WRAP YOUR BIKE FOR AN AWESOME RIDE

A variety of bicycle handlebar designs is available, each created to accommodate different riding conditions. Some types of handlebars provide better steering control and power, while others offer multiple grip positions that can help to reduce hand and arm fatigue on longer touring rides.

The skewer is the axle on bicycles with quick-release wheels. As your bicycle gets older, your skewers may become worn or damaged and need replacing, or you might want to upgrade to a better set of skewers. 

When a road bike is properly set up and maintained, it should be relatively free of squeaks, creaks and clicking noises. Most bike owners, however, will have to diagnose an unusual noise at some point. 

Figuring out how many speeds a bike has is one of the easier tasks you have to do if you’re fixing up an old frame. Even if the shifter is missing or worn, counting the speeds on a bike just takes a bit of multiplication.

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.

Not only does new bar tape allow you to keep control of your bike when your hands get sweaty, it just looks pro. Fresh and clean bar tape even makes an older bike look new. Here's how to wrap your bars in a few easy steps.

There's little more annoying when cycling than clicking or jumping gears, so our video and step-by-step guide will help you adjust your rear derailleur and index your bike's gears.

Bikes can definitely be the wrong size. You need out get one the fits you properly. The thing is, you can’t reliably go off the nominal frame size any more.

The actual length of the stem from the center of the steering bore to the center of the handlebar clamp. The effective length of the stem measured from the centerpoint of the steering bore to the center of the handlebar clamp without accounting for rise. 

Choosing the bike size depends on the type of bike, your height, your riding style, and your preference. A correct fitting bike will be more comfortable, more efficient and more fun to ride. This bike size guide gives our customers general advice on choosing the right size.

This article will assist in identifying the crank system found on your bike, and direct you to the article that outlines the full process of removal and installation.

If your bike has been sitting outside for a while, or if you live in a wet climate, chances are that at some point you’ll end up with a rusty bike chain. Rust on your chain is no good–it creates additional friction, places wear on your other drivetrain components, and makes the chain more susceptible to breakage.

The chain is the primary power transmitter between your legs and the wheels, and without it you’re essentially helpless.

No wonder, then, that so many bicycle maintenance issues come down to chain integrity.

Your tires (should be) the only contact between you and the road while you are riding your bike, so the type of tire you choose is super important. From tire width, to tread, and the rubber compound, the tires you choose to ride make a huge difference on how much traction you have while you’re riding and how fast you can go.

Welcome and welcome back fellow readers for yet another Hip Hop (hopefully not Hip Op) inspired skills session. Join us in avoiding the ‘house of pain’ as we Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump! (Everybody jump)... Yep, you guessed correctly, it’s a jump fest as we spring into summer, so let’s get to it.

Strong hamstrings will help you keep a strong pedal stroke throughout your ride and reduce the risk of injury.

It’s a natural urge as soon as you start pedalling a bike to wonder how fast you are going. A simple bike computer will allow you to see your max, current and average speed for each ride. 

Cycling requires good balance. This is a skill that can be developed like any other, but it requires suitable training along with good reaction time, coordination, agility, power, and speed. 

These five essential cycling skills help you get faster and be safer out on the road.

Shifting gears is an under-rated skill in cycling.

Studies featuring cyclists, rowers and runners show that small but significant improvements are possible.

If you start slow, build your confidence with your skills and follow the tips below, you’ll be looking forward to descents in no time!

Pacelines are not relaxing – they require greater attentiveness and a mental shift from solo to group riding concerns.

Braking, like gear use, is a cycling skill and riders that have mastered gear use and braking, ride more effectively than ones who have not. Good use of brakes will see you ride further for less effort, and minimise the chances of you coming off the bike.

Descents are free speed. You spend almost every second of a bike ride pedaling and working to move forward, but the descents are your reward and your opportunity to make up time.

Feeling balanced and safe on your bike is important whether you are a seasoned veteran or new to cycling.

Descending is one of the biggest thrills in cycling, it’s free speed, having expended a lot of energy to gain the top of a hill you can then ease off the pedals and cruise your way to the bottom. 

One of the most important skills to learn in cycling in how to brake effectively and safely on steep downhills. 

Better bike handling on a road bike helps you avoid crashes, move through the peloton and corner like a pro!

Mountain bike drivetrains have evolved over the years, with simplicity taking the reins and leading to better performance.

Knowing how to ride a bike is one thing, but having the ability to comfortably and safely share the road with other cyclists requires another level of skill.

Fine-tuning your cornering skills will make you faster and safer. Here are our tips for getting it right.

Whether you’re tackling repeated switchbacks on long and sweeping European descents, or more rugged and occasionally gravel strewn bends in the UK, you need to know how to corner a bike.

Whatever the reason for your cycling, one thing’s for sure – your two-wheeled habit can be as good for your mental health as it is for your body.

Know the feeling? It could be on a blistering hot sunny day in the fields, a snowy epic over the hills, or on a dawn blast around deserted city streets.

There are two things to do before you start adjusting your shifter. Adjusting it without checking these two important aspects could be a waste of your time. 

Keep in mind that it is likely your progress has stagnated, or let’s say ‘leveled off’ to be more positive about it, for a combination of reasons rather than one glaring problem.

Group riding brings many benefits to your cycling. You cycle further for less effort, experience camaraderie, learn from others, and there is a particular skill set to riding in a large training peloton to master.

Tips for getting into racing, training and loving what you do from professional road cyclist.

Longer endurance cycling events, including gravel races, ultraendurance or marathon mountain bike races, and gran fondos are the most popular forms of competitive cycling in the United States.

