Guides

Manufacturing of bike components, the market falling under the automotive industry, benefits heavily from 3D printing technology. Now you might question, “What is in it for…

We live in stressful times. Everyone is aware of stress; we all feel it in some moments of our lives. The last year was a stressful…

The young inexperienced cyclers are at a higher risk of being involved in an accident while on the road or when joy cycling around their neighborhood….

For some people riding a motorcycle is more than a passion, it is an unexplainable emotion. This is the reason why they ditch air transport and…

Now that Giant has ushered the Anthem X 29er into their lineup, the last of the major players has finally supped from the big-wheeled chalice. Just…

Finally, I get my grubby mitts on a bike with them thar plus-sized tires. My portulent partner for the next few weeks is Marin’s Pine Mountain…

We’ve arrived at version 3.0 of the venerable Nomad, a bike that’s pushed the boundaries of pedal-friendly long-travel bikes from its inception. It comes as no…

The Co-Motion Divide’s rugged-looking frame is hand-built in Oregon using oversized Reynolds 725 Chromoly tubing. Co-Motion’s tandem expertise is evident in the massive chainstays and the…

One bike to do it all—that’s the idea behind Pivot’s Mach 5.7. While the definition of “all” depends to a large extent on the rider, with…

This is our third annual roundup of trail bikes that aren’t priced to the stratosphere. We could call them affordable, budget, real-world, blue-collar, or college-fund-friendly, but…

Pivot’s Mach 429 Trail is a best-seller for Pivot, so when it came up as the next in line for a revamp, careful consideration had to…

The Trail version of Shimano’s excellent XTR stoppers gets all the attention, but there is a Race version that deserves some attention as well. The power…

Folklore describes the Krampus as a half-goat, half-demon Christmas wrecker that punishes children who are bad and will not be getting a visit from Saint Nick….

Intense’s all-new Primer will be quite familiar to Spider 29 fans, as it’s essentially a nicely updated version of the already well-sorted Intense Spider of last…

The Kona Process 111 is the shortest of travel and biggest of the wheel in Kona’s lineup of enduro bikes. Focusing on a slight 111mm of…

Ed note: This is part of our initial bike test of three new hardtails introduced at QBP Saddle Drive 2016, each shod with 27plus tires: the aluminum…

So, you’re kinda still married to riding that old Trek carbon racer from 1998, the one with the garish red, white, and blue graphics and a…

The Cadent, along with its female counterpart the Alysa, make up the “Performance Hybrid” portion of Raleigh’s on-road lineup. These bikes fit squarely between Raleigh’s road…

The world of e-bikes can be confusing for riders looking for basic, simple transportation. Trek’s T80+ is about as uncomplicated as things get, with a basic…

Kuat Transfer 2 hitch rack has always impressed me with its intelligent design and solid construction. The company recently added the Transfer to its hitch rack…

The kg271 is Madsen Cycles’ latest version of its fully equipped longtail cargo bike. The rear bucket—which straddles the rear 20-inch wheel—has been its signature look…

In another article, we began a series of articles discussing the merits of different frame material and featuring a vintage bike produced with that material. The…

Salsa Cycles is not one to shy away from big tires, so it is only natural to see another one of its bikes with a bit…

The Trek 920 blurs the line between “gravel” bikes and loaded touring bikes. The whole concept of bicycle touring has been turned on its ear in…

It seems completely out of the left field. It’s a mountain bike with drop bars, right? Not even close. So it’s an adventure mobile gravel grinder?…

This bike hangs on the wall above the counter at First Flight Bicycles as part of the MOMBAT collection. As soon as someone points up, you…

Soon after I turned 40, the main character from Murder, She Wrote became part of my grand life-plan of bicycling. That’s because it was then that…

Before I talk about the Travelers Check, I need to talk about the Cross-Check. And before I talk about the Cross-Check, I’ll talk about the KLR650….

