The Total Bicycling Manual: 268 Tips for Two-Wheeled Fun

Description

Everything you need for enjoying the sport of cycling, from finding your perfect bike to customizing your ride without spending a fortune, learning to do your own repairs and maintenance, ride with confidence in traffic or on any road or trail, to participating in races, cyclocross, and other biking activities.   You never forget how to ride a bike . . . but do you know how to get a great deal on a used bike (and avoid getting ripped off!), set up your commuter bike for optimal safety (without sacrificing fun), plan the perfect family ride for kids of all ages, and train for your first endurance ride? Bicycle Times magazine reaches hundreds of thousands of “everyday cyclists”—riders who care more about having a great ride than spending a year’s salary on a tricked-out racing bike. Their mission is to make cycling fun and accessible for everyone . . . families, commuters, travelers, and weekend warriors included. This book is the one practical manual every cyclist should have—right next to the toolbox or stashed in a pannier. A quick but comprehensive intro chapter on finding the right bike for every need (and why so many cyclists are sure they need one of each!), which includes detailed information on what to look for in a new or used bike, when to pay a little more for components, and where you can economize creatively. Filled with practical, wheels-on-the-ground tips, this book will make you a better rider, take you places you never thought you’d go, and make sure you never get stranded by the roadside without the tools or know-how to fix your ride. Packaged in a durable, wipe-clean flexicover with metallic corner-guards, this practical manual withstands heavy-duty use indoors and out. Cycling Basics Choose the right Bike for You Customize Your Ride Your Helmet Can Save Your Life Dress for Any Weather Clipless Pedals and Cycling Shoes—Yes or No? Understand the Drive Train Give Me a Brake Find a Fixie Try an E-Bike Ride the Road Take to the Trails Cruisers and Fat Bikes Bikes for Kids Riding Skills and Adventures Fit Your Bike to Your Body Make Simple Adjustments Brake Confidently Use Your Gears for Maximum Efficiency Know the Rules of the Road Use GPS and Fitness Apps Bike for Fitness Commute in Comfort Ride a Bike in a Dress Pedal in Any Shoes (Including Stilettos!) Dominate Trail Rides Get Off Road Try Cyclocross Get Around Town Lock It Up Seek Out a Velodrome Try a Road Race Train for Endurance Rides Ride with the Family Take a Bike Vacation Ride in the Rain Ride in Snow Repair and Maintenance Buy the Tools You Need Do a Basic Tune-Up Fix a Flat Fix a Blowout True a Wheel Change a Bottom Bracket Replace Brake Cables Switch Out Your Brakes Shim a Seat Pimp Your Ride Cut Down a Basket Troubleshoot a Headset Install Racks Keep Everything Greased Up Do Emergency Repairs Pack a Touring Toolkit Winterize Your Bike