I found your videos after recently buying my first bike and feeling a little lost with the overwhelming amount of info to learn, and have found them extremely practical, clear, and simple to understand. Thanks for doing these, and I’ll def continue to be here for more 🙏❤️
I've been a bike mechanic for more then 40 years, and after watching a few of you videos I just wanted to say that I think you are doing a great job with your channel. You give solid advice in an easy to understand and concise manner, which isn't always easy to find on youtube. A quick tip regarding the use of Simple Green as a chain degreaser though. It's important to note that leaving a chain soaking in full strength Simple Green for a significant amount of time will cause it to become brittle and can lead to breakage. Otherwise, it's safe to use as long as you clean the chain and rinse it off right away before relubricating the chain. From your description it sounds like you are doing it safely, but it might be a good idea to add that disclaimer. Keep up the good work. 👍
You break your chain that often?? I'm on my 47th season and I generally average 12-15,000km/yr and I've never snapped a chain. Good list of necessary tools, although I've always been one to install my tires with my thumbs. Pro tip.. before inflating, always always, pinch examine the tire all the way around the rim, both sides to ensure you DON'T see any inner tube. Nothing worse than fixing a flat on the road, only to pinch flat during inflation.
Thanks, but two items: (1) Tire bead jack (bead breaker) -- I've ridden and worked on bikes for 50+ years and NEVER used, needed or had one. Proper use of tire irons eliminates that tool. (2) "Plastic tire irons" is an oxymoron; so now they're "levers". Used properly, tire levers do not slide; hence the proper number of levers is THREE. I do not carry levers on any but my road bikes; the 35+ mm tires will pull off and onto rims. The 23 to 28 mm tires on my road bikes will not -- so levers for those. [Indeed, my Continentals have wire beads.] I watched one rider in a road group break all 3 of his plastic levers (and not on wire beads), while I pulled out my metal ones which got the job done. FYI, I ride as much as 133 mi. in a day, 270 in 4 days, etc., so I've had occasion to use my tool kit.
I ride a single speed so some tools are not on the same scale of priority for me but it remains entertaining to see what gravel bike folks have to go through ^ ^
Very good video on selecting the right tire pressure. For the chain, my approach is that less is better. I do not wax, but use Squirt lube. I just wipe the chain (and chain rings) after every 100km ride, with an old dry, clean rag. I then apply one drop of Squirt to each roller and turn cranks. I wipe off excess leaving the chain tack free and shiny. Sometimes I'll repeat if the chain is very dirty or I'm going on a very long ride. I do not use any solvent, except for maybe once at the end of the season, if dish soap is not enough. The reason why I like this method is because it never strips the lubricant from inside the roller and Squirt traps the dirt which can then be removed by wiping. My chain is flexible and silent like a rubber belt and it shifts faster than a Di2. Note that if you break your chain with a chain tool, the best way to rejoin it is with a speed link (e.g. Wippermann Connex, KMC, SRAM). If you use a chain tool, the pin has to be the one that is designed to be re-installed (with the excess snapped off), and even then, if the alignment is not perfect, your chain will not be reliable, especially on a 1X where the chain has to twist quite a bit. It is best not to keep breaking the chain with this tool and rejoining it, because the process wears out the chain plates and makes the chain less strong, if repeated.
Thanks for the info and sharing your chain cleaning method! Re quick links: yes, that's an important note about reusing a pin. When linking my chain back, I actually do use a quick/master/speed link. I'm iffy about inserting a specific pin back into the links for the reasons you mentioned.
Very nice informative video. Your mechanical knowledge is way above the average person. And you have very good way of explaining everything from the grammar and terminology. Any tips on diet, liquids and snacks before, during the ride and after ( recovery ) would be a great video if you haven’t already done one.
i just got my first bike built it used silca for tire pressure as i saw another video recommending using the site and that website recommended 40psi for my tires when my tires say 55 min psi-85 max on the rim and i got 700c 42 puncher proof tires that comes with the bike so i really dont trust that site mine at 85psi theres a lil give when pressing with your thumb not alone under half the psi that site recommended
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4:40 ... yes to gloves !
I found your videos after recently buying my first bike and feeling a little lost with the overwhelming amount of info to learn, and have found them extremely practical, clear, and simple to understand. Thanks for doing these, and I’ll def continue to be here for more 🙏❤️
Ahh, congrats on your first bike and happy to hear it helps! There is SO much to learn and you'll find that you'll learn as you go. Happy riding!
