Wire-spoke wheels are simple, strong and lightweight, but each component depends upon its neighbors for protection. As long as the spokes are evenly tensioned and the rim is round, the force of an impact is distributed around the circumference of the wheel. As stress and damage cause individual spokes to loosen, the job is shouldered by fewer spokes in tension. If you let all the spokes go slack, then the job of supporting the rider and his or her botched landings goes to the few spokes that… Read More

Everyone has had a day when their brakes howl like monkeys and, unless you happen to be a monkey, a persistent howler can take the fun out of a day's ride - or worse, announce your poaching whereabouts to nearby not-so-bike-friendly uniformed forest inhabitants. Before you become angry or incur another's anger again, silence those stoppers with this week's Pinkbike's Tech Tuesday disc brake how-to. We accidentally lubricated this brake with chain lube and were awarded with a howler on the… Read More

VIDEO UPDATES 01:21 - Apply a thin layer of grease to the hub threads before installing the freewheel. In this tutorial we’ll learn how to remove and install a freewheel on your bike. You may remember a while back when we covered cassette removal and installation. Here’s how the two systems differ: a cassette is a series of gears that slides onto a freewheel unit. This is a better system because it allows you to replace worn sprockets without having to replace the freewheeling component… Read More

Today we’ll learn how to tune up your bike, which I’d recommend doing at least once a year, or even every few months if you ride every day. Since I can’t demonstrate every step of the procedure while keeping this video short, I’ll give a general overview and cover each step further in separate tutorials. You’ll notice below that I’ve written out all of the steps and included links to related tutorials. I’ll be adding new links as future videos are uploaded. Depending how much work is needed… Read More

VIDEO UPDATES 02:14 - Never use either the large/large or small/small gear combination! Most bikes these days come with ‘21 speeds’. However, this doesn’t mean you have 21 useable gears. Actually, on a 21 speed system it’s closer to 13. A lot of people get confused by all of the gear combinations available. I myself didn’t understand it when I first started using a multi-speed bike, so today we’ll learn how to use your gears most effectively. It’s very important not to shift under pressure, as… Read More

VIDEO UPDATES 02:22 - IMPORTANT: Apply a thin layer of grease to the threads before inserting into the frame. Today we’ll learn how to overhaul and re-grease an adjustable bottom bracket. To remove the cranks you’ll need a crank puller, a 17mm open end wrench and a large adjustable wrench. To overhaul the bottom bracket you’ll need a bottom bracket wrench or a pin spanner, a hooked lock ring wrench, and a 36mm wrench. For re-greasing the bearings you’ll need some cleaning solvent and waterproof… Read More

VIDEO UPDATES 01:14 - Take the shifter apart very slowly to avoid losing important components. 02:00 - Getting the shifter back together correctly can be really tricky and takes some patience. 02:28 - Watch the front and rear derailleur adjustment tutorials for more help with this step. Today we’ll learn how to replace a Sram GripShift(R) style shifter cable. For this job, you’ll need a replacement shift cable and end cap, a 2.5mm allen key to open the grip shifter, a 5mm allen key or 9mm open… Read More

In today’s tutorial, we’ll learn how to adjust a threadless headset, otherwise known as an ‘Aheadset. For this job, you’ll need either a 5mm or a 6mm allen key, depending on your stem. To loosen the stem, simply turn the allen key on top counter-clockwise a few turns. Don’t remove it completely. Then loosen the two bolts on the side. Now your stem should turn freely. To check if the headset is tight, lift the front of the bike off the ground. The handlebar should rotate freely and fall to one… Read More

VIDEO UPDATES 02:58 - Lubricate the pivot points with a few drops of Tri-Flow. Today we’ll learn how to adjust v-brakes, which are otherwise known as linear pull brakes. For this job you’ll need a 5mm allen key, a phillips(+) screwdriver, a strip of sandpaper, and an optional cable puller. Align Brake Levers The first step is to set up your brake levers. Start by loosening the clamp, and then align them so that they match the angle of your arms when you’re riding. Once the angle is set, tighten… Read More

