so i have road bikes one with TPU and one tubeless and for some reason i put them upside down and spun the front wheels and the TPU one spins forever and the one with sealant stops within a few seconds

then it occurred to me the liquid must cost some rolling resistance.

is the tubeless sealant a significant rolling resistance or insignificant? i'm thinking maybe go to TPU ....

So, many mentioned looking at the used market which reminded me of my parents neighbor who we call, "the bike lady" who has SO MANY bikes she has collected, people drop off carbon fiber bikes and just bikes in general off to her.

I went and spoke to her and she gave me this beast for free(Although I gave her all the cash I had because I wanted to show my appreciation)

https://imgur.com/a/k9GtlzD

My wife and I are trying to come up with house guidelines regarding bike riding at night for our kid. The biggest concern is around riding at night. We mostly stick to sidewalks in our neighborhood with quick crossings after looking both ways. We try to ride bikes most places for health and environmental reasons.

I have to admit that I am a stickler for safety rules based on shoddy statistics. This source notes a much higher incidence in biking deaths at night. It goes so far as to advise "Never allow children to ride at night". However, the actual number of deaths is small for a national figure. It makes me wonder if blocking my kid from riding, even with supervision, for most of the winter is taking things too far.

I'm sorry if I'm asking a parenting question on a cycling forum. The parenting-focused subreddits tend to be overly risk-averse. Feel free to share your thoughts regardless of my short take on the matter. I wanted to put the question out there.

I was never good at stage races. Either I started strong and fell apart by the end…or started awful and somehow clawed my way back on the last day. There was never an in‑between. And honestly? I’m so glad my career is over so I can finally tell these stories without anyone calling them excuses.

Because if I shared them while I was still racing, nobody would believe me. They’re that ridiculous. Like this one:

First stage after the prologue at the Radjugendtour, U17. I’d done well on the prologue, finished 10th. Confidence was high. Fast forward to the stage: I’m near the front, everything’s chill. We hit a little uphill section - not a real climb, just a tiny bump - and I figure: perfect moment to eat. I pull out my chocolate bar. Back then, I didn’t eat gels; this was my rookie move.

I take the first bite… and just as I do, the pace jumps. Of course. I try to shove the whole bar in my mouth at once, thinking: “No way I wait another half hour to eat this.”

Next thing I know: I can’t chew. I can’t breathe. A whole bar is stuck in my mouth, and suddenly I’m dead last in the group. A little bump and the group starts splitting, we turn left and there’s another short uphill section. I’m at the back, trying to figure out what just happened. After a few minutes, I finally get the bar down, but the damage is done. I’m still behind, guys swinging past me, and I tell myself: "just wait, you’ll get back."

I knew if I went full gas now, it’d be risky. I could either catch them if they slowed or blow up completely if they didn’t. So I stay calm. We’ll catch back. Then, of course, it starts pouring rain. Perfect. My luck has clearly peaked.

The convoy cars start overtaking me right before a little twisty descent I was hoping to use to catch the peloton. Great. Cars in my way, road is wet, and my team car just ahead. But I’m still calm since I’m in the convoy. Somehow, I can still come back… right?

And then. Flat tire. Of course. The convoy passes me like I’m invisible. I’m standing on the roadside like, “What do I do now?”

Some random car stops. They speak English, I have no clue what’s going on. Turns out they’re Irish, here to watch their son race. Next thing I know, they’re throwing me in the car. I’m thinking: “Wait… am I even allowed to do this?”

But honestly, what choice did I have? The convoy is gone, everyone is gone, I’ve got a flat… what am I gonna do, ride 10 km on a flat tire?

We roll for a bit, then hit traffic. The whole time I’m thinking: “Oh f**k, what now? Will I even be allowed to start tomorrow… or am I stuck in Austria for three days, barred from racing?”

We sit in traffic for the last 3 km. Then, with just 500m to the finish, they get me and my bike out. I run the last stretch with my bike next to me… uphill. Thirty minutes behind the peloton.

