Bicycle — community help for cyclists and bike maintenance « Bicycle

How To: Add LED Turn Signals to Your Bike for Safe Road Cycling

In the past few weeks, you've already learned how to make your bike light up at night with some DIY rim lights and handlebar lights. But how about something a little more functional? Instead of using those tedious hand signals (which drivers don't even understand), spruce up your ride with some do-it-yourself LED turn signals.

How To: Make a Super-Simple Smartphone Mount for Your Bike or Motorcycle Using Plastic Clamps

There are plenty of ways to make a camera mount for your car, but what if you don't have a car? If you use a bicycle or motorcycle to get around, you can still take smooth videos with this awesome DIY mount for your iPhone (or any other smartphone) by antoinebugleboy.

How To: Remove the rear wheel from your bike

Don't know how to take that rear wheel off of your bike? Is the chain making things difficult? Check out this instructional cycling video that demonstrates how to remove your rear wheel if you have to change your bike tire or fix a flat. This is a VERY BASIC and non-technical tutorial for the absolute beginner who has never taken their rear-wheel off before. It will just make life easier. Sure, you can muddle through it your first time and curse the chain as to why it's being belligerent into...

How To: This DIY Arduino Bicycle Safety System Includes Turn Signals, Brake Lights, Strobe, and More!

As dedicated bicyclists are well aware, riding can be very dangerous. Now that daylights savings time has ended in the United States, darkness appears quicker, and the night is especially dangerous for cyclists because of the low visibility that drivers have. Not only is darkness a danger, but also fog, blizzards, and heavy rain—all wreaking havoc on the vision. To combat this, bikers attach reflectors: clear front reflectors, red rear reflectors, amber pedal reflectors, and clear side reflec...

How To: Properly lace a 32-spoke rear bicycle wheel

You could go out and buy a bike, but what fun would that be? Make your own! One main step in making a bike is lacing your wheel. In this great two-part video you will learn how to lace the drive side and non drive side spokes on a rear 32 wheel with the right patterns. Mike goes into great detail on which holes to lace first and what patterns work the best.

How To: Illuminate Your Bike at Night with These Super Bright DIY Rim Lights

Riding your bicycle at night is dangerous on busy streets, especially if you've got no bike lights. In most states, it's illegal to ride your bike at night without any lights because drivers on the road won't be able to see you until it's too late. Plus, how is anybody going to notice your sweet ride without a little illumination?

How To: Remove and reinstall the rear wheel of your bike

The rear wheel of a bicycle is the more complicated to work with of the two because of it's position in the frame. If you have quick releases, it's still pretty easy to remove and reinstall. This video will show you how to do it step-by-step, and should have you back on the trail again in no time.

How To: Install an LED light on your bicycle.

Safety is important. If you are going to be riding a bike at night, make sure you are wearing light colored clothing and that you have lights. Lights help cars and other cyclists see you in the dark so you stay safe.

How To: Cut lugs and miter tubes for a bicycle frame

Building a custom Oswald bicycle frame using hand powered tools. This shows you how to lug cut and tube miter.

How To: Make Your Night Bike Glow in the Dark with Phosphorescent Paint

With gas prices constantly digging into your wallet, biking will always be a cheap and easy alternative for getting around—and it's a perfect way to get in a little exercise. But with the fall season about a week away, it is going to start getting dark a lot earlier and that ride home might be a little more dangerous. So to save yourself an unexpected trip to the ER, take a little time to make your bicycle impossible to overlook.

How To: Dish a rear bicycle wheel

In this video, Mike shows us how to dish a rear bicycle wheel. First, you need to measure the distance from the wheel to the hub and axle. Do this on both the non-drive and drive side. Set the dish on both sides, then find the gap from each of the side. Now you will know if the rim needs to be pulled more to one side. Loosen the non-dry spokes and tighten on the dry side spokes. Do this by loosening the non-dry a quarter turn each all the way around, then tighten the dry side a quarter turn e...

How To: Install a bicycle computer

PerformanceBikes will show you how to install a bicycle computer. Whether you have a simple computer or a more advanced computer you be able to see the basic instructions. Start by reading the instruction, install the handle bell mounts, install the wireless transmitter. You then install your spoke magnet, then calibrate your computer for your wheel size. Make sure you have read your own particular directions. If its not working, make sure you re-read your instruction, check your set up or ch...

