Hot Bicycle How-Tos « Bicycle

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: 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: 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: 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: Keep Your Bike Chain Clean on Rainy Days with This Super Easy DIY Mud Guard

Nasty weather is bad enough when you drive, but if you ride your bike to school or work, it's really not a pleasant way to start the day. And if getting soaked isn't sufficient, a wet commute means your bike chain is going to be caked with mud and all kinds of other gross stuff.

How To: Avoid cross-chaining

Active Expert Gale Bernhardt explains the problems with cross-chaining in this instructional cycling video. This is a common error for new cyclists and puts the chain in a lot of tension across the bike. Learn a few techniques to avoid cross chaining in this cycling tutorial video.

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: Tune a Shimano Internal 3 Speed bicycle

Make sure you keep your bike in top shape by tuning it every once in a while. In this video, learn how to properly tune your 3 speed beach bike so that it runs safe and smooth all summer long.

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: Decorate Your Bike with Fur for Burning Man

This is a Burning Man tutorial on how to add fur to your bike. Halycon's Tips guide you on the Playa and the crafting tricks for decorating your bicycle. Get your bicycle prepared for Burning Man by watching this video today!

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: Remove & install a rear bicycle wheel

In this video from Intown Bicycles, demonstrates how to easily remove and to reinstall a rear bicycle wheel from a bicycle equipped with a quick release axle. There are three different common types of bicycle braking systems, and you will learn first how to disengage each of them, so that the wheel will drop out easily. Also, you will be shown how to operate the quick release system, and remove the wheel. Once you've completed this step, you are shown how to reinstall the wheel, engage the br...

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: Change Your Bicycle's Tire, Inspect for Damage, and Detect Hidden Problems

Many things cause a bike tire to deflate. Glass, sharp rocks, tacks, and nails can pierce the tire and puncture the tube within. A tube can be pinched between the rim and tire causing the tube to split when inflated. If a tire has a hole in it, the tube, which is filled with air pressure, will bulge out of the opening and pop. As well, the valve holding the air pressure in the tube can be damaged or faulty.

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...

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: 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: Mount a wire basket to the front of your beach bicycle

In this clip, learn how to mount a wire basket to the front of your beach bike so you can carry your towels, suit and whatever else you may need to bring with you this summer. Pete from BeachBikes.com will show you the quick and easy way to hook up a basket for all your carrying needs.

How To: Change the handlebar grips on your beach cruiser bike

Good handlebar grips can make your bike ride much more enjoyable. In this tutorial, learn how to remove the current grips on your cycle and replace them with better, comfier and more stylish versions.

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: 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 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 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: Assemble a beach cruiser bicycle, start to finish

If you have recently ordered a new bike online, or purchased it at a store where it is not fully assembled, check out this clip.

How To: Reset a Mavic Wintech

This video tutorial is in the Sports category which will show you how to reset a Mavic Wintech. After you have installed the battery and you notice you have a blank screen, use the reset button inside the computer to reset it. This is not mentioned in the Mavic Wintech operating manual. For this, remove the battery and you will see a little compartment with a little silver button. It looks like a starter, but that is the reset button. Press the button with a sharp object and place the battery...

How To: Properly lubricate your bike's brake and shift cables

If you own a bike that has brake and shift cables that are not protected, lubricating them is a must. riding in wet weather can cause the cables to rust and eventually become useless.

How To: Ride a Unitrainer to practice for a unicycle

Not ready for a unicycle? The unitrainer is a way of practicing the balance and technique required to ride a unicycle. Watch this how-to cycling video and get one step closer to riding a unicycle.

How To: Change a flat clincher tire

Here we see how change a flat tire on a bicycle properly. The video says that once you understand the principles you should be able to do this in three minutes. With the tire off the frame of the bike, be sure all of the air is completely gone. Next is to take off one side of the tire, with some plastic pry tools made for bikes. With the bead of the tire over the rim you should be able to remove that tube with ease. Inflate the new tube just enough so it takes shape. The new tube goes into th...

How To: Change a bike tire step by step

A step by step video tutorial that shows you how to change the tire from a Triathalon or road bike! Don't get stuck with a flat tire in the middle of nowhere! Gear West Bike and Triathalon show you how to: shift into the smallest gear, release the brake, open up the quick release and remove the wheel, remove the tire and tube, inspect the tube and tire, Install a new tube and remount the tire, reinstall wheel with quick release and close the breaks. Very basic, easy to understand instructions...

How To: Check basic gearing and bike fit

Active Expert Gale Bernhardt explains basic gearing and bike fit in this instructional cycling video. Learn the proper pedaling forms and correct bike fit to maximize your bike power output. This video also provides tips on looking for a bike that fits you and your needs. As a beginner, the bike you have now is just fine for your first race. As you get more into the sport of triathlon, then you might consider investing in some new equipment. So watch this cycling tutorial video that demonstra...

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: 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: 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: Recover your bike seat by sewing your own drawstring seat cover

If your bike seat is wearing out, or you want to protect your bike from the elements, you can make your own drawstring bike cover. This tutorial shows you how to get the pattern and then sew the drawstring cover to slip over your bike seat.

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: Use a presta valva adapter on your bicycle

Most of the bikes out on the market either have a presta valve or a schrader valve. These are the gates to allowing and letting air out from your tires. Presta valves are much narrower than its counterparts and can usually be a bit more difficult to inflate.

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: 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: Make the Most Brilliant Bike Light Ever with This LED Handlebar Mod

If you ride your bike at night frequently, you've probably had at least one close call with a car, pedestrian, or some other moving obstacle because of reduced visibility. Not only is it dangerous to ride at night without lights, it's illegal in a lot of places. Make sure no one can miss you with these DIY handlebar lights from Becky Stern at Adafruit. What You'll Need

How To: Do a bunny hop on a BMX bike

Looking to catch some big air on your BMX? Watch this video to learn the three step method to bunny hopping. This isn't a cute and cuddly bunny hop, this is how you get your bike off the ground and up in the air.