Bike Repair & Maintenance For Dummies®

by Dennis Bailey

  If you have problems with rubbing and chafing in the groin area, consider applying a skin lubricant such as Vaseline. Some lubricants, such as Chamois Butt’r, are designed specifically for bikers.

  Sizing Up the Frame

  Frame size is the most important consideration when fitting a bike. Unlike most other factors, the frame is one thing you can’t modify. If you end up with a bike that has a frame too small or too large, you won’t be able to adjust the saddle and handlebars enough to compensate for the improper dimensions. Plus, an incorrectly sized frame can be dangerous, making starting, stopping, and handling more difficult.

  When you’re shopping for a new bike or frame, let the staff at your local bike shop assist you. They have experience matching customers to bikes, and they understand the different factors that come into play when choosing a frame.

  The bike-shop staff will want your inseam size. This is the length from the floor to the top of your crotch. They’ll take this number and subtract 10 to 12 inches from it, based on how tall you are, which will give them an estimation of the frame size you need. Remember: This is just an estimation — every bicycle will fit a little differently, depending on the manufacturer, model, type of bicycle, your riding style, and so on.

  Frames are generally measured from the center of the bottom bracket to the top of the seat tube (see Figure 19-3), although manufacturers have different variations of this measurement. After the bike-shop staff has a general idea of the frame size, they’ll have you try out various bikes with this size. To confirm the size, they’ll have you straddle the bike with both feet on the ground and the frame between your legs. In this position, there should be at least an inch or two of space between the top tube and your crotch, more if it’s a mountain bike.

  Figure 19-3: How frame size is measured.

  Focusing on Frame Dimensions

  If your local bike shop determines that you need a certain size frame, they’ll still need to have you sit on the bike to confirm that the frame’s dimensions suit your body type. Two 20-inch frames can vary significantly based on the dimensions in which they were manufactured. A shorter version of a 20-inch frame will provide greater performance and handling; in this case, the seat tube will be more upright, requiring you to sit in a more aerodynamic, bent-over position. Another 20-inch frame may have a longer base to provide stability and comfort and a more sloped seat-tube angle for a more upright ride, both of which provide benefits when touring.

  As a general rule, when you’re seated on a bike with your hands on the handlebars and feet on the pedals, the handlebars should block your view of the front hub. Another rule of thumb is that in your natural reach, your arms should make a 90-degree angle to your torso. On road drop handlebars, of the three holding positions, the middle lean (hands over brake levers) should obscure the hub with the handlebars.

  In general, you shouldn’t be stretched out like Lance Armstrong or sitting upright like you’re getting a haircut. There should be a slight bend in your elbows and they shouldn’t be locked out or pressed into your ribs.

  If the top tube is slightly too long or short, this can be compensated for by adjusting the stem length. The stem can be raised or lowered; with adjustable stems, the angle can be adjusted as well.

  Positioning Your Handlebars

  The handlebars are one of the three points where your body comes into contact with your bike, so you need to take the time to set them in the position that’s most comfortable for you.

  Before adjusting your handlebars, make sure you’ve found the appropriate height and angle for your saddle. If you don’t have the saddle in the proper position, you won’t be able to set the handlebars correctly.

  For most everyday riders, the handlebars should be even with or slightly higher than the seat. When you sit on the bike and grab the uppermost part of the handlebars and straighten your arms, your back should be at a 45-degree position. If you’re looking for a more aerodynamic position, the bar should be an inch or two lower than the saddle. In this position, the angle of your back will be less than 45 degrees.

  The height of the handlebars is sometimes limited by the type of stem you have. On some threadless stems, spacers can be used to adjust the height. If this doesn’t provide enough of a change, you can replace the stem with an adjustable one that provides more range to move the handlebars.

  For road bikes with dropdown handlebars, the other adjustment to consider is the angle. The traditional approach was to have the bottom of the handlebars line up parallel to the top tube. But if you don’t want to be bent over in a position better left to yoga classes, a more appropriate angle is for the bottom of the handlebars to be closer to parallel with the seat stays, as shown in Figure 19-4.

  Figure 19-4: The proper handlebar angle.

  Getting a Handle on Handlebar Style

  Like many other parts of the bike, there are a plethora of different styles of handlebars on the market. You can find handlebars for road racing, mountain biking, touring, and everyday riding. Of these different types, two shapes are predominant — the drop-down road-bike style and the flat mountain-bike style.

  Regardless of the style of handlebars you choose, choose a width that comes close to matching the width of your shoulders. This width will keep your arms parallel while you ride and your chest open for efficient and relaxed breathing.

  Your hands should be in a relaxed position when you grab the brakes. Your wrists should not be angled down over the handlebars when squeezing the brakes. An awkward angle for your wrists will cause pressure on the nerves and lead to an uncomfortable numbing sensation in the hands and wrists.

  Frequently change the position of your hands when you ride. One way to increase the number of positions for riding is to add bar-ends to your flat, mountain-bike-style handlebars. Not only do bar-ends give you an alternative position, but they can be beneficial for climbing. Just remember that your hands will be farther away from the brakes, which could be a problem if you have to stop suddenly.