Cover Contents GEAR 1 FIND YOUR SHOP 2 GET ACQUAINTED 3 AVOID THE BIG BOX 4 BUILD A GOOD BOND 5 FIND THE BEST USED BIKE 6 BUY USED 7 KNOW THE RISKS 8 GET OFFLINE 9 GO FOR QUALITY 10 DON’T SKIP THE TEST RIDE 11 GET READY FOR THE TEST 12 THINK OUTSIDE THE LOT 13 TEST RIDE A USED BIKE 14 GET THE MOST FROM A TEST RIDE 15 KNOW YOUR PARTS 16 KNOW THE OPTIONS 17 RULE THE ROAD 18 CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN 19 TAKE A CRUISE 20 GET RECREATIONAL 21 GET ON TRACK 22 GET FIXED 23 RIDE TO WORK 24 TRY OUT CYCLOCROSS 25 JOIN THE CARGO CULT 26 PEDAL WITH POWER 27 RIDE LIKE FRANKENSTEIN 28 STEP ON THROUGH 29 SIT BACK AND ENJOY THE RIDE 30 KNOW YOUR MATERIALS 31 STUDY GEOMETRY 32 GEAR(S) UP! 33 HIT THE TRAIL 34 KNOW YOUR OPTIONS 35 RIDE LIKE A GIRL 36 SIZE IT UP 37 SUSPEND YOURSELF 38 TRAVEL SAFELY 39 LOCK YOURSELF OUT 40 WHEEL IT OUT 41 UNDERSTAND ALLOY 42 WHEEL AND DEAL 43 EVALUATE A TIRE 44 GET ORIENTED 45 TREAD LIGHTLY 46 TRY GOING TUBELESS 47 GO BAR HOPPING 48 MEET YOUR SEAT 49 SADDLE UP 50 THINK WITH YOUR BUTT 51 GIVE YOURSELF TWO WEEKS 52 KNOW YOUR DRIVETRAIN 53 SHIFT WITH CONFIDENCE 54 MAKE THE SHIFT TO ELECTRIC 55 TURN THE CRANK 56 CHOOSE YOUR CHAINRING 57 CHOOSE YOUR DRIVE 58 DON’T GET DERAILED 59 FIT IT RIGHT 60 PLAY YOUR CASSETTE 61 PEDAL AWAY 62 SKIP THE CLIP 63 CAGE YOUR FEET 64 CLIP INTO CLIPLESS 65 HAVE A NICE FALL 66 LISTEN TO YOUR CABLES 67 STOP IT 68 BRAKE IT YOUR WAY 69 ACCESSORIZE YOUR RIDE 70 FEND FOR YOURSELF 71 LOCK IT UP 72 ALWAYS LOCK UP 73 KEEP EVERYTHING SECURE 74 GO FOR THE LONG HAUL 75 COMPUTERIZE YOUR RIDE 76 STAY IN TOUCH 77 DON’T LOSE YOUR BIKE 78 INVEST IN YOUR HEAD 79 FIT YOUR LID 80 SHIELD YOUR EYES RIGHT 81 CHOOSE YOUR SHOES 82 FIT YOUR FEET 83 HOT FOOT IT 84 TREAD ON ME 85 MAKE SURE IT FITS 86 GET AN IN-STORE FIT 87 FIT GOOD, FEEL GOOD 88 GO WITH A PRO 89 SEAT IT PROPERLY 90 MEASURE YOUR REAR 91 DIAGNOSE MISFIT 92 DIAL IN YOUR BARS RIDING 93 TAKE A TOOLKIT 94 GET PUMPED 95 BRING A BOTTLE 96 COOL IT 97 FIND YOUR CADENCE 98 CHECK YOUR STEM 99 POSITION YOUR HANDS 100 SLOW YOUR ROLL 101 RIDE FAST, RIDE SAFE 102 TAKE THE CORNERS 103 DON’T GET CAUGHT UP 104 DON’T DROP YOUR PHONE 105 BAG IT 106 CARRY A BIKE 107 DON’T GO DARK 108 REFLECT ON THIS 109 GET WIRED 110 SHINE ON YOU CRAZY DIAMOND 111 DO A TRACK STAND 112 RIDE ASSERTIVELY 113 TACKLE TRAFFIC 114 SPEAK WITH YOUR HANDS 115 TALK TO YOUR TEAM 116 CALL OUT CARS 117 DON’T GET DOORED 118 GET IT ON FILM 119 STICK TO THE SHARROW 120 LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAVE 121 PREP FOR A CRASH 122 RIDE IN THE RAIN 123 GUARD AGAINST SPLASHES 124 DRESS FOR DOWNPOUR 125 FAKE IT 126 STAY SAFE OUT THERE 127 CROSS TRACKS SAFELY 128 GET FAT 129 DON’T SLIP AND SLIDE 130 RUB IT IN 131 DRESS IN LAYERS 132 KEEP YOUR FEET DRY 133 WEAR A JACKET 134 RIDE IN A SKIRT 135 RIDE A BIKE IN HEELS 136 COMMUTE CLEANLY 137 DRESS FOR SUCCESS 138 PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR BACK