An internal gear hub (IGH) places gearing inside the rear hub instead of using a derailleur and cassette. Popular models include the Shimano Alfine 11, Rohloff Speedhub 14, and Sturmey Archer 3-speed. Pros: low maintenance, weatherproof, can shift while stopped. Cons: heavier, more expensive, fewer gears than 2x/3x. Below, we compare top IGHs. Searching for … Read more
Having your bike chain fall off is a nuisance all cyclists will experience at some point.
Besides being irritating, it can also be dangerous – you could slip off the pedals if the chain comes off while you’re standing out of the saddle, or the sudden loss of power could leave you stranded in the middle of a busy junction!
It’s therefore vital to learn how to put a bike chain back on quickly and easily so you can get back in the saddle with minimal fuss.
Belt drives are becoming increasingly popular for bicycles as technology improves, and belt-drive electric bikes are particularly well-suited to take advantage of the design’s unique characteristics.
If you are thinking about joining the ranks of electric bike riders, in this article, we will take a look at the different transmission systems and whether belt-drive electric bikes are superior to the traditional chain-drive system.
One job that many cyclists neglect but is a great skill to learn is cleaning a cassette.
Keeping a clean cassette comes with a lot of benefits, and it doesn’t take long to do. Although it might look challenging when you know what you’re doing, it’s a very simple and easy process.
Whether you’re a beginner cyclist or a seasoned racer, at some point you’ve probably caught yourself wondering: “Just how do bike gears work?”
The way in which gears function is something that seems pretty complex, but in reality, is a very simple mechanism.
When it comes to lubricating your chain, there’s a regular dilemma cyclists face for their bicycle: wet vs dry lube.
Lubrication is essential for the health and longevity of your drivetrain, and with your chain, you want to get it right. Deciding between dry lube vs wet lube for your chain isn’t obvious for the uninitiated.
Oftentimes, working on your bike can be just as satisfying as riding it. A question often asked by our readers and watchers is, “How do you install a rear derailleur?”
The nature of cycling leaves plenty of room to form bad habits. Some bad habits make you a less efficient rider, while others take their toll on your bike and its components. Many cyclists consider one of those bad habits to be “cross chaining” – but is it really that bad? Cross-chaining is when the … Read more
To remove a bike crank: identify the type — square taper (older bikes, needs a crank-puller tool), Octalink/ISIS (1990s–2000s, also needs a crank-puller), Hollowtech II (Shimano, modern, 5mm Allen for left arm + plastic preload cap), or BB30/PressFit (just slides out after removing pinch bolts). Modern Shimano and SRAM cranks come off with hand tools … Read more
A “granny gear” is the smallest chainring on a bike’s drivetrain, paired with the largest cog at the rear — the easiest gear available, used for very steep climbs. The term comes from triple-chainring road bikes of the 1980s–90s, where the inner ring (typically 30 teeth) was small enough that “even your grandmother could ride … Read more
Keeping your bike chain in tip-top condition is vital. The better you look after your bike, the longer it’s going to last and the more it will perform while you’re out cycling. One exciting new development many cyclists have taken to is using bike chain wax. The process of waxing a bike chain is actually … Read more
It can take some time to grips with all the mechanisms that help your bike run smoothly – not least the bicycle chainrings. The bicycle is a machine with so many parts that many people never even learn the technical terms, preferring instead to just point to the area where something has gone wrong. But … Read more
If you’re new to cycling, you might’ve overheard more experienced cyclists chatting about replacing or upgrading parts of their bike’s “drivetrain”. But what is a bike drivetrain, and what different bike parts does it include? To help you get to grips with your bicycle drivetrain, we’ll be covering: Ready for the lowdown on drivetrain bike … Read more