  Chapter 20

  Ten Ways to Improve the Performance and Comfort of Your Bike

  In This Chapter

  Taking your bike to the next level

  Making all your friends jealous with your upgrades

  One of the joys of owning and working on a bike is the chance to upgrade its parts. Just like car tuning, tuning your bike can help you improve both comfort and performance while you ride. Odds are, doing a complete overhaul of your bike is probably not in your price range, especially considering that some higher-end components can be pretty pricey. But if you’re going to be repairing and maintaining your bike, you may want to add on a high-performance part once in a while. In this chapter, we present ten options to consider if you’re thinking about upgrading.

  Upgrading Your Wheels and Tires

  One way to significantly impact your bike’s performance is to upgrade the wheels and tires. If you can drop the weight of the wheels and tires even slightly, you’ll notice a definite difference when you bike.

  Many options are available for upgrading your bike’s wheels. Major wheel manufactures offer products with a variety of rim styles made of different materials. Wheels are also available with an assortment of spoke designs. Because of the improved quality of spokes, wheels are being built with fewer spokes but with comparable strength and durability.

  If you upgrade your tires, you’ll realize another performance gain: Higher-quality tires provide reduced weight and less rolling resistance, which makes a dramatic difference in performance. Better-quality tires are designed with more threads inside the rubber, which holds the tire together, allowing for greater air pressure, less contact surface, and a fast ride.

  The tread pattern on the tires also has an impact on ride comfort. The less tread on your tires, the less rolling resistance and the better performance you’ll experience.

  Most wheels allow you to change the width of your tires. Tire width impacts performance — narrower tires give you a faster ride bec
ause of their decreased rolling resistance, and wider tires are more comfortable because they absorb more road shock (although wider tires have more tread on the road and more rolling resistance). To determine the width of your tire, look at the dimension written on the sidewall of your tires; specifically, look for the second number. A marking of 700x25 means the tire has a circumference of 700cm and a width of 25cm. If you plan on changing the width of your tires, work with your local bike shop to make sure you find tires that work with the dimensions of your frame.

  The other important consideration when choosing tires is durability. If you’re touring and riding a significant number of miles with fully-packed pannier bags, you’ll want a very durable tire that can handle the weight. A more durable tire will also lead to fewer flats along the way. Many of the tires specially designed for durability have a Kevlar belt or other material designed for protection.

  If you want protection from flats but don’t have the money to upgrade your tires, you can fill your bike’s tubes with a puncture sealant. The liquid inside the tube will automatically fill any punctures that may occur. In addition to puncture sealant, you may want to opt for thorn-resistant tubes (which are thicker than normal tubes) and tire liner (a protective stripe of Kevlar that you place between the tire and tube). The downside to this flat protection, however, is significant added rotational weight — but if you absolutely hate flat tires, you won’t mind trading some performance for convenience.

  Ramping Up Your Rear Derailleur

  The rear derailleur is the biggest factor in shifting performance. Top-end derailleurs have stronger springs and tighter bushings and pivot points that allow for easier and faster shifting. These derailleurs are designed with jockey wheels with higher-end bearings, which cause less resistance and smoother chain movement, which, in turn, improves chain life and derailleur life.

  Pair a top-of-the-line rear derailleur with an upgraded shifter, and you’ll multiply the impact of that derailleur and find that you can change gears with barely a flick of the finger.

  Beefing Up Your Bearings

  Bearings in the wheels and bottom brackets are designed to reduce friction as you roll on down the road. Higher-quality bearings are made with greater precision and reduce friction due to their smoother surfaces and longer life. Many higher-end bearings are designed with rubber seals to keep contaminants out. The latest breakthrough in bearings are those made of ceramic, a material that is amazingly smooth with almost no resistance.

  Pumping Up Your Pedals

  Many casual riders think that clipless pedals are difficult to use and are only for professional riders. Unfortunately, this misconception causes a lot of riders to miss out on a significant performance gain. Studies have shown that clipless pedals can improve performance by up to 30 percent, by increasing the efficiency of the pedal stroke. With clipless pedals, you don’t have to expend any energy keeping your foot centered on the pedal during the upstroke of the pedals. As a result, you can pedal in complete circles, in a pattern of push down, pull back, pull up, and push forward — a much more efficient mode of pedaling.

  As for the misconception that it’s difficult to disengage clipless pedals, especially in the event of an emergency, nothing could be farther from the truth. After trying clipless pedals, you’ll discover that releasing your foot from the pedal is a very natural movement.

  Some pedals have an adjustment for the amount of energy required to release the cleat and shoe from the pedal. This adjustment allows new riders to use a loose setting while adjusting to the pedals. Then, when they’re comfortable using clipless pedals, they can tighten that adjustment to allow for hard pedaling without the fear of releasing the clips.

  Casual commuters who want to increase their pedal efficiency may find power straps and conventional toe straps useful. Also, double-sided pedals, which have a normal platform on one side and a clipless pedal on the other, are great for people who like to ride their bikes with whichever shoes they’re wearing at the time.