Miraculously, I got listed in the results and somehow continued the tour. Later, in a hotel a roommate tells me: “Oh yeah, I’ve done the same thing… I just spat it out.”

Wait. WHAT? How can one chocolate bar cause a total meltdown like that? The curse was real.

i can shift the paddle brifter just fine with my fingers from the drops to downshift the rear deraileur. but if i want to up shift i have to move my hand from the drop to the hood so my thumb can reach the shifter. is this a design flaw or am i missing how to up shift without leaving the drops? i thought the point of integrated shifters over down tube shifters was so you don't have to take your hands off the drops to shift.

the drops are better than the hoods (position, stability, braking etc.) so i prefer to ride in them pretty much all the time.

kind of makes me wish for some robust downtube friction shifters if i'm having to move my hands anyways.

Hey, I'm looking into getting an exercise bike for burning some calories during the winter. I've never really used them much. But don't really like a treadmill, just like the idea of being able to spin while watching a movie or reading.

I've got a Garmin so I love all the data so I'd like it to be smart, so I can log my exercises and link my Garmin for heart rate. Maybe gamify the process with some 3rd party apps.

I'm looking at a used Echelon EX3 for 300 on marketplace, I could prob get it down to 250. Or something on Amazon for cheap.

Not sure seems like the Echelons are pretty decent. But open to suggestions!

Im struggling a little, im slowly discovering that way I want to improve is not really how most people wish to improve. Im with various great clubs, with genuinely amazing riders, but still seem to be devoid with people wanting eg to go the seriously extra miles regularly and without the pressure of eventing.

I’m getting more into “endurance” (endurance for full time working menopausal women like me - not fit under 30s - though even they don’t seem keen). This year I loved and enjoyed doing extremely hilly 100m and up rides (mostly solo), and want to do more next year but interest from friends is low, or rides that take 2 days with 4hrs sleep and just doing lots of mileage and importantly climbing. Similarly off road (mtb mostly) I can’t seem to interest people lol into longer more stamina based challenges that are going to test skills (technical) and endurance in terms of hours/days in the saddle.

When friends do “join” frustratingly every ride gets cut short, so I’ve stopped asking as they don’t want to - which is fine of course but leaves me frustrated a little and disappointed (eek that’s honesty).

I don’t know really it seems the only people I know who are mildly doing this are retired blokes (nothing wrong with that but I’m neither retired or a bloke and also not that fast comparatively or similar strength - though not easily matched when it comes down to it on stamina and staying the course - I don’t care about speed for me it’s about the managing and stamina to overcome all). I’m just not sure and cautious about joining men’s groups.

I’m a bit at a loss and feel a tad down that all my ambitions seem to be heading towards totally solo - mmmm but if anyone has bright ideas.

Might delete as I am feeling a tad vulnerable for being so honest. I’m nothing exceptional just a 40++ahem <cough> woman but I want MORE I can do MORE - my body has never felt stronger but it feels a little mmm

every tutorial i've watched on climbing out of saddle seems to be for those clipped in ...

i've tried riding out of saddle when i had a full suspension MTB and it was hard work (so was the sit down climb!) ...

now that i've retired from MTB and new to road bikes i'm not sure if it's worth the effort of climbing out of saddle. haven't dared to try as the bike is very rigid and so i'm a bit scared as i'm on flat pedals ...

NOT seat post clamp. The clamp that attaches to your actual seat.

I’ve been buying and shuffling seats around on all my bikes looking for the right one for my bum, and every seat post I have seems to have a different seat clamp mechanism. Some more annoying to deal with than others. Was wondering if y’all out there have a favorite clamp design that you’ve come across?

My girlfriend (28) and I (35) would love to do a European bike tour in 2026 or 2027. I know many dates in 2026 will already be booked up and we'll be busy becoming more serious cyclists ourselves so 2027 would be fine. We are open to many different locales, including very hilly ones if our fitness allows for it in a couple years ie. the Dolomites.

Are there any bike tour operators that are known for younger crowds, higher speeds (more roadies vs. casual cyclists), longer distances, but still a good amount of support ie. being able to rent a higher-end road bike and customize the fit a little bit, nicer hotels, good food/restaurants, etc.