Rather than a beefed-up touring bike like the Co-Motion Divide we reviewed last week, the Fargo 2 is actually a drop-bar mountain bike, with a lighter…

Xtracycle is largely responsible for the blossoming of the longtail cargo bike market in the United States. In the late 1990s, Xtracycle was thinking big thoughts…

Different riders have different riding styles. Each person gravitates toward certain types of bikes that meld with their style. When it came time to outfit myself…

Dutch-style bikes have become popular as accouterments in certain U.S. cities, allowing urban dwellers to glide along the streets with European sophistication, suits and skirts unruffled….

Each year at partner with manufacturers to borrow bikes for the week to allow us to commute from our hotel to the show without relying on…

The name Joe Breeze is most often associated with mountain biking, where he’s considered one of the founding fathers of the sport. Most folks don’t realize…

Shinola (pronounced shy-nola) Detroit is a company doing something increasingly rare in this country: manufacturing consumer goods using the hands of skilled craftspeople. Shinola started as…

When asked to describe the idea behind the Jamis Bossanova, Greg Webber, the vice president of product development at Jamis, had this to say: “Our Pacific Northwest…

This is part of our initial bike test of three new hardtails introduced at QBP Saddle Drive, each shod with 27plus tires: the aluminum Salsa Timberjack,…

Make no mistake about it, I’ve logged more miles and more hours on this bike in my review period than any other bike I’ve ridden for…

The Aurora series has been part of the Jamis stable of bikes since the late 1990s and has included the Elite build since 2008. The Aurora Elite comes…

Seven years ago, I rode my bike across the country with nothing but a $13 red bike light strapped to my Seatpost. It wasn’t very bright…

Drawing on Scott Sports’ European sporting and racing heritage, the Evo 20 is designed to be an urban bike that is well-suited to its environment and…

Singlespeeders are obsessed with simplicity. No derailleurs to mess things up, no shifters to backfire and leave you stranded. But what happens when one of very…

This is quite possibly the lightest bike (Raleigh Capri) we’ve ever tested here at Bicycle Times at just under 17lbs.—but don’t call it a race bike….

When I heard I would be getting a Surly Moonlander for the winter, I couldn’t wait for the “snow bike” (and the snow) to arrive. Sadly,…

Price: $3,499 (as tested) Weight: 42 pounds Sizes: S, M, L (tested) More info: Faraday Bikes One dirty little secret of the design world is that keeping…

The Roper and its singlespeed sibling, the Furley, are new models in Raleigh Roper line-up. You may have already inferred that the names are taken from the pair…

Tester: John Arnoldson Age: 46 Height: 5’10” Weight: 157 lbs. Inseam: 32” Price: $6,199 (as tested), $2,999 (frame and shock only) Sizes: S, M, (tested) L,…

One thing is for sure, this isn’t your father’s (or grandfather’s) Brooks saddle. The Cambium is a whole new line for the storied British marque that…

This article has a family theme, and we reached out to one of the most experienced travelers we know about how he has fared introducing his young…

Dreaming about a new bike? You aren’t alone. Buying a bicycle is extremely exciting, but can also be a little nerve-racking. With so many bicycles of…

In a previous article, we reviewed the Raleigh Clubman (with rim brakes). I said at the time, “The Clubman departs from the go-fast focus with some…

Bike sidecars have made several appearances on bike hacks before.  We have featured a version from Buenos Aires, one reader produced several versions to serve as pedicabs,…

I recently experimented with capturing my bike commute with a camera, and quickly concluded that filming my rides would only serve as a possible sleep aid….

NYC got hit with its first major snowstorm of winter yesterday.  Snow is pretty in NYC for a few hours and then unfortunately is starts to…

Like the proverbial flowers that bloom in the spring or bleary-eyed animals emerging from a long winter of hibernation, the recent uptick in temperatures in NYC…

If you’re anything like me, it’s a rare day of bike commuting that doesn’t add a small dot of road grime or bike grease on your…

The Electra Bicycle Company believes a bike should be more than just a tool for transportation; it should be a fun and functional extension of your…

Like many kids in the late 1950s, my younger brother and I learned to ride bicycles on hand-me-down 16- and 20-inch-wheeled bikes from older cousins. By…