  A Shoe-In: Choosing the Best Shoes for the Job

  Shoes are another factor in pedaling efficiency. Many everyday riders use running, cross-training, or basic tennis shoes when riding. These shoes are designed to absorb the impact from running and walking in order to improve comfort. But on a bicycle they absorb a lot of the energy before it gets to the pedals, causing your pedaling to be less efficient. On the other hand, cycling shoes have a very stiff sole and are designed to transfer all your energy to the pedals to get you down the road as efficiently as possible.

  Some biking shoes are so stiff that they look like they were cast out of iron. Others shoes are designed with the cleat recessed up into the sole and flexible materials that allow you to walk normally — these are popular with touring or mountain bikers, because they allow you to ride and then get off and walk around town or hike up an un-rideable trail. In contrast, road biking cleats are mounted directly to the sole and are hard to walk in. They’re like having high heals on, because the shoes are designed with the toes set higher than the heals.

  Be careful walking in road-biking cleats — they’re very slippery on flat surfaces.

  Saddle Up! Taking Your Saddle to the Next Level

  A top-notch saddle not only can improve the comfort of your ride but increase your pedaling efficiency. There are many options on the market — enough to fit many different body types. Some saddle manufacturers even make a tool to measure your tail-bone position so you can get the most tailored and comfortable fit. However, the only way to be sure that you’ll be comfortable on a saddle is to try it. Some bicycle stores have test seats to try out in the store; others allow you to try a seat on your own bicycle for a limited time to get a feel for it.

  Upgrading Your Handlebars

  Handlebars come in many different sizes and styles, so there’s no excuse for not finding a set that fits you. A correctly sized handlebar can greatly improve riding comfort. As a general rule, your handlebars should be as wide as your shoulders. This allows for improved breathing while you ride, while giving you greater control of the bike.

  With drop bars or racing-style handlebars, you have options as to the shape. Some have a flat spot for your hands in the middle of a curved drop section to give your hands support when riding. Some have a flat platform on the top section of the bars to give your palms more of a surface ledge to rest on.

  Also available are triathlon or aero bars, which are attachments added to the handlebars that have hand grips and elbow rests. They allow you to ride in a bent-over position with your arms and elbows tucked in close to your body to reduce wind resistance.

  If you have flat or upright handlebars, you can add bar ends to the handlebars to give you another hand position. Bar ends are small 2- to 5-inch extensions that mount to the end of the handlebars and drastically improve your comfort on longer rides, allowing you to change your body position and shift your weight to get more comfortable.

  Boosting Your Brake Levers

  Like the handlebars and other parts of the bike, brake levers come in different sizes and styles. Some levers are designed for improved comfort with a larger surface area for your hands when you’re riding on the hoods (the part above the brake levers that serve as another place to rest your hands). Most bikes for women have brake levers that are smaller, with a shorter reach for people with smaller hands. Bicycles with flat or upright bars have brake levers that are adjustable for people with smaller hands as well.

  The angle of the lever can also make a significant difference in comfort and performance. The levers should be positioned at an angle so that your hands rest in a natural and comfortable position.

  Taking Your Clothing up a Notch

  While clothing doesn’t qualify as a bike component, it is an important factor in improving your riding experience. Cycling shorts are made of stretchable material that moves with you as ride your bike. Many biking shorts have panels of material to hold their shape and prevent the material from bunching up. Shorts with eig
ht panels are popular, but basic shorts with four panels will usually suffice. The chamois or crotch liner in cycling shorts greatly improves comfort and performance. Its design helps reduce impact on key pressure points and wicks away moisture. Another advantage of cycling shorts is the fact that you don’t wear any undergarment, which eliminates extra material and eliminates seams that can cause chaffing.

  If you’re looking for a different look or style, try bib overalls designed for cyclists. Bibs are preferred by many bikers because of the increased comfort with the elimination of the waistband.

  Biking jerseys are another must in the wardrobe of any biker. Designed with special fabric, they wick away perspiration and dry quickly. They fit snug to your body, which reduces wind resistance. And they have pockets in the back for easy access to your iPod or energy bar.

  A major factor when it comes to clothing is also visibility. To safely ride on the road, even during the middle of the day, you need to be extremely visible. Wear a neon-colored windbreaker, a bright cyclist jersey, or a reflective vest.

  If you commute or go on long-distance rides, wear layers: arm and leg warmers, windbreakers, and sometimes a base layer, and a cover layer of jerseys. Another extremely basic and handy clothing item is a pant-cuff tie or clip, to keep your pant legs from being stained by your chain if you’re riding in street clothes.

  Embracing Your Inner Geek with a Cycling Computer

  A cycling computer is a great addition for your bike. Most computers tell all sorts of interesting stats about your ride, such as how fast you’re going, how far you’ve gone, your average speed, your max speed, and the time of your ride. Some computers even give you temperature and altitude readings. Others allow you to download the information to a personal computer so that you can track your riding statistics over time.