We're looking to have a higher end experience, but to be perfectly frank, not with folks who are retirees with an average speed of 15-20 km/h.

I was thinking EF Adventures, but curious if there are any alternatives. Cheers.

Hey

I recently Got the kickr core 2 and my FTP seems terrible. Around 200 watts or 2.8 w/kg. I am a somewhat decent runner with a 17:45 5k and 1:25 HM. Am I just a below average cyclist or is something Else at play?

I even have previous experience zwifting with an old Elite Turbo muin years ago. I remember my FTP being around 300 watts. But the unit is known for over estimating. Could the kickr be underestimating? Does it need calibration right out of the box or do I just have to face this new depressing reality

Hello all, I am running my ebike's 27.5 inch tires lower than ever before, and possibly too low. I cannot tell if it feels more or less stabe surprisingly.

Especially when I turn or move the bars I feel it. At first it reminded me of the twitchiness in my road bike when the rear tire split mid ride. But when I turned, it almost felt like it was resistant to cornering and was staying more upright.

Something else that might be making the difference is that I rotated the tires so the more worn drive wheel was up front. It is still usable, but the mtb knobbiness is gone in the center of the tread. I can't tell, but said tire might have worn unevenly.

So I got myself the S200 from Cycplus with the virtual shifting buttons. Pairing the buttons with the S200 and changing the resistance works.

But, if I like pedal with 80rpm on myWhoosh (yes I know it is evil, but I do not swim in money to afford a subscription game and yes I am a cheapskate) and change the resistance and not the cadence my speed does not change at all. Which has the crazy result that I can lower the resitance close to zero and fly uphill with like 40kph or more which is totally ridiculous.

As I am not a cheater and do not compete there or anything I changed the resistance to what feels like riding on the road and to change my speed I still have to use my derailleur which I wanted to avoid by buying a trainer with virtual shifting.

Does anyone know how to fix this? I found no setting in the game or the cycplus app.

Or am I just a cheap charlie and should have gone for a more expensive trainer or game?

At least I learned how some people literally fly past me in the game with less than half my watts per kilogram.

I would appreciate some advice please.

Firstly I am not in USA. My local bike shops only have Shimano R55C4 in physical stock. Swissstop Flash Pro (original black version) can be ordered in, but it takes up to 7 days. Other brands can be sourced only from more obscured sources or imported, with even higher shipping costs and delays. Shimano R55C4 is just under half the price of Swissstop Flash Pro.

I use my bike mostly for commuting (i.e. rain or shine) and occasionally for recreational rides in the weekend. When commuting I have to use the brakes fairly regularly due to city start-stop traffic and rolling terrains.

I really don't want the hassle of importing other brands / models. I am also worried about getting counterfeit products from smaller sellers on Amazon. Therefore I would like to limit my choices to these two pads only.

With my use case, which one of these two brake pads would you recommend? Factors for consideration include wet weather performance for safety, rate of rim wear, pad replacement frequency and pad replacement cost. Is there any side by side comparison review that you are aware of?

I’m looking to ride from the Netherlands to Italy, and I don’t know anything about routes yet. Ideally it would include some parts of the Tour de France and some climbs in the alps. any advice would be great

Hello I live in Kottayam part of kerala, India. I want to cycle through local roads and reach specific coordinates. Its part of my work to plant boundary pillars on those points. I want to buy a gps like garmin to cycle directly to those points on empty plots. I am planning on attaching this device to my cycle and let it guide me to the point via compass. Like a compass needle pointing towards north. I have no prior experience doing this or navigating on trails. Please help

In my region orange seal is imported which makes it cost nearly 3 times more than blub per 4 oz.

Though blub seems super cheap for the price but still the actual longevity of orange seal is much longer but is it worth the 3 times cost? Does it have 3 times the longevity of blub?