How To: Reach for a water bottle while cycling

This how-to video offers some tips for building the skills needed to drink and bike at the same time. Don't feel comfortable taking a hand of the handlebar just yet? Work your way there, by trying to bike one handed every now and then. Watch this video cycling tutorial and learn how to reach for a water bottle while bike riding.

How To: Remove the rear wheel of a bicycle

Bill D, lead tech at All 3 Sports, shows you how to remove the rear wheel of a bicycle in a few easy steps. This task is daunting to most triathletes around the world.

How To: Fix a flat bike tire without tools

Simple instructions for doing a simple bike repair when you are on the road and don't have your tools. This vide shows how to take the tire off your bike rim without using tire levers. Our host demonstrates on a completely flat tire, and shows us how to leverage off the beads of the tire using only brute strength - the leverage of your hands. He then demonstrates how to put the tire back on. The final small section of bead is pushed on using his body strength. This technique is less likely to...

Lube No More: Chainless Bike Operates With Pulley System

The forefront of bike technology has delivered bikes without hubs, bikes as flexible as Gumby, and invisible steering. The latest to enter the field rethinks the bicycle chain. As in... who needs it?

How To: Cut spokes to build a bike wheel

Assemble tools and materials. You'll need a rim, a hub, and the proper length spokes and spoke nipples. You'll need a wheel truing stand, a spoke wrench, a flat screwdriver, and medium weight oil. A spoke tensiometer, a dishing tool and a nipple driver are optional. Place the rim in your lap with the valve stem hole directly across from you. Hold the hub in the middle of the rim with it axle vertical. These instructions assume you are building a front wheel 3x. Drop one spoke though every oth...

How To: Grease the wheel bearings on your bike

If you enjoy repairing your bike yourself, greasing the wheel bearings is a pretty easy job your should learn how to do. This video will show you how to do it, ensuring that your bearings spin smoothly and keep your momentum going.

How To: Loosen a bike's stiff chain link

If you've been experiencing a problem with shifting and hear a constant sound near your chain, you may have a stiff chain link. This should be addressed so that you no longer experience any problems with shifting that can result in possible injury.

News: Beware of the Monster-Truck-Trike

Not exactly practical, but I certainly wouldn't turn down the chance to take this path-clearing monster for a spin.

How To: Change a mountain bike tire out on the trail

This video shows you how to quickly change a mountain bike tire out on the trail. Remove the wheel from the fork. The tools you need are a pump, mini tool,

How To: Brake on a bicycle

This how-to video demonstrates the proper procedure for coming to a stop on a bicycle. The rear and front brakes have different degrees of effectiveness, with the front being more powerful. Be sure to keep your weight back to keep yourself from going over. Be careful of skidding. Watch this video cycling tutorial and learn how to brake on a bicycle.

How To: Put on a bicycle chain

Stuart Dennison demonstrates how to put on a bicycle chain back on and it can slip off for no apparent reason. Sometimes the chain gets jammed, so you should loosen the quick release. Put on a bicycle chain.

How To: Remove a wheel & 3 speed shifter from your bike

In this clip, learn how to remove a back wheel and the three speed shifter on any beach bike. This clip, hosted by Stephan, will show you specifically how to remove the Shimano Nexus Internal 3 Speed Shifter and the entire rear wheel. He will also show you how to put it back together safely.

How To: Install a seat post

This is a video tutorial in the Sports category where you are going to learn how to install a seat post on your bike. This is pretty easy. But, it's important that you get proper measurements for the inside and the outside diameter of the tube using a caliper. Now find the correct seat post and the seat clamp. Fix the clamp on the tube. Put generous amount of grease on the bottom part of the seat post and on the inside part of the tube and slide the seat post inside the tube. There is a minim...

How To: Identify vintage bicycles styles

Old bicycles are a great collectible for cyclist lovers everywhere. Learn how to identify vintage bicycles by tires, frames, accessories and more in this free video series from an experienced vintage bike dealer.

How To: Need a Place to Store Your Bike? Try One of These Cheap and Simple DIY Bicycle Racks

If you bike a lot and live in a small room or apartment, it can be tough to find the space to store your wheels. There are tons of bicycle racks and mounts you can buy, but where's the fun in that when they're so easy to DIY? Here are some of the best inexpensive solutions for your bike storage woes.

