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Bike Maintenance
Why Is the Left Bike Pedal Reverse Threaded?
The left pedal has a reverse thread because of precession. Learn which way to turn each pedal, how to install and remove it, and when to see a shop.
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Bike Maintenance
Fixes, tune-ups, cleaning and seasonal upkeep for all bike types
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Bike Maintenance
When to Replace a Bike Tire: Wear Signs That Matter
Visible fabric or belt, bulging or cut sidewalls and cracking are the signs to replace a bike tire. Here is how to inspect and tell them apart.
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Bike Maintenance
Cutting a Fork Steerer: How Far Below the Stem to Cut
Mark the steerer at the top of the stem, then cut 2 to 3 mm below it, per your fork maker. Why the gap exists, carbon limits, and when to use a shop.
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Bike Maintenance
Do Not Squeeze a Disc Brake Lever With the Wheel Out: What Happens to the Pads
Squeezing a hydraulic disc brake lever with the wheel out pushes the pads together. Why it happens, how spacers prevent it, and when to see a mechanic.
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Bike Maintenance
Crooked Handlebars? Line the Stem Up With the Front Wheel Without Disturbing the Headset
How to turn a twisted stem back in line with the fork: loosen only the pinch bolts, check headset play, torque to spec, and know when to stop.
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Bike Maintenance
Center Lock vs 6-Bolt Disc Rotors: Which Fits Your Hub and Can You Adapt One?
A 6-bolt rotor can be adapted to a Center Lock hub, but not the reverse. Lockring tools, maker torque figures, and when to see a shop.
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Bike Maintenance
Chainring Wobble: Check the Bolts First, Then Find the Bent Part
A wobbling chainring ruins front shifts. Tighten the ring bolts first, then use a crank-flip test and spider check to find the bent axle, spider or ring.
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Bike Maintenance
Handlebar Grips Twisting or Sliding Off: Slip-On vs Lock-On Fixes and the US Bar-End Rule
Why slip-on grips loosen, how to refit slip-on and lock-on grips, why makers' torque figures differ, and what US rule 16 CFR 1512.6(d) says about bar ends.
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Bike Maintenance
Seatpost Keeps Slipping Down: What to Check, in Order
A sinking seatpost: check clamp torque, dry bolt threads, post size, then assembly compound. Printed torque is a ceiling; cracks mean stop riding.
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Bike Maintenance
How Often Does a Bike Need Servicing? The 10-to-20-Hour Owner Check
Momentum and Kona owner's manuals agree on the rhythm: look before every ride, lube the chain by 160 km (100 miles), check hands-on every 10 to 20 hours.
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Bike Maintenance
Starter Bike Tool Kit for Flats and Chain Checks
The tools to fix a flat and check chain wear, in priority order, with sourced advice on pumps, gauges, wrenches and what to skip.
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Bike Maintenance
Mysterious Creak on Your Bike? Here’s Exactly How to Find and Fix It
A creak on your bike is one of the most frustrating faults to fix — not because it’s difficult to repair, but…