Do you know how to determine your bike’s correct chain length? Do you know why it’s important? It has to do with course topography, and choosing the right freewheel for your race. You don’t have multiple freewheels? Baby, we need to talk.
by Dan Empfield, July 22, 2008
Last year I wrote a series of articles about the most underserved segment of the handlebar market. I described the state of the shorty bar, offered some opinions, and reported on the best current product. Here’s an updated version of that article.
Welcome to a new series: Why you’re not comfortable. If you’re not comfortable speaking in front of crowds, sorry, we’re not addressing that here. But if you’re not comfortable on your bike, read on. That’s our topic. We’re starting with “contact points.”
In the old old days of cycling (when I was 25 or so), everything was made of steel and forged aluminum. Back then we needed torque wrenches. In today’s age of carbon, you really need a torque wrench.
Do you want to install (and uninstall) your fork on your bike? If so, you need to get the crown race on and off. There are tools for sale that represent the incorrect way to tackle this job. Here are the correct tools, and how to use them.
Also known as steerer cutting guide, or fork saw guide, I prefer miter block, because I cut a lot more than fork steerers with it. This tool is in almost constant use—frequently seen in the jaws of my bench vise.
Two times in 20 years has a bike I’ve worked on failed during a race: my own, in a race I traveled around the world to get to; and one ridden by Lance Armstrong in a national championship. But, I’m still wrenching, and you can wrench too.
What follows herein is the bike tinkerer’s list of essential tools. Any less and you’re a caveman. All these specialty tools can be had for quite a small sum compared with the many thousands a pro shop will spend on its tools.
Updated from its original publication in 2004, this article is the answer to a Slowtwitch Forum user who once posted: “[Blank] the car, I’m putting a bike workshop in the garage.” His post asked for advice, and this is it.
How power propels a bike: This is the second of two introductory articles preparing for a year-long series on training with power.
The nice thing about the Internet — or the maddening thing, if you like finality — is that there rarely is any finality. Articles that we publish are not the last word on a subject, they’re typically the first word.
In barely a month USA Cycling joins the UCI in legislating the Randy Newman ethic: “Don’t want no short people round here.” Fortunately, there is a deceptively easy alternative for both of cycling’s governing bodies.
Floyd Landis, Fabian Cancellara, Dave Zabriskie, Levi Leipheimer have all raced with the “hands in face” position. John Cobb pulls out of his wind tunnel archives an analysis of hand heights.