I've been a bike mechanic for more then 40 years, and after watching a few of you videos I just wanted to say that I think you are doing a great job with your channel. You give solid advice in an easy to understand and concise manner, which isn't always easy to find on youtube. A quick tip regarding the use of Simple Green as a chain degreaser though. It's important to note that leaving a chain soaking in full strength Simple Green for a significant amount of time will cause it to become brittle and can lead to breakage. Otherwise, it's safe to use as long as you clean the chain and rinse it off right away before relubricating the chain. From your description it sounds like you are doing it safely, but it might be a good idea to add that disclaimer.
Keep up the good work. 👍
appreciate that quick tip about keeping the soak time short :)!
Very good advice for beginner bikers
You break your chain that often?? I'm on my 47th season and I generally average 12-15,000km/yr and I've never snapped a chain. Good list of necessary tools, although I've always been one to install my tires with my thumbs. Pro tip.. before inflating, always always, pinch examine the tire all the way around the rim, both sides to ensure you DON'T see any inner tube. Nothing worse than fixing a flat on the road, only to pinch flat during inflation.
Thanks, but two items: (1) Tire bead jack (bead breaker) -- I've ridden and worked on bikes for 50+ years and NEVER used, needed or had one. Proper use of tire irons eliminates that tool. (2) "Plastic tire irons" is an oxymoron; so now they're "levers". Used properly, tire levers do not slide; hence the proper number of levers is THREE. I do not carry levers on any but my road bikes; the 35+ mm tires will pull off and onto rims. The 23 to 28 mm tires on my road bikes will not -- so levers for those. [Indeed, my Continentals have wire beads.] I watched one rider in a road group break all 3 of his plastic levers (and not on wire beads), while I pulled out my metal ones which got the job done. FYI, I ride as much as 133 mi. in a day, 270 in 4 days, etc., so I've had occasion to use my tool kit.
I ride a single speed so some tools are not on the same scale of priority for me but it remains entertaining to see what gravel bike folks have to go through ^ ^
Excellent Thanks
Excellent video! 🚲🎬
im Sooooooo Glad to see you cove this . Keep up the great work , thank you , one tool is a spoke wrench
Thank you! :)
Very good video on selecting the right tire pressure. For the chain, my approach is that less is better. I do not wax, but use Squirt lube. I just wipe the chain (and chain rings) after every 100km ride, with an old dry, clean rag. I then apply one drop of Squirt to each roller and turn cranks. I wipe off excess leaving the chain tack free and shiny. Sometimes I'll repeat if the chain is very dirty or I'm going on a very long ride. I do not use any solvent, except for maybe once at the end of the season, if dish soap is not enough. The reason why I like this method is because it never strips the lubricant from inside the roller and Squirt traps the dirt which can then be removed by wiping. My chain is flexible and silent like a rubber belt and it shifts faster than a Di2.
Note that if you break your chain with a chain tool, the best way to rejoin it is with a speed link (e.g. Wippermann Connex, KMC, SRAM). If you use a chain tool, the pin has to be the one that is designed to be re-installed (with the excess snapped off), and even then, if the alignment is not perfect, your chain will not be reliable, especially on a 1X where the chain has to twist quite a bit. It is best not to keep breaking the chain with this tool and rejoining it, because the process wears out the chain plates and makes the chain less strong, if repeated.
Thanks for the info and sharing your chain cleaning method!
Re quick links: yes, that's an important note about reusing a pin. When linking my chain back, I actually do use a quick/master/speed link. I'm iffy about inserting a specific pin back into the links for the reasons you mentioned.
Very nice informative video. Your mechanical knowledge is way above the average person. And you have very good way of explaining everything from the grammar and terminology. Any tips on diet, liquids and snacks before, during the ride and after ( recovery ) would be a great video if you haven’t already done one.
Torque wrench or a 5nm torque key since that covers the stem and seatpost bolts. Also, grease
3:46 Metal levers are for steel bead tires. Most of them will break any plastic tire lever before popping out.
Is the video mirrored or is that bike all wrong?
Every plastic tire leaver I have used has broken. Always use metal now and no problems
glad the metal ones work for ya!
Even better are the plastic (nylon?) coated metal ones.
i just got my first bike built it used silca for tire pressure as i saw another video recommending using the site and that website recommended 40psi for my tires when my tires say 55 min psi-85 max on the rim and i got 700c 42 puncher proof tires that comes with the bike so i really dont trust that site mine at 85psi theres a lil give when pressing with your thumb not alone under half the psi that site recommended
Grippy … you say..
Grippy- J Cole