How To: Change a tire on a folding bike

In this tutorial, we learn how to change a tire on a folding bike. First, you need to know how the bike goes together so you can take the tire off correctly. Once you have taken the tire off of the rim of the bike, you can discard with it. You can use either strong fingers or a wheel lever to help you take the wheel off if it's difficult. Next, you will need to slightly inflate the tire and add on the rim to the tire. Once it's on, you will need to inflate it and then place on the bike! Now y...

How To: Assemble & tune front & rear handbrakes on a bicycle

In this tutorial, learn step by step how to assemble and tune your front and rear handbrakes. This video, hosted by Pete, will walk you through the process of assembling your brakes so you stay safe on the road. This how-to will work for beach cruisers, mountain bike and BMX bikes, too.

How To: Adjust SRAM internal 3 speed hubs on your bike

In this tutorial, learn how to adjust multi-speed internal hubs on your beach bike. This particular video is for SRAM hubs, so make sure you are adjusting the right one. Pete from BeachBikes.com will walk you through everything you need to know to get started with your tune up!

How To: Change a 700Cx38 bicycle tire with baby powder

In this how-to video, you will learn how to change a 700Cx38 bicycle tire with baby powder. You need a tire tool, a new tube, new tire, baby powder, a bag, and a bicycle that needs a tire change. Run the tire tool around the rim to remove the tire Remove the old tube from the tire and check the tire for foreign objects. Take out a brand new tube and place it in a bag with baby powder. This will help the tube move around freely once installed. Inflate the tube a tiny bit, find the label on the...

How To: Spruce Up Your Bicycle with This Wooden DIY Riser Handlebar

Looking for a way to make your bike stand out? You could light it up with LED rim lights or turn signals. Or if you're looking for something a little less flashy, you could make your own set of custom wooden handlebars like these by furniture designer David Moore. To actually make these wooden handlebars, you will need some woodworking tools, not to mention some actual woodworking skill, or at least the tools and some knowledge on bending and forming wood. In his video below, David shows exac...

A Restaurant on Two Wheels: The DIY Taco Bike

Serious Eats' latest Meet and Eat features Todd Barricklow, creator of the Taco Bike, an eco-friendly alternative to the fast growing food truck industry. The 200+ pound bike is equipped with a propane tank, three sectioned griddle, water tank, heat exchanger, wash sink, wastewater hold, ice holder and sectioned food area, trash can, napkin holder, table, money drop, chopping boards and more.

How To: Install a cog cluster/casette on a wheel

In this video, we learn how to install a cog cluster/cassette on a wheel. Find the wider gap and wider spine and line them up. Then, slide the cassette down onto these. After this, you will have to install all of the clusters onto the top of it. If you need to, install spacers as well so your wheel doesn't get messed up. Make sure you use grease to install the cluster and cassette so your wheel doesn't squeak and they go on easily. When you are finished, take your bike out for a spin and enjo...

How To: Make your own single speed or fixie bike crank

In this tutorial, we learn how to make a single speed bike crank. You will need: chain ring bolt tool, large screwdriver, Allen wrench, file, hacksaw, vise, and crank set with 2 ring. First, grab your chain ring bolts and cut about 3mm off of the end. If the nut moves while you are cutting it, adjust it. After this, put your chain ring on the inside of the crank arm to align the chain. When you are finished, you will have a single speed bike crank! This tool shouldn't take too long to create,...

How To: Adjust your beach cruiser bike to fit you & be comfy

Finding the perfect seat and handlebar height on your bicycle can mean the difference between a comfortable and irritating riding experience. In this tutorial, Ryan from BeachBikes.com, shows you how to make sure your bike is the perfect size for your body so you aren't slipping and sliding while you try to ride.

How To: Change a tire on a Dutch bike

This video shows you how to change a bicycle tire with your bare hands. First, he shows you how to get the tire out. Use the valve cap to let all the air out of the tire tube and then loosen the bead all the way around. Eventually you can just pop the tube off then inspect and patch it. Then you put the tire back on and pump some air into it. Make sure the tire looks like it's seating properly. That is how you change a bicycle tire.