Lift your wheel off the ground and give it a spin. If the wheel wobbles back and forth or up and down, it’s time to true it. Wheels come out of true through regular use. The rim is held at the correct angle to the hub by the pull of the spokes in equal directions. Hopping curbs, hitting rocks and the general punishment a bicycle endures is enough to knock a wheel out of true.

Keeping your chain clean is essential, especially if you ride in the rain or other adverse weather conditions. Regular chain maintenance prevents rust and chain stiffness.

There are two camps in the debate over chain lubrication: proponents of lubrication and its opponents. The opponents’ argument is based on the idea that chain lubricants attract grime. When this grime becomes stuck to the chain, the opponents of lubrication believe it causes increased chain wear.

The camp promoting chain lubrication believes lubricants allow for longer chain life and reduced friction. There is little evidence to settle this debate. For more information about lubricating your chain, read on.

A threaded headset gets its name from the threaded steerer tube at the top of a fork. The steerer tube is attached to the inside head tube on a frame with an adjustable race. A threaded headset can be identified easily by the quill-type stem that fits inside the steerer tube. This article will discuss repairs and adjustments of a threaded headset.

If you hear a clicking noise, or notice a skip in the chain every few rotations of the pedals, you probably have a stiff chain link. This problem is most often located at the point where the chain was closed.

- Bike stands are a great investment for any level of bicycle mechanic
- You may need a chain breaker if the link cannot be loosened by hand

A freehub is attached to the rear hub of your bicycle. It is a spinning mechanism designed to hold the cassette. Coasting when the pedals are at rest and pedaling are possible thanks to the freehub.

Start by removing the cassette. To remove the cassette:

Before the advent of plastic-lined cables, it was necessary to regularly use heavy oil or grease to lubricate the cables inside brake and derailleur cable housings. Thanks to plastic-lined cables, this procedure is largely obsolete. There are however a few points on the modern bicycle that can use an occasional oiling. The small section of cable near the rear derailleur and the sharp bends in cantilever brakes are two points on the bicycle that merit some attention to lubrication.