In today’s tutorial we’ll take a look at lubricants. Please keep in mind that none of these companies are paying me to recommend their products… these are all brands that I trust and recommend after years of heavy use in the bike shop. There are three main types of lubrication you should have: light oil, chain oil, and grease. Light Oil When I talk about light oils, I’m referring to a product called TriFlow. There are many other types of traditional light oil available, but a lot of these are… Read More

This week we’ll learn how to remove and install handlebar grips. For this job, you’ll need some replacement grips, a long, slim screwdriver or similar metal tool, a 5 or 6mm allen key to loosen your levers and shifters, some hairspray, and some WD-40 to loosen the old grips. While I don’t recommend using WD-40 as a lubricant anywhere on your bike, this is one of the few times where it works well. Grip Removal If you have bar-plugs you should remove these first. You’ll also likely have to loosen… Read More

Today we’ll learn about some tools that every home repair shop should have in order to perform basic adjustment and maintenance procedures. I’ll cover more advanced tools in a future tutorial. Repair Stand The most important tool in any home shop is a repair stand. Park Tools makes an economy stand called the PCS-9 that will do the job, but if you’re going to be working on bikes regularly I’d recommend the PCS-4 because of the superior clamping system. If you’re not ready to invest you can… Read More

In this short video we’ll learn how to remove surface rust. This will work best on chrome and sometimes on bare steel. If your rust is really bad you may have to get the part sandblasted and re-chromed. For this job you’ll need some light oil, a chunk of fine steel wool, and a rag. Simply squirt some light oil on the rust you want to remove. Then scrub it a little bit with a chunk of steel wool and wipe it clean with a rag… and that’s it! Keep in mind that it will quickly rust again if exposed… Read More

This week we’ll learn how to break a chain using a chain tool. I’ll cover the quick release method next week. Quick Release Links The first thing to do is check to make sure your chain does not already have a quick release link. Do this by turning your pedals backwards and carefully watching every chain link as it goes by. A quick release link will stand out as they look different from all of the others. If you find one, you can refer to next week’s tutorial for removal and installation… Read More

Today we’ll learn how to use a quick release chain link. There are two common link types, for which all you need is a good set of pliers. Type 1 The first type of quick release link is found on bmx and single speed chains. There are three parts: one link plate with two chain pins attached, a plate with no chain pins that slides on the other side, and a clip that holds the link together once installed. Disconnect Type 1 To disconnect this type of link, place one jaw of your pliers on the chain… Read More

In today’s tutorial, we’ll learn how to troubleshoot and repair a RapidFire Plus style index shifter. For this job you’ll need a phillips(+) screwdriver, a 4 or 5mm allen key, some light oil, spray grease, and some penetrating fluid like liquid wrench or WD-40. Sometimes nothing happens if you try to shift up to an easier gear, or down to a harder gear. If your cables are functioning smoothly, this likely means that there is either a build up of gunk on the inside of your shifter, or that some… Read More

One of the most common problems I hear about is chain skip, which is when your pedal slips forward while pedaling under pressure. This is usually either caused by a stiff chain link, worn freehub body, or by a worn chain and freewheel. In this tutorial, we’ll learn how to diagnose a worn drivetrain. Watch the stiff link tutorial first to make sure that isn’t your problem. Once you’ve ruled out a stiff link it’s time to check if your chain is actually worn. Chains will ’stretch’ over time,… Read More

These days you can get a great deal on a new bike by ordering online. Today we’ll learn how to properly assemble a mail order bike right out of the box. Since there are so many different types of bikes and components available, I’ll give a brief overview of the assembly. If you’re watching this video on bicycletutor.com, you can check the links in the text below for more specific instructions. For this job you’ll need several tools. Ideally you should have a repair stand and a wheel truing… Read More

