There is no bigger buzzkill than a sudden loss of tire pressure during a ride. Learning to remedy a flat tire on your own is absolutely the most important skill that every rider must learn in order to keep riding fun and safe. Here is everything you need to know to be prepared and confident when this situation inevitably deflates your pneumatic fun.
Your reliable local bike shop will likely charge no less than $50 for a basic tune, but it can be hundreds if they need to go deep and replace parts. Learning to work on your own bike will save you the time and money involved in taking it to a bike shop, prevent fun-ending (and potentially dangerous) mechanical failures, and provide you with the satisfaction of embracing the DIY spirit.
This guide will cover the basics to get your bike rolling for spring. For detailed guides to specific parts on your bike, consult Park Tool’s Repair Help website for general instructions or the service manual for the specific component, which is often available on the manufacturer’s website. Sheldon Brown’s amazing website is a witty treasure trove of useful technical information as well.
Grinding gravel is all the rage among the cycling community, but cyclists have always ridden dirt roads, often because those were the only roads available to them. Even the pros are opting for dirty adventures and fatter tires as more cyclists have begun seeking out long dirt road routes and races to “grind” out long miles amid the bucolic scenery, and challenging terrain and away from traffic.
If you’re an avid cyclist, then your bike is surely important to you. And as it is the case with anything that matters, you need to take good care of it. This covers everything from how you ride it to how often you perform maintenance checks on it.
Want to unleash your inner Peter Sagan or just show off for your buddies? Not only do they look cool, but wheelies are a great tool for navigating unexpected obstacles, learning how to pull your front wheel up and over large obstacles and for having a rad time.
Whether you’re replacing your pedals to go clipless, removing them for maintenance or packing up a bike to ship it, eventually you’ll need to know how to remove and replace bike pedals.
What’s the best plan for the days when your training plan, weekly group ride or that Fondo you paid top dollar for, don’t coincide with a sunny weather forecast? Some days you just have to kit up and ride in the rain. When the pros do it, it often leads to some of the most action-packed stages. Biking in the rain takes a few additional skills, but if you dress accordingly and follow a few tactical tips, not only will you discover what you’re truly capable of, but you’ll learn to enjoy and embrace those rainy rides.
If you’ve ever wiped out on a bike, you’ve no doubt experienced road rash. Pros Tweet about the perils of trying to sleep with oozing wounds stuck to their sheets. A common cycling injury, road rash refers to a superficial injury or abrasion to the skin and its underlying tissue caused by rubbing or scraping. Need to heal fast? Follow this effective road rash treatment to avoid infection and get back on the bike in no time.
Fair-weather riders, listen up! Cyclists have long relied on a secret salve to help adapt to the changing seasons. Embrocation is the answer to those cool fall mornings when leg warmers are too toasty, but the thought of bare skin is goose bump inducing. Want to keep your legs happy as old man winter nips at your heels? Here’s the lowdown on embrocation and reviews of a few of my favorites.
Nothing can derail the perfect ride faster than a saddle sore. It’s the bane of amateurs and pros alike and most cyclists have experienced this painful condition at some point. Despite having an expensive chamois or high-end saddle, this ailment can still affect even the most experienced riders. How can you keep this from turning into a chronic condition? Here are some tried and tested tips to prevent and treat saddle sores.