High-impact bicycling maneuvers can cause your brakes to slide out of the proper alignment. Handbrakes feature a cable that stretches from the handlebars to your back tire. The handbrake cable allows you to squeeze a lever to slow the momentum of...
Be sure to replace your bicycle's brakes at the first sign of damage. Having properly working brakes is not only essential to prevent injury, it can also improve athletic performance by allowing for rapid turns or stops.
BMX brakes often malfunction because of improperly aligned brake pads. Riders often identify this problem by the ear-splitting squeak that the brakes emit as they are engaged. This sound is caused by the brake pads squeezing on the rubber tire as...
Be sure to replace your bicycle's brakes at the first sign of damage. Having properly working brakes is not only essential to prevent injury, it can also improve athletic performance by allowing for rapid turns or stops.
Properly functioning brakes are an essential part of any well-maintained bike. This is especially true when you need extra braking power during off-road treks or when navigating a bustling urban rush hour. Resist the urge to "cross the bridge of...
Disc brakes are among the latest innovations in the world of off-road mountain biking. According to bicycle guru Sheldon Brown, disc brakes have become popular because they provide effective stopping power in wet conditions. Unlike rubber pad...
Squeaky caliper brakes on a bike signal it's time to check your brakes. The most common cause of squeaky brakes is improper toe-in of the brake pads. If the pads fully contact the wheel rim when the brakes are first applied, heat friction causes...
For many, bicycling blends the satisfaction of mobility, fresh air and exercise. Of course, if you don't maintain your brakes, slam into a brick wall and end up in traction, you don't experience these benefits. You can tote your bike to a shop and...
There are many advantages to hydraulic disc brakes on a bicycle. Unlike rim brakes, discs have tremendous stopping power in mud, rain and snow, and they can also be used with any tire width. They are available in mechanical and hydraulic....
Bicycles generally have two break types: coaster brakes, common on many single-speed and BMX bikes; and hand brakes, often referred to as side pull caliper brakes, typically found on multi-speed cruisers and mountain bikes. Changing to coaster...
Single-speed bicycles feature a single gear or cog attached to the hub of the rear wheel and a single cog or gear attached to the pedals, called a chainring. Single-speed bicycles are valued because they provide simple systems that are affordable,...
Brakes can become misaligned due to bumps taken on the road and as time passes, they become worn. When this happens, your brakes will begin to squeak. You can take your bicycle to the bike shop to get this fixed, or you can save yourself money by...
Maintaining your bicycle's brakes is important to ensuring a safe and comfortable ride. Bicycles commonly use cable brakes, which consist of a long wire from the brake lever to the brake arms. Squeezing on the lever tugs the cable, which causes...
Bicycle brakes like all other brakes require periodic maintenance to keep them functioning in perfect working order. You can fix your bicycle's brakes in less than half an hour with a minimal number of tools. Adjusting the brakes periodically will...
Buying a bicycle shouldn't be a quick decision. It may seem like a simple purchase compared with a car or other large vehicle, but bikes have variations in equipment and construction that can make a great difference in comfort and functionality....
A fixed-gear bicycle has only one gear. It requires the rider to pedal continually with no allowance for coasting during the ride. If the pedaling stops, so does the bike. There are many advantages to training on a fixed gear bike during the...
If you ride your bicycle long enough, you will eventually experience squeaking brakes. Sometimes gleaning the black buildup from your rims and brake pads using alcohol and a rag or steel wool will solve the problem. In other cases, you have to dig...
Fixed gear bicycles provide one of the most classic styles of bike riding. Because they do not use a free wheel, there is no coasting. When the wheels on a fixed gear bike are moving, the pedals are moving. While many stores offer a small...
Once the Rodney Dangerfield of exercise equipment, elastic resistance bands received less respect than they deserved. While it's true that resistance band-training is rooted in physical therapy, and senior, beginner and prenatal fitness programs,...
Besides taking your mountain bike to a shop for regular tune-ups every year or two, there is maintenance you can perform yourself. Routine mountain bike maintenance for women doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. You only need a few...
Fixed-gear bikes are a novelty to many people, but they are a popular road bike found in cities across the United States. Fixed gear bikes feature a 1-to-1 ratio between the gears, and unlike many other types of bikes, there is no coasting. For...
Rear wheel alignments for bikes can be tricky, since it involves the tension of the spokes. In a wheel with perfect alignment, all the spokes have the exact tension. If your tire wobbles when your bike is in motion or if just a small section of...
Road, mountain and recreational cyclists ride single-speed bikes. The simplicity of these bikes, which lack multiple gears, may be attractive to you, as you don't need gear shifters, derailleurs and all of the cables that come along with them....
If cycling is a part of your fitness routine, you will inevitably have to deal with bicycle maintenance and repair. While you could simply load your bicycle onto your car and whisk it off to the bike shop for repair, consider what would happen if...
Axle hub conversions are popular among intermediate and advanced off-road riders. A Shimano XT axle hub conversion transforms a multi-speed bike to a single speed bike. This is referred to as a fixed gear conversion. Sprockets are often changed...
Squealing is an unwelcome sound in most circumstances, let alone when stopping on a bicycle. The last thing you want to hear when trying to prevent yourself from barreling into a parked car or down a steep hill is a squeal that sounds like your...
Repairs to hydraulic brakes on your bike may introduce air into the system. This significantly diminishes the ability of your brakes to function correctly. Hydraulic fluid does not compress. This physical property allows the fluid to transmit...
While a traditional straddle wire across the caliper arms can be difficult to adjust, a device called a "link unit" can help make adjusting cantilever brakes to work properly a simpler task. The link unit fits between the brake calipers and the...
Mountain bikes were developed in the United States in the mid-20th century. Their sturdy frames and strengthened components make them more durable than road bikes on unpaved courses. Many mountain bike courses feature sharp turns, steep inclines...
