Bicycles Stack Exchange
Bicycles Stack Exchange

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1500 questions
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4 answers

how do I paint a bicycle chain?

I've seen chains with so many colours, white, red, you name it. I would like to give it a try (this paint job is intended for visual styling of the bike, nothing related to protecting it), but I have no clue on how to do it. I think there must be a…
jackJoe
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1x, 2x, 3x chainring - does it matter?

I need to replace one chainring in my 3x9 setup. One possible option I'm looking at says it was made for 2x setups. Another option says it was made for 1x. They have the correct tooth count, BCD, and bolt layout. How much does this matter if the…
FrustratedWithFormsDesigner
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What is this part that came with my eggbeater pedals?

I bought some second-hand Crank Bros Eggbeater pedals. They came in the original box, apparently with all the bits except the cleats. (That's fine. CB cleats are effectively a consumable.) One of the bits is a pair of plastic pieces I don't…
Michael come lately
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does a tire bead 'jack' work?

I'm having great difficulties getting a kevlar belted tire onto my rim (maybe I'm getting old). I had heard about the Kool-Stop tire bead jack as a possible alternative to using just my tire levers. Has anyone used these things? Am I signing myself…
shabbychef
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What is this stamped metal piece that fell out of a new hydraulic shifter?

I’m finishing setting up a new bike, and right as I finished bleeding and shifting around the left shifter (r7025), this little stamped steel bit fell out. It’s about 11mm in diameter and 0.5mm thick. I have no idea where it came from beyond…
Ben
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7 answers

Why signal stop with your left hand in the US?

Why are cyclists in the US expected (or required) to signal "Stop" with the palm of their left hand? If I'm stopping or slowing down, I'm using my front brake. The brake operated by my left hand. The majority of braking is best done with your left…
Jean-Paul Lacy
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2 answers

Why the backwards fork?

While reading this Wikipedia article, I noticed some photos of racers, all from the early 20th century, riding bikes with the forks installed backwards. I count at least 3 of them, so it wasn't just a single weirdo doing that. What is the purpose of…
Mike Baranczak
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Is an IP68 rating sufficient to protect a phone during a 12 hour ride in heavy rain?

I would like to bring my IP68-rated phone with me on long rides where the weather might be very wet. As I understand, IP68 means it can withstand immersion at a depth of 1 metre for 30 minutes. However, does this also mean that the phone will be…
Will Vousden
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What are the most basic parts of a bicycle which cannot be upgraded over a period of time?

After reading this question: Cheap MTB with future upgrades v/s costly fully ready MTB, I myself had a question. What are the most fundamental parts of a bicycle? What are the things which we have to look for in a bicycle prior to buying which needs…
kartlad
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Why do base kilometers help with time trials?

Question: If I want to maintain some objective measure of improvement by keeping track of the time it takes me to do a 40-km round-trip, why is it important to not do a time trial every time (riding every other day), but to vary the workout by…
Sam7919
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Why is my rear rack shaped like this?

I recently bought a used bike that had a rack attached to it. Until last night I didn't notice this strangely shaped part on one of the sides of the rack (circled in purple in the picture). This isn't on the other side and it isn't on the rack on my…
GageMartin
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How much energy is lost with a gravel tire compared with a road tire?

I understand that around 20% of the energy while cycling is lost by the deformation of the wheels. I also understand that in smooth and dry roads people use plain tires (no tread pattern) as these tires will get more contact area with the ground,…
Numlet
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Consequences of under-tight cassette ring?

I have a torque wrench that goes up to 24 N⋅m but as far as I understand a cassette ring should be tightened to about 40 N⋅m. What is the consequence of tightening the cassette ring to 24 N⋅m instead of 40 N⋅m? Will it damage the bicycle or make the…
Iwan Aucamp
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What can I do to be sure I'm getting a fair deal when buying a used bike?

I've been looking at used bikes but I'm worried that I will get taken advantage of because I don't know a lot about bikes. Are there key questions or things I should look for when shopping for a used bike?
Meghann Davies
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How should I lock my bike in a public front wheel bike stand

In front of my gym there is front wheel bike stand that means a regular D lock will not be able to reach from the stand to the frame. Around the corner is some Sheffield style locks but they are out of the view of the gym - meaning easier for…
vaughan
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