Bicycle Maintenance Guide and Riding Tips

Introduction and Table of Contents

I often get asked about bicycle maintenance and repairs, and tips for how to ride efficiently. This little manual is intended as a summary of what I have learned over the years. I am not a professional mechanic. All of what I say here is the result of personal experience and opinion and may in places flatly contradict professional techniques, but it has served me well. I offer no guarantees that it will work for you. If your bicycle falls apart because I said something wrong, you are on your own.

	Wheels Hubs, spokes, rims, inner tubes, tire liners, tires Preventing Punctures Repairing Punctures Fixing a Rubbing Wheel Replacing a Rim
	Steering Handlebars Headset What is a headset? Selecting a headset Checking the adjustment Adjustment and repair
	The drive train Brakes Gear Shift Levers Chainwheels, Cogs, and Chains Replacing a Chain Selecting a Gear Range Pedals Shoes Derailleurs Saddle
	Bicycle computers Riding computers Avocet vs. Cateye Heart rate monitors GPS Satellite navigation Taking Good Pictures
	Clothes Pants Shirts Shoes Gloves Helmet Glasses
	Riding Riding in Town Riding Long Distances Riding in a Group
	Travel tips Packing list Immigration and Customs Good and Bad Airlines Shipping Bicycles by Train Shipping Bicycles by Air Panniers
	What to do in an accident After the accident Dealing with insurances The criminal trial