Bicycle Tire Pressure Guidelines A critical aspect of bicycling fun and performance is using the proper tire pressure. Too much pressure leads to an unsafe and uncomfortable ride, while too little pressure leads to an unsafe and uncomfortable ride, plus a great risk of damage to the wheels. Along with comfort and safety, proper tire […]
How to Use a Crank Brothers Speed Lever
Rating: Crank Bros Speed Lever Review The Speed Lever is a new take on an old tool, the tire lever. Normally you would stick one to three tire levers under the tire’s bead, pry it out, and then run them along the tire to pop the entire bead out. It was quite a bit of […]
How to Replace a Broken Spoke
Difficulty: How to Replace a Broken Spoke Gather the following tools and you’ll be ready to replace a busted spoke. New spoke Spoke wrench Truing stand Tire levers 1. Remove wheel. Start by removing the wheel from the bike. 2. Remove everything from wheel. Remove the tire, tube, and rim strip from the wheel. If […]
How to Overhaul Your Hubs
Difficulty: How to Overhaul Your Hubs You will need: Two cone wrenches Pen magnet Grease Rag This guide covers how to take hubs apart, clean everything, and regrease them. (This focuses mainly on unsealed hubs. Sealed bearings usually do not require service, but eventually they will need replacement.) 1. Remove wheel. Start by removing the […]
How to Adjust Hubs
Difficulty: How to Adjust Your Hubs You will need: Two cone wrenches 1. Check current adjustment. Start by checking the hub’s current adjustment to see if it is too tight, too loose, or just right. You can do this by spinning and shaking the wheel or pushing it back and forth, while still on the […]
How to Patch a Punctured Tire
How to Patch a Punctured Tire Just as tubes get holes, tires do, too. Usually this happens from a large piece of glass or wire that sticks in your tire, or it could be from riding over sharp rocks and pot holes. The good news is that you can patch tires just like tubes! As […]
How to Pump Up Your Tires (Both Presta a...
Difficulty: How to Pump Up Your Tires (Both Presta and Schrader Valves) Putting air in your tires is a simple, often overlooked part of bicycle maintenance. However, it can take you by surprise if you are fairly new to the cycling world. It’s also very important to keep your tires properly inflated. Failure to do […]
How to Remove Rust Spots from a Chrome R...
Difficulty: How to Remove Rust Spots from a Chrome Rim If you are restoring an old bike that has been sitting in the barn, basement, or outside, chances are you have some rust to deal with. There are many times I have had chrome rims get rusty, and I had to remove the rust spots. […]
How to Properly Tighten Bolts
Difficulty: How to Properly Tighten Bolts These methods apply to numerous disciplines, since just about everything you work with (bikes, cars, etc.) use threaded fasteners of some sort (i.e. Hex bolts.) But it is a basic “handyman” skill that you need to know before working on a bicycle… There are two considerations here: applying proper […]
How to Remove a Cartridge Bearing Bottom...
Difficulty: How to Remove a Cartridge Bearing Bottom Bracket Below are instructions for removing a cartridge bearing bottom bracket. It doesn’t take long but there are a few scenarios you have to watch out for. (Note that you must remove your cranks before removing the bottom bracket.) If you have a 20-tooth splined bottom bracket, […]