26″ vs. 20″ Wheels (Comparison & Analysis)
This post compares the advantages and disadvantages of 26" and 20" wheels. The Advantages of 26" Wheels Smoother Steering Folding bikes (many of which use 18-22" wheels) are known for…
How I Added Full Fenders To a Road Bike Without Eyelets and With Tiny Tire Clearance (Genius Method)
I consider full fenders an essential accessory for cycling and especially commuting. Without fenders, a commuter is at a great disadvantage because the tires are throwing water and mud on…
Suspension Seat Posts vs. Dropper Posts
This post compares the advantages and disadvantages of suspension seat posts and dropper posts in regards to one another. Different Functions Suspension seat posts and dropper posts serve two different…
Are Full-suspension Bikes Good For Road Riding?
Condensed Answer: Full-suspension bikes are highly inefficient when used on the road. The suspension eats a lot of the pedaling effort and makes it harder to reach and maintain good…
Why Do Some Bicycles Have a Double Top Tube?
Condensed answer: Double top tubes are meant to reinforce the frame. The feature is commonly found on large frames because their top tubes are under greater strain. The Motivation Behind…
Can You Put a Coaster Brake On a Fixie?
Condensed Answer: Technically, a coaster brake can be mounted on a fixie, but the process will require re-lacing of the rear wheel. Once the coaster brake is installed, the fixie…
Using Bar Tape Instead of Grips (Pros and Cons Compared)
This post explores the advantages and disadvantages of using bar tape instead of grips: The Advantages of Bar Tape 1. Customization If you use bar tape for your grips, you…
Can You Use a Shimano 12-speed Chain With a SRAM Chainring?
Condensed answer: Shimano's 12-speed chains are optimized for downshifting and have a smaller inner width than normal. Subsequently, the chain has a hard time grabbing chainrings that aren't compatible with…
Can You Use a 12-Speed Chain on an 11-Speed Cassette?
Condensed answer: A 12-speed chain can work with an 11-speed cassette. However, it's recommended to avoid using a Shimano 12-speed chain because it doesn't play well with 11-speed chainrings. Chain…
Do 10-speed Derailleurs Work With 11-speed Cassettes?
Condensed answer: 10-speed rear derailleurs do not work accurately with 11-speed cassettes when coupled with index shifters. The only exception are SRAM's 10-speed exact actuation road derailleurs which have the…