Over the years, I’ve owned about 5 Walmart bikes including a couple of mountain bikes, a BMX, and even a beach cruiser. As a kid, they were the only bikes that my family could afford. People like to trash Walmart bikes for their questionable build quality, reliability issues, and poor performance. Are they really that …
Bikes and Cycling
After spending a couple of months shopping around for a new touring bike, I ended up snagging a gently used 2017 Fuji Touring bike on Craigslist. During the past 6 months, I have used this bike to commute between San Diego and Tijuana and to explore both cities. Since I’ve had the bike, I’ve put …
In recent years, dynamo hubs have become increasingly popular among bicycle tourists, bikepackers, commuters, and long-distance cyclists. This popularity can be attributed to improvements in efficiency and output thanks to advances in magnet technology, charging technology, LED light technology, and battery technology. Modern dynamo hubs can power a light that outputs over 1000 lumens or …
Over the past decade, electronic shifting has quickly grown in popularity. Most high-end road, gravel, and mountain bikes come equipped with an electronic groupset. Almost all professionals use them. These days all of the major manufacturers including Shimano, Sram, Campagnolo, and FSA all offer electronic groupsets. Of course, there are still many hold-outs who prefer …
Over the past 12 years, electronic shifting has quickly grown in popularity. At this point, most high-end road and gravel bikes come equipped with an electronic groupset. There are a number of electronic groupsets on the market from Shimano, Sram, and Campagnolo. This guide outlines the pros and cons of Shimano Di2 Vs Sram eTap …
Whether you’re on a tight budget or just frugal, buying used is a great way to score a high-quality bike at a discount price. Having said that, there are some risks. There are plenty of dishonest sellers, damaged or abused bikes, and even stolen bikes for sale. This guide explains how to buy a used …
Bamboo bike frames offer a strong, sustainable, and beautiful alternative to traditional metal or carbon fiber frames. In some cases, bamboo even outperforms traditional bike frame materials. Of course, there are some drawbacks to consider. This guide outlines the pros and cons of riding a bamboo bike. We’ll cover ride quality, weight, durability, comfort, pricing, …
When it comes to securing your bike’s grips in place on your handlebars, there are two different attachment systems to choose from. This guide outlines the pros and cons of lock on vs slip on grips. We’ll cover slippage, weight, comfort, cost, ease of use, and more. Generally, lock on grips are easier to install …
Handlebar grips play a major role in your bike’s comfort and handling. After all, they are one of only three places that your body makes contact with the bike. Your grips affect your ability to steer, shift, and brake. Riding with the wrong grips can lead to hand numbness, blistering, cramping, and fatigue. This guide …
A few years back, I decided to buy an old steel-framed mountain bike to convert into a touring bike. I ended up getting a Schwinn High Sierra. Mine is a 1986 model. It came equipped with roller-cam brakes. After buying the bike, I took the brakes apart, cleaned them up, then reinstalled them with new …