» Bike Fix http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog Welcome to Women’s Cycling.ca, your cycling resource for: cycling news, training tips, fitness facts, sports nutrition, cycling skills and techniques, bike maintenance and more. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:39:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Cleat Positioning http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/bike-maintenance/cleat-positioning/ http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/bike-maintenance/cleat-positioning/#comments Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:03:27 +0000 LS http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/?p=5555 By Mary Paterson

Positioning of the cleats is one of the most important elements of a bike setup because power is transferred from the rider to the bike through the foot/pedal interface.  Proper cleat position will improve biomechanical alignment between the body and the bike, optimizing efficiency and comfort. Proper cleat placement is essential

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]]> http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/bike-maintenance/cleat-positioning/feed/ 1 Don’t Wait for Spring: Get Tuned-up Now http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/bike-maintenance/don%e2%80%99t-wait-for-spring-get-tuned-up-now/ http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/bike-maintenance/don%e2%80%99t-wait-for-spring-get-tuned-up-now/#comments Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:05:24 +0000 LS http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/?p=5579 By Laurel-Lea Shannon

Last November I did something I’ve always wanted to do but have never made time for. I took my bike in for a spring tune-up. That’s right—at the end of the cycling season, not the beginning. Hey, it’s the easiest time to do it. I wasn’t using my bike. I hadn’t

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]]> http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/bike-maintenance/don%e2%80%99t-wait-for-spring-get-tuned-up-now/feed/ 0 Pedal Choice: Clipless Pedals? http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/cycling-skills/pedal-choice-clipless-pedals/ http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/cycling-skills/pedal-choice-clipless-pedals/#comments Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:20:45 +0000 LS http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/?p=5049 By Mary Paterson

What Are Clipless Pedals?

Choosing pedals can be overwhelming and confusing. The purpose of any pedal is to transfer power to the bike. Should I try clipless pedals and if so which type? To start with, the name “clipless” pedals makes no sense at all because we ARE clipped into

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]]> http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/cycling-skills/pedal-choice-clipless-pedals/feed/ 3 Flat Tires: Another Lesson Learned (the hard way) http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/bike-maintenance/flat-tires-another-lesson-learned-the-hard-way/ http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/bike-maintenance/flat-tires-another-lesson-learned-the-hard-way/#comments Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:29:59 +0000 LS http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/?p=4726 By Laurel-Lea Shannon

In the last six years I’ve only had two flats. That’s probably because I’m fanatical about checking my tires and keeping them pumped up and I’m lucky to have fairly good surfaces to ride on. The only downside is that there’s been plenty of time to forget how to fix one.

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]]> http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/bike-maintenance/flat-tires-another-lesson-learned-the-hard-way/feed/ 1 Spring Tune-up http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/bike-maintenance/spring-tune-up/ http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/bike-maintenance/spring-tune-up/#comments Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:55:56 +0000 LS http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/?p=4039 By Laurel-Lea Shannon

Courtesy of Dick's Bicycle Repair Shop www.dicksbicyclerepairshop.com

Spring is in the air and you’re eagerly anticipating getting outside on your trusty steed. But before you do, there’s something you need to think about: a tune-up for your bike. Getting your bike tuned up each spring is a bit like getting

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]]> http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/bike-maintenance/spring-tune-up/feed/ 0 Squeaky Rides http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/bike-maintenance/squeaky-rides/ http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/bike-maintenance/squeaky-rides/#comments Mon, 01 Nov 2010 01:49:58 +0000 LS http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/?p=2592 By Laurel-Lea Shannon

If you hear a high-pitched squeak, squeak, squeak from your bike as you ride down the road, it could be that your derailleur pulleys need lubricating (these are also known as  jockey pulleys). Cycling in the fall can be wet and dirty and the pulleys, located close

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]]> http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/bike-maintenance/squeaky-rides/feed/ 1 Solving the Mysteries of Bike Sizing http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/bike-maintenance/solving-the-mysteries-of-bike-sizing/ http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/bike-maintenance/solving-the-mysteries-of-bike-sizing/#comments Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:39:32 +0000 LS http://www.womenscycling.ca/blog/?p=2447 By Sheila Ascroft

How do you know what size of bike you need? Some bikes are measured in inches, others in centimetres. Why? Mountain bikes evolved in Californian the early ‘70s and so use the American-favoured inches. Road bikes on the other hand have a long European tradition and are always measured in centimetres.

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