Working in a busy London bike shop (Flag Bikes), we get dozens of bike related questions every day. Eventually patterns start to emerge. Here in the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section of CycleLove.com you will find a growing collection of answers to common customer questions, together with my – much more subjective – opinions on various bike topics and debates!
John Hamlen
Managing Director – Flag Bikes
Choosing the best bike today is an art given the numerous bike categories and other variables to consider. A newbie is bound to be confused by the process. However, the most important considerations revolve around the purpose for which you are getting a bike, where you intent to ride the bike and the different types…
This is probably the most common question we get from people coming into the shop to use our floor pumps (also known as track pumps). All the pumps have a pressure gauge with a scale marked in PSI (pounds per square inch) and/or Bar. The answer is simple: Look carefully for numbers on the sidewall of the…
Road tyres are designed to run as fast as possible on a hard and relatively smooth surface. In these conditions thinner tyres are faster because they are more more aerodynamic and can be pumped to higher pressures which usually reduces the rolling resistance of the tyres. HOWEVER! After decades getting thinner and thinner, the past…
More often than most people think! Every 1-2 weeks is a good rule of thumb. There are a number of advantages to keeping yours tyres at the correct pressure. However, it is commonly thought that if you don’t use the bike the tyres will hold their pressure. This is not true! Take it from someone…
No! No matter how much you pay, or how heavy a lock you are willing to manage, the sad fact is that there is no such thing as an unbreakable bike lock. Every lock is vulnerable to braking/cutting/picking/drilling if the scumbag thief is willing and able to take enough time and make enough noise with…
The groupset (sometimes referred to as its “gruppo”) is the collection of all the parts involved in braking, shifting gears, and transferring power from the pedals to the rear wheel (the drivetrain). These components include: Gear/brake levers Brake calipers Front and rear derailleurs Chainset Bottom bracket Chain Cassette The groupset market is dominated by 3…
No! Well not really light and really strong. If you want the strongest, most unbreakable bike lock it is going to be very heavy. On the other hand, if you want a very light lock then scumbag thieves will be able to cut through it with not much more than a pair of scissors. In between these…
Like its main competitors SRAM and Campagnolo, Shimano has a hierarchy of groupsets with levels offering different weights, number of gears and – of course – prices! It’s important to remember that while each groupset name maintains its place in the hierarchy, they are usually updated every few years. So, for instance, when Dura Ace – Shimano’s top-of-the-line…
Like its main competitors Shimano and SRAM, Campagnolo has a hierarchy of groupsets with levels offering different weights, number of gears and – of course – prices! It’s important to remember that while each groupset name maintains its place in the hierarchy, they are usually updated every few years. So, for instance, the Campagnolo Record of the early 1960s was a 6-speed…
Like its main competitors Shimano and Campagnolo, SRAM has a hierarchy of groupsets with levels offering different weights, number of gears and – of course – prices! Whilst Shimano and Campagnolo have been producing bike components since the 1920s and 30s, SRAM was only founded in 1987. However, although much younder it has become know for pioneering innovations such as…
Counter-intuitive though it is, the answer is almost always: No! At least this is the case on any surface where the tyre can make impression. Unlike car tyres, the rounded profile of a bike tyre makes it almost impossible to hydroplane at cycling speeds. This means that the presence of a tread pattern can actually…
No. The Highway Code suggests cyclists should wear approved cycle helmets, but there is no UK law compelling riders to wear them. This is the case with most countries and territories in the World, with the notable exceptions of Australia and New Zealand. However, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t wear a helmet!
Yes! Whilst you are not legally obliged to wear a bike helmet in the UK, you definitely should! There are plenty of strong arguments for not wearing helmets: Cycling great, and all-round good egg, Chris Boardman often points to a couple of facts: Fewer than 1 in 100 cyclists in the Netherlands wears a helmet, yet they…
Hybrid first got their names because they were seen as a hybrid of road bike and mountain bike design features. They have the flat handlebars and more relaxed frame geometry of a mountain bike, but the thinner tyres and lighter weight of a road bike.
Unfortunately, this is a little bit of a “How long is a piece of string question because it depends on the conditions in which the chain is used. For instance, if you are riding in the rain a lot, the chain will need Wet road conditions, or very hot and dry weather both However, if…
Search online or visit a big bike shop and you’ll be confronted with a bewildering variety of chain lubricants. However, they can can all divided into two types: “Wet” and “Dry”. Wet chain lubes are a similar technology to car motor oils. They aren’t easily washed off in wet riding conditions. They stay wet on the chain…
Often used in the context of road bike frames, a relaxed geometry bike allows for a more upright riding position and a more stable ride. The easiest way to spot a relaxed geometry bike is the length of frame’s headtube. This will be much longer in comparison to aggressive geometry bikes of the same frame size….
Touring bikes are designed to cover long distances in comfort while carrying luggage. For these reasons they have relaxed geometry frame and usually drop-handlebars to allow the rider to adjust hand positions on a long ride.A rack is fitted to allow the attachment of rear panniers, and the forks usually have mounting points for fitting a front rack/panniers….
“Bum in the clouds. Face on the floor” is one rather exaggerated description of the sort of position aggressive frame geometry throws your body into. Aggressive geometry bikes have short headtubes and steep frame angles. The former put the rider into a more aerodynamic position (lower head and flatter back) whilst the latter create a…
Time trial (TT) bikes are designed with a single focus: pure speed. This at the expense of everything else including comfort, handling, and … err … expense! In bike design, improving aerodynamics (of the bike/rider combination). The rider’s position on the bike has by far the biggest impact on speed. For this reason, TT bikes…
