Brake Maintenance: Pads, Rotors and Bleeding
Brakes are the one system you cannot ride around. A few minutes checking pads and rotors keeps them sharp, and bleeding is a job you can learn safely.
Archive: April 2010
8 guides originally published in April 2010, restored and updated for current riders.
How to Clean and Lube a Mountain Bike Chain
The chain is the cheapest part of your drivetrain and the one that wears the expensive parts out. Ten minutes of care every few rides pays for itself.
Tips On Bike Maintenance
A clean chain and working brakes prevent most bad rides. These short, repeatable habits take minutes and save both money and trailside misery.
Hydration on the Trail: Bottles, Packs and Mix
How you carry water matters almost as much as how much you drink. Match your setup to the length and heat of the ride, and plan your refills.
Flat Pedals or Clipless Pedals: Which to Choose
Flats teach technique and forgive mistakes; clipless reward a practised rider. The right answer depends on the trails you ride and how you learn.
Bike Lights for Early Starts and Late Finishes
Trail lighting is about beam shape and runtime, not just lumens. Choose for the riding you do and the hours you actually ride.
Mountain Bike Tires: How Important Are They?
Tires are the only part of the bike that touches the ground, so they change how it rides more than almost any upgrade. Here is how to choose and set them up.
Building a Trail Tool Kit and Ride Pack
Carry the tools that fix the three failures you are most likely to meet, and leave the rest at home. Here is a pack that fits in a small bag.
Other months: March 2010 · May 2010 · June 2010