Hi all 29/9 : I have been looking around at getting some decent lights for night riding but have been scared off by the costs...anything from R1500 (2nd hand) to R7000 (top of the range brand new). This has got me thinking of making my own. I have looked around on the net and see a few people have tried this before. So here goes..I will get the thinking cap on. Obviously I would like to keep costs down as much as possible. I am looking more at functionality that aesthetics here..so don't expect… Read More

Ease the Pedal Pressure when Shifting GearRemember that when you are planning to shift gear, that it is important to ease the pressure on the pedals. Although modern drivetrains care much less about the pedal pressure, it is still not good for the drivetrain to shift gear at very large pedalling pressures at low cadences. So if you ease the pressure on the pedals, the shifts will be smoother and your chain, cogs and chainrings will last much longer. Shift gear before you ascend or climb a… Read More

You give your mountain bike a ton of abuse... so you have to show it some love too. Otherwise... well, let's not think about the consequences when you get sudden chain suck on a rocky track, or your brakes give out on a treacherous drop. You can save yourself a lot of trouble -- and pain -- with some "before you need it" mountain bike repair. You want to keep your most important components tuned up, and replace worn-out ones before they abandon you right when you need them most. So here are my… Read More

Doing a wheelie is one of the most fundamental technical skills of a mountain biker, or any biker for that matter! Not only is it fun to play around with, but it can be an essential move on the trail. However, the trick can be extremely frustrating if you don't know how to go about doing it. Find a flat or slightly uphill surface. It will make lifting the front wheel easier without throwing you off the back Start pedaling at a pretty slow speed. Since it's the quick acceleration of the back… Read More

The bunny hop is the most simple way of jumping a bike: both wheels off the ground at once. Unlike the wheelie, there's no pedalling involved. Most who try to do a bunny hop on a bicycle, though, don't realize the key motion involved in the lifting up of the back wheel. In fact, many who are quite successful at the trick don't even realize they are doing it. Assuming you are not wearing clip-in pedals or cages, the trick lies in your foot's grip on the pedal, not necessarily weight transfer.… Read More

Doing a J-Hop is a bit more tricky than the bunny hop, if nothing else for the fact that it requires weight shift, not just leg spring. However, J-hopping is more applicable on the trail (and it's more impressive) because your front wheel enters the air before the back, which means that you can jump higher and that you can take flight a tad later, since you don't have to worry about your front wheel hitting the obstacle. Let's do this. Ready? Find a flat area and start coasting while standing… Read More

We see pro bikers "hucking" huge drops in every kind of imaginable bike media. Perhaps the mere mortal might like to huck as the the grandmasters do. Taking a drop really is extremely simple. All that it entails is a popping of the front wheel, much like in the J-Hop. However, a different strain of dropping on a mountain bike can involve pulling a wheelie off the edge at a slower speed. As I describe the process of dropping, I'm assuming that we're dealing with a 3-4 foot drop. Let's start with… Read More

Setting proper bike seat height for your size is an important part of every bike setup. Proper seat height adjustment helps ensure joint health, pedaling efficiency, and comfort while riding your bike. It helps to know where your body likes to be while pedaling and to use this position when you pedal for any significant period of time on any bike. To find the right seat height position you need to sit on your bike with your feet on the pedals. Position one pedal at the very bottom of it's… Read More

The Expert: Mark Hendershot (Santa Cruz Syndicate) is a man of many talents: organic farmer, floor-covering expert, pedicab business owner. But where the 44-year-old Grand Rapids, Michigan, native truly excels is on the racecourse--especially the 24-hour kind. Over the past nine years, Hendershot's been a consistent podium finisher in the World and National Solo 24 Hour Championships, effectively scratching out a place among the elite of the endurance world. His secrets? Confidence--and quality… Read More

