Chain Maintenance Gear
I used the White Lightning Chain Cleaner tool to clean a Brompton bicycle chain. This isn’t the best performing chain cleaning tool, but it does a descent job and cost less than $10. Continue reading
How To Prevent Bolts, Nuts and Screws From Vibrating Loose On A Bicycle
Permatex Blue Loctite
Bolts, nuts and screws on a bicycle can vibrate loose and fall off the bicycle during a ride. To prevent this from happening, fasteners should be checked for tightness on a regular basis, and if torque specs are available, they should be tightened to the proper torque spec. Continue reading
How To Convert A Presta Valve Rim To Use A Schrader Valve Tube
Extra Long Schrader Valve
Presta valves are small in diameter and were originally designed for ultra narrow rims found on fast road bicycles. Today you find presta valve tubes on every type of bicycle from hybrids to mountain bikes. And that’s cool, but having to deal with presta valves on a daily basis can leave a rider wanting to convert their rims to use the old style schrader valves. Continue reading
2016 Brompton Black Edition M6L – How To Fold A Brompton Bicycle
Brompton Bicycle Unfolded
The Brompton folding bicycle folds in thirds, while most other folding bicycle’s fold in half. Not only does the frame on a Brompton bicycle fold in half like other folding bicycles, but the rear frame triangle folds underneath the bicycle and the handlebars fold down. Continue reading
Bell Catalyst 200 Mini Bicycle U-lock Review
Bell Catalyst 200 Mini U-lock
I found a Bell Catalyst 200 Mini Bicycle U-lock in Walmart marked down from $11 to $2. It was marked down because someone opened the package and lost the keys. I purchased the lock and took it home, and was able to pick the lock open and determine the key code. With the key code I was able to make a key and have a working bicycle lock. Continue reading
White Lightning Bicycle Chain Cleaner – How To Clean And Lubricate Your Chain
I decided to make a video about how to clean and lubricate a bicycle chain. Continue reading
Installing Slime Flat Protector Tube Liners In A 700x32c Tire
Slime Flat Protector Tube Liner And Tire
I damaged my rear Schwalbe Marathon tire to the point where the tire started to bulge in one area, causing the tire to rub against the rear fender. I knew it was just a matter of time before the tire blew and left me stranded on the side of the road, so I replaced the tire with a spare tire I had sitting in my work area.
Bicycle Tektro Auriga Pro Brake Squeak And Performance Loss
Tektro Auriga Pro Brake Caliper
An REI Novara Ponderosa 29’er mountain bicycle with Tektro Auriga Pro hydraulic disc brakes had braking problems ever since it was purchased new from REI. The problem started out with excessive brake noise when the brakes were engaged. Eventually the rear brake stopped working, and were unable to lock up the rear wheel.
How To Fix Or Repair A Bicycle Flat Tire
How To Fix Flats
The one downside to commuting by bicycle are flat tires. Bicycle tires today are more resistant to punctures and flats than they were in the past, but flats still occur. It is mandatory for bicycle riders to carry a repair kit, or a new tube, and know how to use them, or get stranded somewhere away from home. I use the following steps to repair flats:
Do Factories in China Grease Bearings Properly On Big Box Store Bicycles?
Upper Headset Bearing Before Adding Grease. (Before I shot this photograph, I wiped this bearing and race down preparing it for grease. I forgot I still needed to take photo’s for this blog. However, you never could see grease from the factory.)
I still have access to a new Roadmaster Granite Peak bicycle, which I have written about before on this blog. Roadmaster bicycles are only sold at Walmart, and Roadmaster is owned by Pacific Cycles. Pacific Cycles also owns Mongoose, Schwinn and Iron Horse brand bicycles, which are also sold at Walmart. I picked up the bicycle in a box partially assembled. Most of the bicycle was assembled at the factory; accept for the seat, seat tube, stem, handle bar and front wheel. I thought it would be interesting to dissemble an area of the bicycle assembled at the factory that contained bearings, and see how much grease was applied at the factory in China. I picked the headset to disassemble and inspect.