Wheels & Tires

Vent Spews: What are those little hairs on bike tires?

If you are buying or have a new bike, you have probably noticed the hair-like structure made of rubber on top of its tires. So what are these little hairs calls? Those hairs are called vent spews or spew holes, and they are a by-product of an offshoot of tire manufacturing. Riders have divided opinions on their importance. Some say that you must take them off; others think that your tire will be deficient if you do, so what purpose do they serve exactly? How are bike tires manufactured …

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Presta Valves: Let’s Talk about Why Mountain Bikes Use Them

I'm sure you've seen a mountain bike before and noticed the weird looking valve on the tires. The valve is called a Presta Valve, and it has its own advantages over Schrader valves that make it used commonly for mountain bikes. Lets go over some of those reasons! So why are Presta Valves used on mountain bikes? The main reason presta valves are used on mountain bikes comes down to the fact they are compatible with tubeless tires. Being able to get your tires down to a low psi, while …

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How to check bike tire pressure without a gauge?

Maintaining the optimum tire pressure will help improve your comfort and stability while out on the bike. Whether you are commuting, competing in a time trial, or mountain biking, if you fail to have your tires at the correct PSI, you could be wasting energy or at risk of getting a pinch flat unnecessarily. Although it is easy to maintain the correct PSI when you are in the comfort of your own home and using your floor pump, what can you do when you do not have access to a tire …

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What Are Studded Snow Tires on Bikes?

Studded tires are specially designed tires have metal spikes that complement the tire’s tread to ensure that they can grip ice and snow. Although they can be ridden on regular roads that do not have any ice or snow, the road noise may be a bit off-putting. Therefore studded snow tires are a winter investment to swap out and replace your current tires when the weather turns. Studded snow tires are beneficial for cyclists who continually contend with snow and ice on the road. They help you …

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What are mag wheels on a bike? Yes, those really cool wheels

The Mag in mag wheels stands for magnesium. Magnesium wheels used to be popular as they are lightweight and look awesome on the right type of bike. The design has since caught on, but you generally find that the modern “mag” wheels are made of aluminum, alloy, or carbon-fiber (as these materials are more robust and hard-wearing than magnesium). So what are mag wheels? Other than the material, mag wheels can be spotted from a mile away. They do not have the classic 20+ metal spokes …

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Can Bicycle Wheels be straightened? Truing a Wheel after a pothole

Bicycle wheels come under a lot of strain. They are designed to maintain tension and carry a heavy load, but sometimes they can buckle and become bent. Even a slight buckling or bend in your wheel will result in reduced speed and stability. You should try to make sure your wheels are true at all times. Straightening, aka truing, a bicycle wheel can easily be done with easy tools. As long as the wheel is not damaged too much! All you need is some time and a bit of knowledge. How to …

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4 Reasons Bikes Have Spokes: Plus All 4 Types

If you are anything like me, you have looked at a wheel on a bike, and thought “Why do bikes have spokes?”. Wouldn’t it be so much easier to make the wheel solid, and then not have to worry about bending those thin wires? I wanted to understand this, and did some research, it turns out there are some great reasons why bike wheels are built with spokes. Bikes have spokes because their wheels need to be lightweight, have a considerable amount of strength, and need to distribute your weight …

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