It takes two seconds to ride over a log. It takes 10 more to slow down, stop, dismount, swear, drag your bike over the obstacle, remount and catch your friends who have vanished around the bend. With the right technique, you can clear logs faster than a real estate developer and keep sailing down the trail. "It's all about maintaining momentum," says professional freerider and mountain bike coach Jay Hoots, of British Columbia, who offers clinics and instruction through Hoots Inc. (hoots.ca).… Read More

Setting proper bike seat position for your body is an important part of every bike setup. Using the right seat position for your body will help keep your joints healthy, give you better endurance, and more comfort. As with your seat height adjustment you should learn what seat position your body likes and then use it whenever you have to pedal for any significant time on any bike. There are two adjustments to your seats position on the seat post. The first sets the horizontal position of the… Read More

Air: space between the tires and the ground. (Both tires must be off the ground or it isn't "air".) Said to be caught or gotten. See sky. Ano: frequently-misspelled abbreviation for "anodized". ATB: All-Terrain Bike or Biking. A synonym for MTB. Auger: to involuntarily take samples of the local geology, usually with one's face, during a crash. See face plant. Bacon: scabs on a rider's knees, elbows, or other body parts. Bail: to jump off in order to avoid an imminent crash. Biff: a crash.… Read More

When was the last time you checked the pressure in your tires? If you answered more than three days ago, you had better check them before your next ride. Keeping your tires at their optimum pressure is one of the two easiest ways to keep your bike working at its best (the other one is keeping your drivetrain clean and lubricated). When your tires are under-inflated they wear faster, are much more prone to flatting, have increased probability of both rim and tire damage, and worst of all they… Read More

The popularity of fitness rides is obvious these days. Cyclists who are looking for a ride will have no problem finding the perfect event in their community. All across the country there are a variety of rides for every level of cyclist, whether their goal is to finish a century ride, raise money by participating in an AIDS or MS Society ride, or just simply join a local cycling club. The biggest concern among cyclists training for a major ride is how to avoid "bonking." Toward the last half of… Read More

I am about to give you the key to speed. One phrase. Are you ready? Don't use the brakes. Don't look so disappointed. What were you expecting, Magic? Now just a second, before you reach for the back button let me explain. I don't mean to not use them at all, just use them less. One of the best ways to improve your riding is to go with someone that is faster than you. Not way faster, so that you get discouraged, but a bit faster, so you really have to work to keep up. Once you've found someone… Read More

The eyes are the windows to the soul... yeah, whatever. We are Mountain Bikers and not concerned with such sensitive pablum. We just want to ride better and faster. Now the eyes, or more precisely, how we use them, become more important than some romantic notion. While you are working over that sweet technical singletrack at a high rate of speed, your brain needs images to process in order to make the incomprehensible number of decisions required to keep your nose out of the tree bark. If you… Read More

Each season, an athlete should have a purpose, a goal, and a reason for all the training. One or all of these are usually centered on an important race or set of races. The high priority races are established at the beginning of the training season and always seem to be approaching rapidly. So the time to put all that training, eating, and resting (yes, resting) to the test will be at that important event. So the question is, "Will you arrive at the starting line feeling fresh, energized, and… Read More

Your legs feel heavy and unresponsive. Your heart rate climbs rapidly and rises higher than it should, relative to the effort, or it won't climb at all. You push yourself to keep up and begin to feel like an old VW Microbus, sputtering up a mountain pass. Eventually you back off the pace, fearing that you won't be able to continue. You slow down and start to feel better. Within a half hour you seem to catch your second wind. So what went wrong? Did you allow plenty of time to prepare both… Read More

Riding your mountain bike with the appropriate amount of tire pressure can make a huge difference in how much control you have over your bike. Setting your tire pressure too high will make for poor contact with the ground and also make your bike less controllable. Setting your tire pressure too low will make your tires unpredictable and also make them susceptible to pinch flats. The appropriate amount of tire pressure in a mountain bike will vary between rider to rider and tire setup to tire… Read More