Exercising routinely and not seeing the weight-loss results you’re looking for can be frustrating.

If you’re looking for ways to make your bike just a little bit faster without shelling out any money, we’ve got a few ideas.

When you finish a big ride or race, you usually feel more motivated to keep the thrill of that big ride alive. 

While cycling is a great low-impact activity, it’s also extremely repetitive and can often lead to limited range of motion.

One of the most common complaints of cyclists on the bike is pain or stiffness in the lower back due to the unnatural, hunched over, forward position. 

When we think of cycling goals, most people center on what they want to accomplish around a big event or race.

The key basis of any training plan is the time you spend on the bike.

When first starting in cycling, it is easy to make mistakes.

Long cycling races – whether gravel, road, or mountain biking – have a lot of Murphy’s Law moments, so we need to talk about crisis management, or what to do when things go wrong. 

Life is less forgiving after 40. It’s a myth you can’t gain fitness, lose weight, change careers, or change yourself past a certain age.

Cover off at least one of each of these rides per week and you'll be on the quickest possible route to fitness.

Some are fitness based, some are fun based, some technique based. These aren’t set goals. They are tips and ideas to help you become a better, fitter and stronger cyclist.

Better bike handling on a road bike helps you avoid crashes, move through the peloton and corner like a pro! And, the only way to get better is by practicing. 

When it comes to road bike riding, climbing better and faster is at the top of every cyclist’s list. 

Cornering skills play a critical role in road cycling, particularly in races.

Now that you know basic road bike body position, how to shift, descend, corner and draft it’s time to increase the speed!

One of the biggest benefits of riding in a group versus riding alone is experiencing the benefit of drafting by effectively riding in a paceline. 

Riding with a balanced and relaxed body position may seem like a basic skill for a road cyclist, but it is something that even experienced riders struggle with and can cause frustration for beginner roadies.

Getting into mountain biking could be the best thing you ever do.

Ready to take to your bike to the streets and start road cycling or commuting? 

One of the most important things you can do to ride more comfortably is find a saddle that is right for you.

Improper suspension setup is one of the main reasons riders experience a poor ride on their mountain bike.

Whether you’re avoiding the weather, avoiding people, want a quick workout or the perfect sweat-inducing addition to your training plan, getting a cycling trainer and riding your bike indoors is a great investment. 

The race has come down to the final kilometers, you look to your left and then to your right.

Planning a bike packing trip is a lot like planning a backpacking trip for two. 

Have you ever been out on your favorite route, the majestic mountains in view or the pristine beach just out of sight only to see trash littered along the road or trail?

So, you set yourself up for success this year with thoughtful reflection, wrote down some big goals, and started the process by setting up smaller process goals to help you get there. 

When your career depends on your body functioning like a well-tuned race car, you better be motivated to figure out WHY it’s not working the way it needs to and HOW to fix it.

If you’ve entered a race or even ridden with friends, chances are you’ve felt the pressure to compete or perform at a high level.

Everyone loves dropper seat posts on their mountain bikes, but no one loves when they are not working properly.

Just like the rest of your bike, your suspension requires maintenance. It’s important to keep up with this maintenance to ensure your bike parts work like they should and last a long time.

Getting stranded on the side of the road or miles down a trail is never fun. 

Changing your handlebar width? Getting some new brake levers or making a significant adjustment to your setup?

A variety of bicycle handlebar designs is available, each created to accommodate different riding conditions.

Suspension set up can seem intimidating.

When it comes to riding off road, your tires play a huge role in performance.

We spend a lot of time thinking about strength, power, and the mechanics of cycling. This week we cover another important aspect of cycling performance – the brain.

The open road stretches out in front of you. Its winding path is set to take you on an adventure that you will remember for a lifetime. 

New research shows that regular physical activity like cycling can help you stay cognitively sharp and improve your memory. 

A fresh new cycling season is upon us and many are planning their first ride.

Every time a new cycling season comes, it’s worth doing a refresh sesh on some basic safety principles.

Hormones facilitate training and growth, contributing to sustainable endurance levels in athletes who train effectively.

You have your bike and gear ready, your first ride planned, and your snacks prepared but something still doesn’t feel right.

We all sometimes imagine what it would be like if we were part of the Tour peloton, riding the grandest stage of them all as part of an elite team, each with their specific tasks. 

Getting hungry or dehydrated because you underestimated fuelling can make your first ride of the season quite unpleasant. 

When you are looking for ways to improve your cycling, you are probably thinking about stronger legs, lungs and heart but not a stronger grip.

Intermittent fasting promises to help you lose weight and improve your health and cycling performance, if you do it right. 

Are you considering intermittent fasting as a way to improve your cycling performance?

Intermittent fasting is all about limiting the time window in which you eat and extending periods when you abstain from food.

Intermittent fasting is all about limiting the time window in which you eat and extending periods when you abstain from food.

If you dared to venture outdoors for your bike rides over winter, you’ll have likely avoided snacks altogether.

New research shows that regular physical activity like cycling can help you stay cognitively sharp and improve your memory.

Bike enthusiasts abandoned single speed bicycles for the multi-gear variety many years ago. 

The seat, or saddle, position on a road bike is an important factor for a comfortable ride. 

Choosing the correct bicycle frame size can make or break your cycling experience. 

Nothing can ruin a mountain bike ride quicker than an equipment malfunction.

Converting a bike to have coaster brakes requires knowledge about the different parts of a bike and how they work with each other.

Normal wear and tear on a bike will eventually require replacement of the sprockets. 

There are many factors to consider when purchasing a mountain bike, and getting the right size is the most important. 

Remember to utilise this checklist before each ride to improve your safety measures.