#bike-tools

#bike-tools

Visually inspect skis, bases, and edges. If any damage, get a full tune to fix the damage, grind the bases, and sharpen the edges.

The updated GRIP X damper delivers a refined balance of descending performance, lightweight efficiency, and simplified usability, specifically designed for modern trail riders.

The wandering bite point is when the lever pulls to the bar, and the brakes do nothing. It’s a common issue with SRAM Maven brakes, whether ULT or Base models.

The Millenium 4.0 features a concave platform with an ultra-low profile to minimize pedal strikes, measuring 12mm at the center and 14mm at the edge.

The 32" tire started with a simple concept. Can it make top level XC racers faster in a real race situation? Our short tests have been pretty inconclusive. From what we've heard, it feels a tiny bit slower, yet it is incrementally quicker. That's great for an elite racer, but less so for my relatively slow rides.

Why Cycling Gloves Wear Out So Fast The palm of your glove absorbs: Constant road vibration Brake pressure and grip force Sweat and salt Friction against bar tape Impact in the event of a fall That contact area gets worked every single mile. Helmets last years. Shoes last seasons. Bib shorts rotate. Gloves? If you ride consistently, one year is normal.

Batch aims to repeat the process, now in the gravel corner of the industry. Now, surely, these new gravel offerings won't completely knock your socks off, but that isn't Batch's intention. However, will they get new riders out on two wheels without the incredible cost barrier? Absolutely.

Developed for road, gravel, and MTB, Dark Energy is the outcome of four years of dedicated research and development both inside the unique Muc-Off R&D Lab and also working closely with pro-team riders and performance staff. Over that period, more than 90 formulations were created and tested through a structured loop of rigorous screening, consisting of over 8,500 hours of dynamometer and tribometer testing and over 100,000km of real-world testing.

Start with the tires and chain. Is your chain cleaned and lubed? Is the sealant in your tubeless tires good to go? If not, refresh both. Pop your bike in a stand like the Feedback Sports Pro Mechanic or Sport Mechanic 2.0, confirming that it's shifting correctly and brakes are functioning properly before embarking on any significant cycling journey.

Yes-you can buy a quality bike on Amazon, if you choose the right bike type, avoid "too-cheap-to-be-true" builds, and buy from a brand with real support. Amazon isn't the problem. Bad components, poor sizing choices, and bargain-bin bikes are the problem.

The new absoluteBLACK MTB 4-Pot Brake Piston Press Tool slides into your calipers (with the pads removed) to quickly and evenly press the pistons back to a neutral position. This lets you reinstall the pads with plenty of space for new (or any) rotors, then squeeze your brake lever to advance them to the right position.

The beauty of chainrings is that they wear out, generally after a few seasons depending on how you ride, which means they are a perfect opportunity to give your old bike some new bling. At $75 a pop, they aren't exactly cheap. But the precision of these machined-in-Colorado 7075 chainrings is on point, and Wheels Mfg has a long record of making solid, long-lasting components.

Try as we might, it's not always easy to keep up with it all, and sometimes, it can be a challenge to give everything the attention it deserves. In our new Shifting Gear series (see what we did there?), we'll be highlighting products that have just arrived, we're excited to try out, or that we're particularly stoked to tell you about but haven't had a chance to review yet.

I had trained for a full year to complete a self-supported bicycle tour from San Diego to Las Cruces, New Mexico. It was meant to be the next-to-last chapter in my coast-to-coast cycling journey - one more long stretch of road before the final piece fell into place. Thirty-four miles into the ride, it was over. A microfiber towel caught in my derailleur. A fluke. One of those things you never plan for and still struggle to explain afterward.

Arizona's State Bicycle Company has a video series called "Riding Fixed, Up Mountains, With Pros". And apparently, this is episode 17! Man, I didn't even know these existed. If you have an extra 30 minutes, it's worth the watch. Keegan starts the climb at 5515′ and climbs 3204′ over 24 miles on a fixed-gear bike, smashing a 48tx19t! And there is a surprise at the end...

We are all familiar with the idea of a library. You go, check out a book, read said book, and return the book when you are done. Yes, there is a bit more mixed in there, such as attaining a library card, due dates, and late fees, but I'm sure you get the general idea. We all know how libraries work.

Electric mini-pumps were among the many trendy products in 2025. From Silca and Trek to Cycplus and Muc-Off, many brands threw their hats into the portable tire inflator ring. Topeak was among them, and its E-Booster Digital was my first experience using one of these new-fangled gadgets. Topeak didn't waste much time, and it recently introduced its second pocket-sized compressor, the new E-Booster Digital Mini.

Riding a mountain bike comes with risks, and injuries are common among most riders, from minor cuts and scrapes to broken bones and more severe head trauma. But what are the common injuries from mountain biking, and what is the recovery like for the most common MTB injuries? Well, I've had most of them over the years. From the minor scrapes and bumps to the more severe head trauma, fractured bones, and ligament damage.