middle cable fully housed, while the other two are "interrupted" as shown above.
IMHO those are the pros and cons of interrupting cable…
Vorac
- 13,698
- 19
- 82
- 153
21
votes
15 answers
What is a good iPhone app for bikers?
There are tons that are out there for recording routes, and such. There's also the physical mounting. Is the iPhone actually good/useful for bikers?
milesmeow
- 2,363
- 5
- 27
- 36
21
votes
4 answers
At what age/stage should my child be at before I start using a child seat?
Does anyone have any experience or references on when it is ok to start putting a child in a bike child seat/carrier?
I am aware that our child will need some extra neck strength to not bobble around too much with the added weight of having a helmet…
Dhaust
- 1,136
- 10
- 19
21
votes
2 answers
How to store bikes inside a house or unit with limited internal space?
Between my girlfriend and myself, we have 5 bikes of which 3 would ideally be stored inside (the two road bikes and my duallie). However, my house is a relatively small terrace house which doesn't have huge spare rooms on the ground floor for bike…
deemar
- 4,863
- 1
- 25
- 29
21
votes
4 answers
What height should drop handlebars be - relative to my saddle?
I've done most of my cycling with flat handle bars on a mountain bike. I'd like to start commuting to work though and am considering getting a road bike with drop handle bars.
The thing is though, I tried a bike in the past that had drops and didn't…
Scott Langham
- 2,811
- 4
- 26
- 31
21
votes
5 answers
Touching the front wheel with my foot when turning
My girlfriend got a new city bike today and she touches the front wheel every time she has to make a hard turn.
Is there anyway to avoid this besides replacing the whole bike?
LATER EDIT:
I think I found my answer here.
Paul Irofti
- 313
- 1
- 2
- 7
21
votes
6 answers
How often should I grease and repack my hubs and bottom bracket?
I am commuting 7 miles a day (round trip) in all weather in New England (temperate, moderately wet climate, cold winters). Overall I am putting about 1000 miles per year on my commuter bike, a 2009 Giant Transend DX with lower-end Shimano components…
Adam Franco
- 1,594
- 1
- 13
- 14
21
votes
6 answers
Deterrents against partial (component) theft
Big question: Is there any way to increase the security of bolted on portions of a bicycle?
Specifics: I cycle as my primary mode of transport (in East London) on a early 90s steel road bike with drop bars. It's a good bike, though it could use a…
alsothings
- 375
- 3
- 10
21
votes
3 answers
Are anti-pollution masks effective?
In Toronto when the temperature goes above 30 degrees Celcius (90 degrees Farenheit), for a few days and without wind, there is smog.
I find the smog irritates and makes it difficult to breathe in through my nose. Worse, if I breathe in though my…
ChrisW
- 12,033
- 12
- 60
- 95
21
votes
20 answers
Is reversing the stem (pointing it backwards) a safe way to reduce reach length?
Assuming a steerer/fork/brake/cable setup that does not rely on the stem facing forward: is it safe to point a stem backwards as a way to reduce seat-to-bar reach (i.e. as a way to 'fit' a too-large bike to a smaller/shorter person)? If not, why…
djangodude
- 773
- 1
- 4
- 14