Category: Wheels
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Slightly Off-Center Front Wheel: Ignore It or Fix It?
I had a friend once who swore his bike was cursed. Said it pulled left like it had opinions. He kept riding it anyway. “It’s just character,” he’d say, like a father defending a delinquent son. Turns out, his front wheel wasn’t centered. And neither is mine. Maybe yours isn’t either. Maybe you just haven’t…
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The Pros Of Hand Built Wheels: A Ride Like No Other
So, you’ve been rolling with your stock wheels, your trusty HiFi or Hunt, and they’ve been fine, right? They spin, they stay true, and hey, you’ve never had a flat from riding through a field of potholes at 60 mph. But you keep hearing these stories about hand-built wheels. They’re supposed to be the holy…
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Training On Carbon Wheels – Smart or Low IQ?
We’ve all heard it—the half-baked advice to not train on your race wheels. Apparently, it’ll ruin them. It’s one of those rules people love to repeat, like “don’t ride in the rain” or “only wear black socks.” But, like a dog chasing its tail, no one ever stops to ask: Why? I’ve been riding bikes…
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Removing the Decals from Rims?
Ever feel like the sleek design of your bike wheels gets tainted by the obnoxious decals plastered across them? Maybe you look at your DT Swiss ER 1600 wheels and wonder if you can strip off those logos without ruining the whole damn thing. Those decals scream “corporate branding” while your soul screams “minimalism.” I…
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10 Things That Rookies Must Know About Cracked Rims
I’ll make this quick because you’re probably already late for something. Maybe your boss is waiting. Maybe your wife. Maybe the universe is just about done being patient with you. And here you are, wondering if that little crack on your rim is really a problem. Well, let me tell you something, rookie: it is.…
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Even A Single Broken Spoke Is Detrimental (Get It Fixed ASAP)
You ever hear a snap while riding and think, Eh, it’s probably fine? Yeah, that’s what I thought too—right before my wheel turned into a wobbly disaster. One missing spoke might seem like nothing, but it’s the beginning of the end. Ignore it, and soon your wheel’s weaker, your ride’s rougher, and your bank account’s…
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The Cases When Studded Bicycle Tires Rock
Riding a bike in the winter is a stupid idea. That’s what they told me. You’ll die. You’ll fall. You’ll freeze solid like an idiot-shaped popsicle. They all nodded, smugly sipping their hot coffees from inside their warm, dry cars. And yet—AND YET—here I am. Gliding over ice like a deranged figure skater, slicing through…
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Aero Wheels on an Endurance Bike? (It’s Fine, But…)
You ever wake up in the morning, look at your bike, and think, I could make you faster. Sleeker. Sexier.? You stare at those stock wheels like they personally insulted your mother. You dream of deep carbon rims slicing through the wind, making you feel like a pro, even if your biggest race is the…
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Truing Stand Investment: Essential or Overkill for Your Mileage?
You’ve been riding hard. Your legs ache, your chain hums, and your wheels spin true—until they don’t. One day, there’s a wobble, a shimmy, a betrayal from the machine you trusted. You could take it to a shop, but that means parting with your bike and your cash. Or you could get a truing stand.…
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Carbon Wheel Squeal vs. Frame Creak: How to Tell the Difference
So your bike’s got a creak. It’s a damn near haunting sound. You pedal harder, hoping the noise will go away. But no. It’s there. Is it the frame? The wheels? You just bought this used carbon beauty and now you’re stuck in an endless riddle. It could be a love affair with your brakes…