Mountain Bike Maintenance: Repairs, Brakes, and Gear Shifting

Keeping your mountain bike in peak condition involves regular adjustments to hydraulic disc brakes, chain tension, and Shimano shifters. Learn the difference between tube and tubeless tires and how to convert your mountain bike into a stationary exercise bike.

Young Couple with Bicycle

Huffy Bicycle Weight Limits

Huffy is well-known for making budget-friendly, entry-level bicycles for American consumers. Their bikes are tested for safety and have a recommended maximum capacity. This is the maximum amount of weight the bike can safely carry while riding.

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Two men riding mountain bikes on rocky ground

How to Get Mountain Bike Disc Brakes to Stop Squeaking

Disc brakes work differently than traditional systems you find on some multi-speed bicycles. They have a rotor, or metal disc, that turns with the wheel. Brake pads press against the rotor, as opposed to the rim of the wheel. A disc brake system on a mountain bike would be similar to one on any style of bicycle.

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Mountain biker riding downhill in mountain area

Tube Vs. Tubeless Mountain Bike Tires

The tube vs. tubeless debate is common in mountain biking circles. While both systems are reliable and have their own sets of advantages, it may really come down to a rider's preferences and peace of mind. Many riders are satisfied with the option of running either system.

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How to Adjust the Chain Tension on a Mountain Bike

A slackened chain will decrease your ability to transfer energy to the pedals of your mountain bike. Your shoes can easily get caught in a loosened chain during hairpin turns, resulting in painful slide outs on the trail. All multigear mountain bikes are equipped with a high-tech component known as the rear derailleur.

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Low angle of a woman riding her bicycle on a dirt road near a rocky coastal cliff.

How to Adjust the Hydraulic Disc Brakes on a Mountain Bike

There are many advantages to hydraulic disc brakes on a bicycle. Unlike rim brakes, discs have tremendous stopping power in mud, rain and snow, and they can also be used with any tire width. They are available in mechanical and hydraulic. Hydraulics tend to cost more but have more stopping power.

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Teenage boy and a woman mountain biking through a forest

How Do Bar Ends Work on a Bicycle?

Bar ends are an accessory to handlebars on mountain bikes. They're the stubby additions to both ends that make your handlebars appear like the horns of a bull. They have purpose for the majority of mountain bikers, while others dislike them.

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Father and teenager oiling bicycle chain

How to Fix Slipping Gears on a Mountain Bike

One of the most important things to maintain on a mountain bike, or any bike, is the drivetrain. This includes the shifters, chain, front and rear derailleur, the cassette and crankset. All of these parts work together to form your bike's engine.

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Bike rider balancing on rock boulder, side view

Which Mountain Bike is Best: Steel or Alloy?

While recreational bikers often stick to the roads, mountain bikers generally prefer to navigate scenic trails and backwoods courses. The mountain bike has been equipped with a shock absorbent suspension for off-road riding. Consider your budget as well as your level of skill before selecting a mountain bike.

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Young man performing stunt on bicycle

The Best BMX Bike for Boys

From old school style to new school trends, there is no doubt that the BMX obsession holds strong. Even when it comes to bikes for young boys, these days there are very specific requirements for Race BMX, Freestyle BMX and Dirt BMX.

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mountain bike

Mountain Bike Disc Brake Conversion

A majority of bicycles use a rim style brake, such as a caliper or direct-pull cantilever, but some cyclists prefer disc brakes. Unlike rim-mounted brakes, disc brakes are placed on the side of the wheel hub, though they operate similarly with two brake pads squeezing the disc to slow the bicycle.

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Man fastening bikes on car rack

How to Mount Bikes on Car Racks

Unless you have a large station wagon or SUV, it's inconvenient to stash your bikes in your vehicle when you want to go for a ride somewhere away from home.

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Shimano Alivio Vs. Acera

Shimano specializes in performance driven bicycle parts. According to Shimano, the company released one of the earliest freewheel designs in 1921. The freewheel helped to revolutionize cycling as it allows your pedals to remain stationary when your tires roll forward.

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Mountainbike / Mountainbiking by night

Huffy Mountain Bike Vs. Mongoose Mountain Bike

Huffy and Mongoose remain two prominent bike manufacturers that produce a variety of bikes for all types of terrain, including BMX, cruiser, urban and mountain bikes. While both brands share certain similarities, their mountain bikes have key differences in styling, function and prices.

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Bike gears

How to Adjust Shimano Shifters

Although Shimano manufactures multiple shifting systems (Dura-Ace, DXR, Deore DX and Ultegra), they all share a common adjustment method. Adjusting the shifting on a bike means that the tension in the cable connecting the shifting mechanism to the rear derailleur must be tightened or loosened.

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cyclist man cycling on a rural road during sunset

Small Bike Wheels Vs. Large Bike Wheels

Wheel size comparisons came into play with the introduction of the 29-inch mountain bike wheel, as opposed to the standard 26-inch wheel used almost exclusively on mountain bikes for many years.

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Woman riding bicycle

Difference Between BMX & Mountain Bikes

The primary differences between BMX bikes and mountain, or MTB, bikes are in their design. A BMX bike is designed for a sprint around a short man-made track, with a smooth surface linking large jumps, while a MTB is designed to travel long distances over rough, natural terrain.

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Cyclocross race

Cyclo Cross Bike vs. Mountain Bike

Purchasing a new bike is exciting, but can also be difficult when you are unsure of what type of bike you need. When comparing mountain bikes and cyclocross bikes, there are some similarities, yet very large differences between each.

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