Bike dropouts (rear) and fork ends (front) are the slots in the frame and fork where the wheel axles attach. Modern bikes use closed thru-axle dropouts (a circular hole the axle threads through); older bikes use open quick-release dropouts (a slot the axle drops into). Other variants: vertical dropouts (axle slides straight in, common on … Read more
A broken or bent derailleur hanger is a much more common bike maintenance issue than you might think.
As an experienced bike mechanic, I have had to fix many, and always recommend carrying a spare. In this article, I’m going to tell you everything you need to know when it comes to fixing and replacing derailleur hangers.
A bike derailleur is the spring-loaded mechanism that moves the chain between gears. Modern bikes have one (1x systems, rear only) or two (2x systems, front and rear). The rear derailleur takes up chain slack as you shift cogs; the front derailleur shifts between chainrings. The most common brands are Shimano, SRAM, and Campagnolo (in … Read more