Bike Stuff

I see this question come up all the time in person and online:  "I've got an app on my phone, why would I want a bike computer?" It's a fair question in 2026. The mobile apps like Ride with GPS, Strava, Komoot, even Google Maps and others can do an excellent job of guiding you on a route and tracking your experience. And so they do at least an 'ok' job of it at their free tier. For an occasional rider, that is probably a sensible answer. But for a more regular or all-weather rider, I'd suggest that a dedicated GPS computer (head unit) is a better choice. Why? Let's compare: App on Phone GPS Bike Computer Apps are a very low-cost entry into navigation and tracking that work and are simple to use (we'll ignore the cost of the phone for the moment). Many are even quite usable at their free tier. Dedicated GPS computers are an extra expense in an already gear-heavy, s...

Recently, people have begun to think about the tool they bring along (you do, right?) on a ride to re-inflate their tires. For years, it was either a hand-pump or CO2. Roadies traditionally did the pump and MTB riders CO2 but roadies started using CO2 when frame pumps stopped fitting in modern frame designs. But with the introduction of electric mini-pumps and some newer, manual pump options, many people are reconsidering their choices. This post is a guide to how I recommend approaching the options. Top rule: If you aren't prepared and able to call for a ride home, always carry SOME sort of inflation tool Quick guide: How to choose a pump type: Where/how do you ride? If you usually have at least the option for a 'call of shame' to get home, all options are on the table. If you frequently ride in the boonies, though, a manual pump is mandatory. It is the only option that will get you home with repeated flats nearly every time. CO2 only works for how many cartridges ...

Once upon a time, chainrings were only a little complicated. You typically had 4 or 5 holes of some common measurement apart. Teeth were approximately the same and if they fit, they were fine. But with newer cranksets and chainrings, there are more options, and I see people get confused. I am sure  there are some more systems out there than I'm listing, but here are a few: Conventional Bolted Rings These have been used for decades. The chainrings use some number of bolts to mount to the spider of the crankarm. The critical dimensions are the number of holes and the diameter of a circle that passes through them all. If your old one is not labeled (or the crank isn't) you need to measure and that can be complicated.  Measure BCD on 4 Bolt (Source: Wolftooth) 4-bolt patterns are easy, whether symmetrical or not. Just measure across an opposing pair. In theory, you're measuring the centers of the holes, but edges on the same side is usually easier. That distance IS your BCD. 5-...

Mechanical experience I've been messing around mechanically with bikes for decades.  I learned the basics in childhood doing all the basic tuning and repair activities. But it is only in recent years that I've started to take on the full spectrum of work. Recently, I've started building bikes from the frame up ( Litespeed Road ,  Litespeed Gravel , Waterford ) and fully overhauling  old bikes with various generations of technology. Doing this brought in new skills like replacing headsets, working press-fit bottom brackets and hub bearings, hydraulics, and more such that there isn't much I don't feel comfortable doing. But wheelbuilding is scary But there was one major component build that remained scary voodoo to me: Wheelbuilding. I'd been able to true a wheel without screwing it up since I was a kid. But the idea of starting with a hub, a rim, a stack of spokes and a pile of nipples made me very uncomfortable and I avoided it. I avoided it even when the rear ...

  I've long had a couple of local ride fantasies. Ride 'over the hill' to Santa Cruz Ride the Cabrillo Highway through Big Sur. The first has long looked pretty viable, except I really didn't want to do the distance to the coast over the mountain and have to turn around and do it again coming home. That makes for a very long day. The second is, of course, a fairly long distance from home. A bonus for doing it now is that a landslide has Hwy 1 closed not far past Big Sur which should make for a more peaceful ride along the coast south of Carmel. What if we combine the two and make a multi-day adventure of it? That could be the ticket. I figured that two, 100km days would get me there. Conveniently, Sunset State Beach next to Pajaro Dunes (where I spent many weekends as a kid, not to mention Scout overnights at Sunset Beach itself) has a 'hike+bike" camping facility. This is a no-reservations, show up and pay for your $5 camping spot that is available at some sta...