Seatposts ship long and can usually be cut down. But how much can you cut? And should you cut? This article will tell you when and how much to cut. The short answer is that a standard seatpost can be cut, but should extend at least 5″ (13 cm) into the seat tube AND at…
Your bicycle chains wear and have to be replaced. But your cassette wears too, which prompts the question: Should you automatically replace the cassette with the chain? Many manufacturers (and bike shops) argue yes: “the worn chain has worn the cassette”. But the truth is that cassettes can last longer than the chain. In this…
Bike cables need to run smoothly in their housings for shifting and braking to work properly. Should the cables be lubricated to help in this? And what kind of lubricant should be used? In this article, I will explain when bike cables should be lubricated and when lubrication is not needed. I will also tell…
Many cranksets and pedals ship with pedal washers, which are just thin plain washers to go between the pedal and the crank. But these washers are also often omitted – with no obvious negative consequences. So what are they really good for? This article tells you the pros and cons of pedal washers and when…
One of the most common small annoyances on the bike are clicking and creaking noises from the direction of the crankset. While often associated with heavy pedaling, in really bad cases these sounds may plague your every pedal stroke. This article tells you how to spot and fix the four most common issues that produce…
Much confusion surrounds bicycle bottom bracket maintenance: what to do, how often or should you rather leave the component alone. Some say that cleaning and greasing is needed every 3 months, others that it’s not needed at all. The truth is that the need for maintenance depends on the type of bottom bracket you have….
Master links are a quick-release chain link in bicycle chains. During the 2010s, they became a standard component that comes pre-installed in practically all 8 to 12 speed chains. Master links are very easy to open with purpose-made master link pliers (~$10 a pair). But what if do not have these at hand and you…
Wiggle in a bicycle crank is always a serious concern and should be diagnosed without delay. Riding with a wobbly crank is dangerous – the crank may fail under you and cause a crash. Ignoring the issue for too long may also leave you with a damaged crank or frame. This article tells you how…
What should you use on the threads and fits on your bike: grease, thread lock or anti-seize? The variety of thread lubrication / protection media is a common source of confusion for bike mechanics, pros and DIYers alike. In this article I outline my recommendations – grease, thread lock or anti-seize – for each spot…
Bicycle brake and shifter (gears) cables look very similar – and so do the cable housings. This raises two questions: (1) How to tell brake and shifter cables and housings apart? (2) Can you mix&match? I wrote this article to clear the confusion around this topic. The short answer is that brake cable&housing are thicker…
