Real Riders Cycling Tips for Dummies (no we're not dummies but it's easy tips for everybody).
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Real Riders Cycling Tips for Dummies (no we're not dummies but it's easy tips for everybody).
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Thursday, 31 May 2012
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This is a group for everybody to share those little hints & tips you discover when you are a cyclist.
Post them here so that others can share from your learnings.
It would be lovely if we can have only 1 or 2 posts a day, so that we can spread them out over a bigger period & give people a chance to take your tip in, ask questions if need be.
OK guys, get into it & have some fun with it.
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Wall
Use a bike mirror. They are a great safety item for riding in traffic, changing lanes, waiting at intersections and generally checking for cars and trucks coming up behind you. A mirror may not look all that cool, however from my own experience, once you get used it you'll wonder how you ever rode without one.
362 days ago
Getting your 'fit' correct-
I read a column from a former pro mechanic & bike setup 'specialist' that said that these 'bike fits' have one minor downfall, they can only work on the 'average' person, who's average?
He thinks that getting a bike fit isn't a waste of money but don't be convinced it's the be all, end all, after you get home, ride the bike a few times, then move the seat post up 10mm, ride the bike again, if it's still fairly comfy then move it up another 10mm, keep doing this until it gets uncomfortable then move the seat down 2.5mm, keep moving it down until it's comfy then you're pretty close to the perfect fit for you.
I did this with my bikes, I had measurements relating to seat to pedal measurement, seat to bar measurement, pedal to bar measurement, I always set my bikes up to these, until I read his article, I now set the bikes up when I change something, then go through his system, I now have all of my bikes set up slightly different, but they are all as comfy as an old pair of jeans.
I read a column from a former pro mechanic & bike setup 'specialist' that said that these 'bike fits' have one minor downfall, they can only work on the 'average' person, who's average?
He thinks that getting a bike fit isn't a waste of money but don't be convinced it's the be all, end all, after you get home, ride the bike a few times, then move the seat post up 10mm, ride the bike again, if it's still fairly comfy then move it up another 10mm, keep doing this until it gets uncomfortable then move the seat down 2.5mm, keep moving it down until it's comfy then you're pretty close to the perfect fit for you.
I did this with my bikes, I had measurements relating to seat to pedal measurement, seat to bar measurement, pedal to bar measurement, I always set my bikes up to these, until I read his article, I now set the bikes up when I change something, then go through his system, I now have all of my bikes set up slightly different, but they are all as comfy as an old pair of jeans.
363 days ago
Always grease the threads of aluminium components including pedal threads, stem bolts and seat post. This will help removal, avoid binding of threads and prevent corrosion.
366 days ago
A good way to down shift on a climb, is to put a little extra effort into a right leg stroke, then shift as you roll over a weaker left leg stroke.
368 days ago
Never apply wheel quick release levers against forks or frame (yes this really is a tip or dummies) :-)
370 days ago
Fitting tyres-
When you are fitting tyres, put a good dose of talc/baby powder (no name supermarket brands are great for this, cheap & do a great job), into the tyre once you have one bead on the rim.
It will lubricate the tyre when you try to push the outer bead on, will allow the tyre to 'slip' around the bead if you want to turn the tyre, will soak up any moisture that may penetrate the tyre during rain or wet riding & make thew tyre a little easier to get off later.
I generally use kevlar beaded tyres & can usually get them on & off with just my thumbs & fingers, I put this down to the talc/baby powder I use when fitting the tyres (I take my tyres off regularly & put talc in everytime).
When you are fitting tyres, put a good dose of talc/baby powder (no name supermarket brands are great for this, cheap & do a great job), into the tyre once you have one bead on the rim.
It will lubricate the tyre when you try to push the outer bead on, will allow the tyre to 'slip' around the bead if you want to turn the tyre, will soak up any moisture that may penetrate the tyre during rain or wet riding & make thew tyre a little easier to get off later.
I generally use kevlar beaded tyres & can usually get them on & off with just my thumbs & fingers, I put this down to the talc/baby powder I use when fitting the tyres (I take my tyres off regularly & put talc in everytime).