Reviews, Touring, and Bikepacking Own Style of Adventure Bruce Gordon is probably the most famous frame builder you’ve never heard of. Opinionated, stubborn, and prolific, he’s been…

At first glance, the Torker Graduate is a nondescript, simple, even workaday bike. But its “ordinariness” is in fact one of its strengths. This is a…

Jamis, continuing on even after steel road bikes seem to have fallen out of favor. In fact, this 2013 model marks the 25th anniversary of the…

What do we have here? Are they clunkers? Not really, they have 29-inch wheels and disc brakes. Mountain bikes? No way. Too much style. Cruisers? I…

Tester: John Anderson Age: 43 Height: 5’11” Weight: 165 lbs. Inseam: 32” At first glance, the Pivot Switchblade doesn’t seem to be much different than bikes…

If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll have noticed a resurgence of simple, reliable bikes designed for short-haul transportation. Linus Bikes of Venice, California, offers just such a lineup…

Paul and Maurice discuss the BooLander over coffee, listen while you look. Knowing Paul Freedman, his past life as the rapper Fossil Fool, his growing company,…

Keiu (Say Kay-u) means “welcome rain” in Japanese. I welcomed rain while wearing the Kieu jacket from Swrve. First to see if it was actually waterproof,…

VP Components R62 Price: $90 Tester: Eric McKeegan I’ve ridden a lot of these clipless/platform pedals. They are my go-to double-sided clipless pedals for bikes that…

By Jeffrey Stern The Strider 14x Sport for kids ages 3-7 is the ultimate two bikes in one that has tons of features making it a…

One part bicycle, one part solar, and one part car. It’s a Velomobile! The first velomobiles or velocars showed up around the 1930s and ’40s. During…

As the fat bike market matures it is inevitably diversifying into specific product categories. Just as mountain bikes now have categories for downhill, cross country, or…

As parents of two developmentally disabled children, my wife Deana and I struggle to wrangle everyone together for family activities. We’ve always tried to find ways…

Some have a warm spot in their heart for Motobécane, the French manufacturer of motorcycles, mopeds, and lightweight road bikes made from 1923 to 1981. Motobecane…

The Specialized AWOL Comp ($1,950) is an adventure bike and a darn good one at that. What’s most surprising about the AWOL is the name on…

Living in the northeast as a cyclist means a solid part of your year is spent riding in cold and wet conditions. Over the years the…

Maybe driving a car is something you’d like to do less often. A cargo bike can make this a reality and can even replace the gas…

With the explosion of bikepacking, the market has become inundated with small bag makers, each with their own take on a relatively simple concept: holding stuff….

Tandems have been bringing together the mighty cycling power of two since the late 1800s, and Bike Friday has been building tandems since the co-founders’ very…

Tern’s all-new Eclipse X22 folding bicycle is scheduled for release in January 2016, with a suggested retail price of $2,500. I’ve had the pleasure of riding…

Marin describes the Lombard as having been “Birthed from cyclocross and touring parents…” and “Part adventure bike, and a part urban warrior.” Those descriptions certainly had…

Tonight at Saddle Drive,QBP‘s annual gathering of shop folk and media to showcase new products, All-City launched the latest in their lineup, the Cosmic Stallion. In…

Twin Six is a clothing company, so I was a bit surprised to see a collection of bikes in its Interbike trade-show booth a few years…

Kona is pretty well known as a mountain bike brand, but it also has plenty of road-going products with finger-in-your-eye mountain bike attitude. While many companies…

Editor’s note: Here at Bike Hacks we are as mindful of price as you are. So we gathered together a group of six very diverse bikes…

Testers: Eric Mckeegan and Jon Pratt shared this back-to-back review ON Bianchi in Bicycle Times Issue #38 Bianchi has been at the bike game for a…

I’ve been a Soma Fabrications owner for a few years—I have a Double Cross DC that has thousands of commuting miles on it—so I was eager to ride…

Thinking more about fast group rides, maybe a bit of racing, or even some light touring? Let’s take a look at the Specialized Secteur, which is…

