Blog

Taking SCARY out of used bikes, one bike at a time. Series Number 1 "BB Area." When cleaning the crankset, I noticed that the bottom bracket was rough. I pulled it and found a lot of contaminants like rust and dirt. Plus, the BB was toast. Once cleaned out and...

Taking SCARY out of used bikes, one bike at a time. I bought this bike thinking it's an awesome deal with high-end components and a strong brand name. And when I picked it up, it looked in excellent condition. But as I stripped down the bike (like all of my...

Taking SCARY out of used bikes, one bike at a time. I found the derailleur pulleys all bent up. I tried to bend them back, but it was better to replace them. This has been an issue before and can't be fixed. The derailleur pulley hangs out and is open to being hit....

Taking SCARY out of used bikes, one bike at a time. I mean better-stopping power. There are ware indicator lines for road brake pads, and when they are short or gone, it is time to replace them. It's straightforward to do so, and you can do it on the bike but...

Taking SCARY out of used bikes, one bike at a time.   Well, let's take a look. Your stem was installed incorrectly. "WHAT" This type of stem allows you to change a couple of degrees up and down when you flip the stem. But, there is a shim that needs to be...

Taking SCARY out of used bikes, one bike at a time.  Well, a ding in the rim, that is. Of course, I found this after buying this bike. I was so excited about the Shimano Ultegra wheelset and now need to find a replacement. Dinting a rim is usually caused by getting a...

Taking SCARY out of used bikes, one bike at a time. All Cracked Up!   Should I replace this if the teeth of the pulley are still good?   Unfortunately, the spacing between the teeth has been compromised, and the chain will not match. Not replacing it may cause poor...

Taking SCARY out of used bikes, one bike at a time. I will pack up your new ride as if it was my own. I do everything I can in preparation for you to unpack and ride within an hour or so when it arrives. Latest comment/review: "OMG. This was the perfect ebay...

One of the most significant changes to your ride is switching stems. There are many reasons to do so, and one is mostly for comfort. Others are performance. But it would be best if you always considered safety first. Here is another example of a stem not installed...

Well, when you buy new tires and install them yourself. Please double-check the size restriction of your bike. The current tire size will be stamped on the side of the tire. In this case, they put on a 700x28c when they had 700x25c. The bike will fit a 28c, but it's...