372 days ago
Little cuts in tyres can be repaired.
If you find a cut in your tyre you can repair it before it gets bad enough that you have to replace the tyre.
Carefully dig out any foreign bodies (glass, bits of metal, etc.), then you pump the tyre right up, put the glue (you can use normal superglue, I personally use a flexible rubber glue) into the cut & deflate the tyre, this will cause the edges of the cut to close up (if you're using a rubber glue just fill the cut up completely it'll seal the cut, no need to deflate), when you re-inflate the tyre the cut should have sealed (if it hasn't either repeat the process or just fill the cut with superglue & allow to dry).
If you're cleaning your tyres after your rides & repairing your cuts then you should have a fairly easy run without getting too many flats.
I've been doing this for the last 11 months without a puncture.
If you find a cut in your tyre you can repair it before it gets bad enough that you have to replace the tyre.
Carefully dig out any foreign bodies (glass, bits of metal, etc.), then you pump the tyre right up, put the glue (you can use normal superglue, I personally use a flexible rubber glue) into the cut & deflate the tyre, this will cause the edges of the cut to close up (if you're using a rubber glue just fill the cut up completely it'll seal the cut, no need to deflate), when you re-inflate the tyre the cut should have sealed (if it hasn't either repeat the process or just fill the cut with superglue & allow to dry).
If you're cleaning your tyres after your rides & repairing your cuts then you should have a fairly easy run without getting too many flats.
I've been doing this for the last 11 months without a puncture.
374 days ago
This one comes from one of the Nissan trek pro team mechanics- When you are finished a ride, wipe your tyres over with a rag soaked in vinegar(white or brown doesn't matter), it helps remove any petro-chemical residue the tyres pick up from the road surface.
A side bonus of this is it helps you remove little glass fragments, etc., find metal/glass shards & see little cuts in the tyres (that you can repair before they get bad enough to destroy a tyre).
Evidently the vinegar doesn't affect the silica that they make tyres from these days, (unless you use the pure citrus type) degreasers can prematurely wear your tyres or compromise the surface.
I've done this for since I read it after last years TdF & haven't had a flat (except for the impact one that destroyed the tube) since then.
It's worked well for me.
Tyler Buckley on Thursday, 07 June 2012 20:43
A side bonus of this is it helps you remove little glass fragments, etc., find metal/glass shards & see little cuts in the tyres (that you can repair before they get bad enough to destroy a tyre).
Evidently the vinegar doesn't affect the silica that they make tyres from these days, (unless you use the pure citrus type) degreasers can prematurely wear your tyres or compromise the surface.
I've done this for since I read it after last years TdF & haven't had a flat (except for the impact one that destroyed the tube) since then.
It's worked well for me.
Tyler Buckley on Thursday, 07 June 2012 20:43Good one Wal will have to give that a try. Another trick is before you ride on the velodrome wipe your tyres down with half metho half water mixture to get all the dirt and grime off your tyres and this also helps them stick to the boards better too.
375 days ago
if your like me and wear glasses to help see it's a pain to ride in cooler months with the glasses fogging up, end up seeing further without the glasses than with them on. Well try this, take a drop of baby shampoo or soapy water on each lens, rub it around, then rinse and let air dry. You'll need to reapply every other ride or so
or
you could try Cat Crap http://www.amazon.com/EK-10003C-Cat-Crap/dp/B002ZNA488?tag=vglnk-c587-20
Not the best name they could have thought of :-)W. Sanson on Tuesday, 05 June 2012 19:13
or
you could try Cat Crap http://www.amazon.com/EK-10003C-Cat-Crap/dp/B002ZNA488?tag=vglnk-c587-20
Not the best name they could have thought of :-)
W. Sanson on Tuesday, 05 June 2012 19:13Also been told that raw potato works, I've used dishwashing liquid & that works so no reason that baby shampoo wouldn't work too. My Oakley Jawbones have vent holes cut out of the lenses, they fog until you start moving then they clear straight away.
378 days ago