Price: $1,100 Weight: 26.6 pounds Sizes: S, M, L (tested), XL More info: Novara Mazama  For those who aren’t familiar with Novara, it’s the in-house bike line…

Thanks to the searing neon paint and single-sided fork, it’s hard not to get noticed on Cannondale’s trippy urban bike. Everywhere I took it, people asked,…

What’s old is new again it seems (aren’t HiFi stereos and albums grand?), but what never gets old for serious cyclists is the leather saddle. Prior…

Surly has long been building simple, utilitarian, steel bikes designed to do their jobs without complaint, like the Moonlander, the Cross-Check, and the Long Haul Trucker….

The market is awash with a huge assortment of very well-made bike-packing bags to fit in every nook and cranny of your bike. One of the…

One part bicycle, one part solar, and one part car. It’s a Velomobile! The first velomobiles or velocars showed up around the 1930s and ’40s. During…

Tester: John Arnoldson Age: 59 Height: 5’10” Weight: 150 lbs. Inseam: 32” The 27.5 Hawk Hill is an entry-level bike that passes muster. The frame is…

When Shimano announced the XM9 and XM7 earlier this year, I couldn’t have been more excited. These shoes looked to be perfect for cool fall, winter,…

I love to ride bicycles. I also love my 8-year-old daughter Darby. She, however, doesn’t yet share my love of all things bike. How do I…

The Pizza Rack and Bag Specialized Pizza Rack and Bag – $90 The Pizza Rack and Bag derive its name not from the payload size of…

When the 5.75 was first introduced a decade ago, it broke the mold for trail bikes. With 5.75 inches of travel, it doubled what other companies…

Adventure outlet REI is ushering in spring 2017 with their new bike line, Co-op Cycles. This new line of bicycles increases their focus on adventure products…

There’s been much hubbub in recent months about Yeti’s newest flag- ship trail bike, the SB-66. At first glance, it seemed strange that Yeti might keep…

Marin reintroduced this new Pine Mountain to celebrate its 30th anniversary and it harkens back to the early days of mountain biking when exploration and adventure…

Stereotypes abound in the bicycle industry, especially when it comes to the properties of frame materials. You know the ones: Steel is heavy, aluminum is stiff…

So what’s new with Salsa coming into the 2021 year? Before we dive into some of the changes, I found this cool video on the Salsa…

Editor’s note: This story first appeared in Bicycle Times Issue #10, published in April 2011. Words and photos by Jeff Archer. OK, raise your hand if…

Tester: John Anroldson Age: 36 Height: 6’ 1” Weight: Gaining Inseam: 33” It’s steel. It has wheels. It rides like a bike. Review: Kona Unit –…

I’ve been a Soma Fabrications owner for a few years—I have a Double Cross DC that has thousands of commuting miles on it—so I was eager to ride…

We field-tested three bags for traveling by your bike: Evoc Bike Bag, Scicon AeroComfort MTB, and the Shimano Pro Bike Mega. If you’re ready to ditch…

For decades Trek has offered its model 520 steel touring model, specced with bar-end shifters, a rear rack, braze-on for fenders and low-rider front rack, and…

It’s 10:30 p.m. on Day 5. It’s just getting dark and our group is (kind of) lost on Reinesfjellet, the biggest sea of granite I have…

I’m a sucker for bags. Every time a new design comes out, I am bright-eyed at the idea of some new way to get my life…

We all enjoy a good escape on peaceful back roads where dilapidated farmhouses often outnumber the passing cars. Maybe there is no set route, and each…

We loaded the van a few weeks ago, and headed down to Brevard, NC to meet up with a couple of blokes from Santa Cruz and…

First off, this is NOT Ui2. There is no such thing and never will be. A lot of folks think the “D” is for Dura-Ace, the…

Tester: Emily Arnoldson Price: $1,100 Weight: 26.9 pounds Sizes: S (tested), M, L, XL This year is Marin Bikes’ 30th anniversary, and it marks the introduction…

Tester: John Arnoldson Age: 41 Height: 5’11”, Weight: 160 lbs., Inseam: 32” Price: $2,899 frame; complete bikes from $4,599; $6,499 (tested) Sizes: M, L (tested), XL…

The 5010 might be the most famous bike in the Santa Cruz line. Not the V10, which has won countless downhill races at the highest level….