IS 139 GET PAID TO RIDE 140 CARRY THAT WEIGHT 141 SEE HOW FAR YOU CAN GO 142 GO PRO 143 DELIVER THE GOODS 144 GET CREATIVE 145 GET INVOLVED 146 RACE LIKE A GRAVY DOG 147 JOIN THE MOVEMENT 148 SHARE A BIKE 149 DO BIKE SHARE RIGHT 150 AMP IT UP 151 PICK A LOCK 152 CARRY YOUR WEIGHT 153 KEEP IT LOCKED 154 CONFOUND THIEVES 155 FIND YOUR RIDE BUDDIES 156 BRING THE KIDS 157 TRAIL SAFELY 158 TRY A TANDEM 159 CARRY A CROWD 160 STRIKE A BALANCE 161 TEACH A KID TO RIDE 162 GET TO KNOW BMX 163 HAVE SOME FAMILY FUN 164 GEAR UP FOR BMX 165 TRY A GROUP RIDE 166 STAY HYDRATED 167 FUEL YOURSELF 168 ADD A LITTLE SOMETHING 169 PLAN YOUR RIDE 170 JOIN A CASUAL GROUP 171 PAY TO PLAY 172 TAKE A RIDING HOLIDAY 173 USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION 174 GET UP AND GO 175 RACK IT UP 176 DRESS UP 177 CHOOSE YOUR MATERIAL WISELY 178 DON’T BE LIKE FRED 179 SIT PRETTY 180 LUBE UP 181 GO COMMANDO 182 KEEP IT CLEAN 183 PROTECT YOUR MODESTY 184 WATCH THE TOUR DE FRANCE 185 TAKE THE STAGE 186 TRY A CRITERIUM 187 GO THE DISTANCE 188 RIDE A RANDO 189 SET UP FOR A LONG RIDE 190 DON’T GET LOST 191 USE GPS RIGHT 192 ORIENT YOURSELF 193 DRESS FOR THE TRAILS 194 PROTECT YOURSELF 195 CRUSH THE DESCENT 196 CLIMB ANY MOUNTAIN 197 ACE HANDLING 198 CROSS IT UP 199 KIT UP FOR CROSS 200 TRY THE TRACK 201 RIDE THE INSIDE 202 HOP ON A TRAINER MAINTAIN 203 GET THE NECESSITIES 204 ADD THESE BASICS 205 BUILD YOUR DREAM WORKSHOP 206 GET READY TO RIDE 207 DO A POST-RIDE CHECK 208 PUT YOUR BIKE TO REST 209 FIND A GOOD MECHANIC 210 KEEP UP WITH MAINTENANCE 211 TAKE CARE OF TUNE-UPS 212 SCHEDULE YOUR MAINTENANCE 213 SERIOUSLY, USE LUBE 214 MAINTAIN STOPPING POWER 215 CLEAN YOUR MACHINE 216 CARRY SPARES 217 GAS UP 218 GET SOME AIR 219 WRAP ’EM UP 220 GET A GRIP (AGAIN) 221 GO INSIDE (OR OUT) 222 SWAP OUT YOUR BARS 223 SWAP A STEM 224 ADJUST BRAKE CABLE TENSION 225 CLEAN AND ADJUST BRAKE PADS 226 GET YOUR PADS CENTERED 227 FIX A SCRATCH 228 CUSTOMIZE CARBON FIBER 229 PAINT A METAL FRAME 230 MOUNT YOUR ACCESSORIES 231 RACK IT UP 232 GET IN POSITION 233 SET UP A STEM MOUNT 234 CUT YOUR TUBES 235 KEEP BOLTS TIGHT 236 CHANGE YOUR FORK 237 DIAGNOSE FRAME ISSUES 238 CLEAN AND LUBE YOUR CHAIN 239 MEASURE CHAIN WEAR 240 INSTALL A NEW CHAIN 241 KNOW YOUR CHAINRINGS 242 REMOVE CHAINRINGS 243 CHECK YOUR BOLTS 244 REMOVE THE CASSETTE 245 UNDERSTAND CASSETTES 246 DIAL IN YOUR CLEATS 247 INSTALL NEW CLEATS 248 PUT ON YOUR PEDALS 249 ADJUST PEDALS 250 FIX DRIVETRAIN DIFFICULTIES 251 BANISH BRAKE PROBLEMS 252 TAKE CARE OF TIRE AND WHEEL ISSUES 253 BRING IT BACK 254 STOP HITTING YOURSELF 255 PATCH A TUBE 256 CHECK YOUR TIRE 257 FIX A FLAT 258 CHANGE TIRES 259 CHECK FOR TRUE 260 FIND A LOOSE SPOKE 261 TIGHTEN YOUR SPOKES 262 BE TRUE TO YOUR STAND 263 HEAR YOUR SPOKES 264 TRUE A WHEEL 265 BUILD YOUR FIRST WHEEL 266 ENTER THE VOID 267 PUT IT TOGETHER 268 RESPECT THE CALL INDEX A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T U V W Z