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1500 questions
50
votes
11 answers
Can I use a Presta tube in a Schrader rim?
I keep losing pressure in my tires, and among other things, I'm looking at the valves in the tubes. It's an old mountain bike with 26 inch tires. Can I use Presta tubes on rims drilled for Schrader valves? I know the valve will be smaller than the…
Brock Boland
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49
votes
3 answers
Why do men's bicycles have a top tube while women's bicycles don't?
Bicycles intended for men have a top tube that always hits me on that embrassing part when I brake.
Conversely, women's bikes often don't have a top tube. Why is this?
Tommy Knox
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49
votes
13 answers
Is commuting 10 km on an empty stomach harmful?
I recently moved to a new place and I started taking my bike to work. It is a ride of 10-15km, depending on how fancy I feel about taking detours. I wake up at 7:45, and 15 minutes later I am already on the bike. I eat breakfast at work, after 30-40…
Emmit
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49
votes
21 answers
Alternatives to buying a repair stand?
I'd like to buy a repair stand, but I can never seem to convince myself to drop the $100 minimum it seems I'd need to spend. Has anybody had any success building a stand themselves, or is it worth it to just buy one?
Ryan Olson
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49
votes
18 answers
Why ride a single-speed bike?
A question came up recently about why people ride fixed-gear bikes. I think you can't reasonably answer that question without first understanding why people ride single-speed bikes.
So, why do they do it?
Jay Bazuzi
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49
votes
11 answers
What's the efficiency of hub gears compared to derailleurs?
What's the efficiency of hub gears compared to derailleurs? I know that hub gears are not as efficient. Apart from being heavier, how much will I lose in performance if I use hub gears?
Johan Dahlin
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49
votes
10 answers
How do on-road mountain bike speeds translate to road bike speeds?
When cycling on roads on my mountain bike, I generally get around 10-12 miles per hour on a flat surface.
What sort of speeds can I expect to get on a road bike?
user155695
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49
votes
11 answers
About 20-30 people bike to where I work. What equipment/supplies should we have on hand?
I work in San Francisco, and I'd estimate about 20-30 people bike to where I work. We mostly have a mix of road bikes and hybrids with a couple commuter bikes and mountain bikes too. Currently, the only equipment in our bike cage is a locking entry…
Mark Rushakoff
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49
votes
10 answers
Are there any scientific studies proving the benefits of clipless pedal systems?
Have there been done any scientific studies that proves that clipless pedals actually improve pedaling efficiency etc. over flat pedals? Clipless pedal enthusiasts are quick to say that you must use clipless pedals to improve efficiency when…
user1049697
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48
votes
14 answers
Is it considered rude to draft other random cyclists?
On my commute to work, if there a cyclist in front of me, is it rude to catch up and draft? To effectively draft I would usually need to be within a foot of their back wheel.
There are two situations:
Trainers
There is one part of the commute that…
WW01
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48
votes
16 answers
Best ways to avoid getting hit by cars?
When riding through city traffic, what are the best ways to increase the chance you are seen, given a bit of space, and are not touched by any vehicles?
ebrohman
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47
votes
18 answers
Toddler bike seat vs. bike trailer?
Our 2.2 year old toddler seems very interested in a random, abandoned bike seat we found, so we're considering some method of letting him ride with us. But I am not sure whether to get ...
A bike seat, which fits one toddler, and mounts above the…
Eggs McLaren
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46
votes
15 answers
How often should I change road bike tyres?
My road bike has now done 500 miles, but unlike cars, I've no idea how often the tyres should be changed. It's used on normal road conditions. The brow of the tyre is now smooth.
How do I know if my tyres need to be changed, and how long should I…
Ged
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46
votes
14 answers
How do I gear up a bike for winter riding?
I live in NYC and would like to ride to work during the winter as well. What should one do to a mountain bike? a road bike? If you can also show products that you actually use that would be great.
milesmeow
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46
votes
7 answers
Why are license plates for bicycles no longer used?
Bicycle license plates were quite common in many countries before, during, and, depending on the region, also after WWII. In Poland, for instance, it was obligatory until the late 60s. I've found that in Switzerland some kind of license plates…
krzyski
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