Tester: John Arnoldson Price: $620 (frameset) Weight: 7.1 pounds (frameset) Sizes: 50, 52 (tested), 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 cm I’ve always been a sucker for…

The Tallboy from Santa Cruz Bicycles has always been a class favorite 29er. It was just getting a little long in the tooth. So with knowledge…

As of this writing, very few manufacturers offer 27.5, 27plus and 29 inch wheels within one model lineup, but Specialized has embraced wheel size options big…

Lately, I’ve been eyeballing some repair stands and contemplating building my own. I don’t have a real garage, just a carport with a small attached shop…

When it comes to road bikes, I like mine comfortable, practical and versatile. Enter the $1,095 Greenway Elite. My contact at Breezer tells me: “Whether you’re…

Editor’s note: We are as mindful of price as you are. So we gathered together a group of six very diverse bikes to showcase what you…

Misceo is a Latin verb that means “to mix or blend.” The idea behind the Raleigh Misceo Trail 2.0—a flat-bar, 700c bike decked out with disc…

All-new for 2021, the Tern Bicycles X22 is designed to pack a big ride into a foldable package. Thanks to its 26-inch wheels the X22 feels…

It’s a warm morning. The sun’s out and spring has sprung. I’m stepping out of my back door with Cannondale’s Quick CX 3 ready to start…

Tester:  John Arnoldson Age:42 x Height: 6’2″ x Weight: 200 lbs. x Inseam: 32” “Hey man, sweet bike!” As a bike whore, er, “product reviewer,” I…

Soma Fabrications of San Francisco, California is on a mission to produce practical, durable, comfortable, and affordable products for the everyday cyclist. The Buena Vista is…

Trek refers to the Mountain Train 206 as a “pedal trailer,” and that maybe one of the more apt descriptions for this type of kid-hauling device…

The Specialized Crosstrail formula is simple: aluminum frame with generous tire clearance plus rack and fender mounts, 60mm-travel SR Suntour NEX suspension fork, a 3×9 drivetrain,…

While many brands have introduced “endurance” road bikes over the last few years, few have taken the idea to quite the extreme as Trek. Trek Domane…

Truing wheels aren’t the same as building wheels. Similar equipment is used, but when building is more labor-intensive and requires some specialized stuff. Truing up an…

It seemed fitting to have a budget-oriented fat bike show up at the doorstep the day after getting back from riding a handful of various all-carbon,…

Randonneuring is long-distance, unsupported, non-competitive cycling within prescribed time limits. The events—called brevets—are 200km (13.5-hour time cut-off ), 300km (20 hours), 400km (27 hours), 600km (40…

Knowing how to properly inflate a bike tire is an essential skill for a cyclist. Whether you suffer an unexpected flat mid-ride, or simply want to…

If you own a bicycle, knowing how to pick a bike lock can bail you out of those tricky situations when you lose your bike lock…

The brakes are one of the most important components on a bike. Not only are they the first and last line of defense as far as…

Regularly maintaining your bike’s components can go a long way in ensuring the longevity of your bicycle and positively affecting its performance and the overall ride…

Keeping your mountain bike clean is a very important part of overall maintenance – and it’s very much worth the time and effort that you’ll have…

Your choice of bike matters. And we don’t just mean what specific bike you’ll end up choosing – the type of bicycle that you buy has…

If you have ridden any bicycle before, you are probably not too far off from learning how to ride a road bike. You’re probably thinking: “I…

Picking the right ride is pretty important, whether we’re talking about a car, a bike or a pair of skates. Of course, since we’re a biking…

Much like the tires on a car, mountain bike tires can go flat, and need to be changed every now and then. All it takes is…

Tires are the bike component that wears out the most – and the fastest. When your tires need replacing – and trust us, at some point…

