Recent content by ABG

The bike shop said that the race (the casing that holds the bearings) also needs to be replaced because it's grooved, and that at that point it's just easiest to replace the entire hub; and since the wheel was so cheap it's just easiest, or at least cheaper, to get a new wheel. The bearings in...

I don't really mind riding in the rain, although I usually avoid it if I can make that trip at another time or by another means (like the subway). It's the initial dread and all the mental preparation that keeps me from doing it much anymore, but once I'm actually riding in the rain it's not so...

I have used a lot of different LBS's because I have moved a lot in the past few years. I just moved to my new home this past September. I don't know what the turnaround time is at Ace Wheelworks in Somerville, MA or at JRA in Medford, but at all places I've used, it's never the same day. I'll...

For now I'll just buy spokes individually from the LBS. They are $1 each, which isn't the worst thing in the world. They do sell them online for about 50 cents each, but with unreasonable shipping charges. What can I say, I'm a cheapskate. No one here seems to have mentioned any bike...

The spokes on my rear wheel have been breaking and I have replaced some of them and need to replace more. I will eventually replace all the spokes, at least on the drive side where they have been breaking. There are a lot of places online to buy spokes, but many places only sell them in...

It would be helpful if you told us what kind of bike you have. If you want an emergency frame pump for an MTB, you have more choices because you don't have to worry about getting as much pressure into your tire. I use a Planetbike Roadie pump, which is a "frame-fit" pump. That means it has no...

I've ridden some off-road as well as regular road riding, and the frame-fit pump has stayed in place underneath the top tube. So I'm in no hurry to secure the pump because it seems to do well on its own. Call me stupid, but the packaging should actually say how to attach the pump to your bike...

I am riding a Felt SR91. I believe it's a 53 cm road-geometry aluminum frame. I ordered the medium-length frame-fit pump, which does indeed fit right, since I'm usually a "medium-size person" in everything anyway. I prefer these sorts of pumps because it is rather big and seems capable of...

I just bought a Roadie frame pump, which is a classic-style full-size frame pump that is capable of pumping to high pressure without much difficulty. I have used this same pump before my bike got stolen, along with the pump on the frame. The pump comes with no Velcro straps, bracket, or other...

I now live near Lexington, in Medford. Boston suburbs are a mix of good and excellent biking areas (Cambridge, Lexington, Essex County) and bad and challenging/dangerous biking areas (Somerville, downtown Boston). I enjoy the mix of aspects out here :)

I have a Specialized Sirrus, a hybrid bike, which I bought used just a few weeks ago. It's from 2006, so it's fairly new, since the last person hardly used it The 2007 Sirrus has an MSRP of $550, but I bought mine for $375. This was definitely a good deal. I noticed that these bikes are...

Yes a compact frame can have a taller seat tube height than a traditional frame (with a completely horizontal top tube). This is really because, say, a 48 cm compact frame will have about the same clearance as a 44 cm traditional frame. Of course, the angle of the tubes makes a difference as...

No replies huh? It's probably too detailed for most people to bother with. Well I'm going to fit it again on Saturday morning, this time with wrenches. I'll probably buy it buy then if it does indeed fit and there is no reason I shouldn't. I am looking for something suitable as a touring and...

Has component technology really changed all that much since 1993? Bikes in 1993 used trigger index shifting, smoother shifting gears (due to "ramps" on the cogs), and narrow, bushingless chains. Those things are still around today and, as far as I can tell, haven't changed much. I don't know...

Although I have no personal experience from women's bikes, looking at the specs between a woman's frame and a men's frame will confirm that he is right - there is little difference. You're talking usually 5 millimeters difference between a men's top tube and a women's top tube for bikes whose...