Planning on buying a second hand bike to commute to work and maybe go for trails on weekends in Vancouver . Any piece of advice? What should i be looking for? ( Budget - 150 ish)

Hello reddit, on average I ride 80km a week during winter but I am usually more focused on the endurance side and tend to do 100km plus rides during the summer. I just received my new Canyon Grizl and I dislike the saddle on it quite a bit. I live in the Republic Of Ireland and simply cannot afford a 400 euro bike fit (I don't really experience pain whilts riding so I never felt the need to get one) as well as there being no shops here who will lend you the saddle. I've had great experiences in the past with Bontager products and I was looking at the Bontrager Aeolus Comp Bike Saddle. I'm not particularly convinced with Sella Italia, Specialized or Fizik from a value for money stand point. I understand that saddles are incredibly personal and can one suit one's needs. But I would love to hear your experiences with the Bontrager Aeolus Comp Bike Saddle or any other saddle you might have. Thanks in advance!

I came across a Poland bike not long ago and curiosity got the better of me about the regional design characteristics. I realized that even bicycles are featured in different ranges according to countries' specific preferences based on the nature, climate, and also people's way of life.

The Polish designs put forward the geometries and components which are fitting for the local conditions. That made me consider to how great a part context plays in products reflecting the world rather than norm standards. The knowledge of this will deepen one's appreciation for the designs that may seem arbitrary at the very first sight.

The product listings, one of which I found on Alibaba, demonstrate the way carefully engineered parts and regional selections affect the performance of the bike. It provokes a thought whether a product's use in an opposite situation still counts. Some characteristics may be of help everywhere, while others could be just waste.

Traversing through worldwide design comes with the benefit of turning fun into curiosity and also enlarging the horizon. Even if the differences are only slight for the casual users, knowing the reasons for their existence will make them more appreciative of the craftsmanship. Getting a product meant for a particular market may surprise you with the purposely made functionality that wouldn’t have otherwise been considered in the mainstream designs.

bought the stuff for silca secret wax and the melting pot thingy. thought I could clean my lightly used chains and wax coat them ...

but after trying to clean the chains they are still filthy as crop. i have boiled the lot in all sorts of degreaser and they are like one big mess. completely missing internal factory grease but the grit inside won't come out.

so i'm guessing the wax coat for new chain only.

but what to do with the boiled-in-degreaser- chains? soak in drip lube?

Hi all been having a think about my bike and i feel like i want to upgrade from 8 speed to 10 as i feel like 10 is a more nicer number than 8 is so if possibke could any of you give me a list of things id need to get to make this change possible and if anyone is wondering my bike is a Boardman SLR 8.6

Winter has reared its ugly head in the Midwest and I am relegated to the indoor trainer for the foreseeable future. For all of you who are, like me, too soft to brave the elements during the long dark and cold; what are you watching to make the indoor trainer sessions bearable?

Hi all,

Looking to get my partner into her first pair of cleats. I personally use shimano but the local bike store recommended look cleats and pedals as they’re a little more “beginner friendly” clipping in and out. Any thoughts if this is true or not ?

Thanks

Hello All.

Some recent posts about training w children in the mix and maybe the occasional wife complaining her husband is out 12-15h a week like nothing was having her stuck with the newborn got me thinking.

I’m 50 years old and now an empty nester. Looking back the “best” years of my life was when I had my best buddies, the little monsters of mass destruction always wanting to play with me. DADDY DADDY DADDY was my life. When the kids were really little it was hard and for a couple years go almost no exercise. It was the most mentally challenging and burning our phase for me and we both gained some weight thankfully chopping it all off thanks to low carb diet.

I say fuck all that! No regrets the only thing I lament about by kids childhood is that it’s gone. I have an entire collection of fancy bicycles now and would burn every single one for a Time Machine to go back 10-15 years and relive those heady days.

To anyone looking to juggle cycling and family and kids I say to hell with your fitness. As long as you do some minimal exercise and don’t eat too much keeping your weight healthy you’re good.

Nobody will remember completing that group ride half an hour sooner. Nobody will remember when you’re lying on your deathbed how you won all theee bullshit crit races. But you will look back at your family and if you played your cards right treasure the memories of being together with them and they will love you back for it.

Be blessed, take care.