Learning To Ride A Bike Learning to ride a bike has become a modern rite of passage. Rightly so, as it is an excellent way to…

When it comes to choosing a bicycle that suits your riding style, it can become a bit overwhelming. With all the different types of bikes out…

Taking a good mountain bike out for a spin on a challenging trail is a lot of fun – but there’s no denying that mountain biking…

When you think of the words “Fixie Bike”, you might wonder what that is? It’s clearly a bike, but for what? When I first heard it,…

Why Do Cyclists Wear Tight Bike Shorts? If you are asking the question “Why do cyclists wear tight bike shorts?”, chances are you haven’t experienced the…

As fun and enjoyable as cycling might be, it isn’t entirely risk-free. Road conditions and traffic can be hard to predict. We’ve prepared a short refresher…

We all know how cardio workouts can be a drag, especially if you’re going at it without any help. There are always a large number of…

Buying a bicycle has never been easier – and there’s never been such a huge amount of high-quality bikes available. That’s definitely good news, but if…

So you’ve had your bicycle for quite a while now. You were just riding it and BAM! Your chain breaks out of nowhere. What’s up with…

With the ability to order whatever you want online, your options, for whatever it is that you want, skyrocket. If you want that bicycle in pink…

Setting up a bike trainer? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions. If you are lucky enough to live in an area of perpetual…

Before getting started, we really need to point out that this is one of the most important decisions you’ll take as a regular biker. Making the…

Chances are you’ve met the very person who invented the hybrid bike. You know, back in ’91 – they’ll tell you – when they had to…

Let’s face it; ‘gravel bike’ is a terrible name. I mean, how much of your regular ride is actually on gravel? If a lot, then you…

As you can imagine, it’s very important to find the right bicycle size before you go out and make your first purchase. That might sound silly,…

Typically, if there’s one item in your cycling arsenal that you should never compromise on, it’s your bicycle helmet. This non-negotiable bike accessory will ensure that…

Looking to hit the road after a while? Now that your bike is done with waiting in the garage, it’s about time that you inspected the…

Confused about locking your bike? Don’t be – it’s a simple process, and with a few helpful tips and pointers, it’ll be a walk in the…

Looking for a new bike? Chances are that you’ll end up choosing a road bike or a mountain bike either way – but knowing the difference…

Do you like spin classes but hate going to the gym? If the answer is yes, you have probably looked at some exercise bikes for your…

It’s 2020 and by now you’ve probably heard of cyclocross – one of the trendiest forms of cycling to date. If you haven’t – let us…

How to Easily Build a Bike Stand – 3 Methods Compares If you do not have a bike stand, you are making your life harder. Trying…

Mountain biking is something that a lot of people enjoy doing in their spare time. Hitting the tracks can be freeing and give you a good…

Last week I think I witnessed a first on Bike Hacks – the incorporation of a skateboard for cargo/passenger transport. The electric assist bike we featured…

DIY Time Trial Bars Strange handlebar set ups are no stranger to Bike Hacks, and reader Ben spotted this DIY job in the UK. Whilst walking…

DIY Leather Handlebar Grips We recently featured some handlebar grips of questionable comfort, and reader Nick who blogs at Bicycle Obsession sent along some DIY leather…

Many people who like to ride bikes want to incorporate their four legged friends into the act.  For smaller dogs this often means a basket or trailer of some sort. …

Refreshment can be an important part of cycling and recreation, and reader John wanted a way to keep his beverage of choice cold.  He did a…

These hardside panniers cost just under $30 to build but they are super rugged and, although weight weenies need not apply, they hold a lot of…

Reader Ross wrote to us with an enlightening hack.  In his own words he states: I came up with this hack because I entered a 24-hour…

I love it when people make bikes their own.  Sure they are okay when they roll off the factory line, but what fun is there in…

For years I have been thinking about a way to easily transport an extra passenger around.  I have thought of a couple of ideas but have…

This entry is a Bike Hacks Classic, originally posted by Apple computer honk, Brendon. There are a TON of decent tutorials for building bike lights. But…how can I…