Entries Tagged as 'Just Ask Jack'
Brian from Calgary sent in the following question:
“My current commuter bike has bolt-on wheels, and I’ve never had a wheel stolen, but I’ll need to replace it soon and new bikes all seem to have quick-release hubs, so I’m curious what your take is on this - is it worth getting quick-release locks, or just [...]
Popularity: 19% [?]
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Tags: Advanced Commuter Tips · Gear · Just Ask Jack
Megan sent in the following question:
“My husband has started riding his bike to work. I am wondering if there is a set of tools that he should have at the ready for any necessary roadside repairs. Any suggestions?”
Great question! While there are plenty of seasoned bike commuters who carry extensive toolkits, it [...]
Popularity: 21% [?]
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Tags: Advanced Commuter Tips · Articles · How To · Just Ask Jack
Bernard sent in the following question:
“I have a steel touring bike from 1984. I love the bike because of the all-day comfort these old frames offer, but the 6-speed freewheel/Suntour XC “elliptical” chainrings and prototype index/friction downtube shifters combination don’t work that well, as it tends to want to slip out of gear. [...]
Popularity: 33% [?]
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Tags: Advanced Commuter Tips · How To · Just Ask Jack
A reader sent in the following question:
If you ride at night, what would you consider to be most important:
1. To be lit on the front
2. To be lit on the back
3. To be lit on the sides?
My gut feeling tells me that if I only had one light to choose from (let’s say a freak [...]
Popularity: 41% [?]
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Tags: Advanced Commuter Tips · Just Ask Jack · Lights · Reviews
January 16th, 2008 · 8 Comments
An anonymous reader sent in the following question:
“How often should I replace my cables?”
Well, that’s an excellent question! There are no hard and fast rules about replacing your cables, but I like to do it once a year. If you ride in really harsh conditions (excessive rain, snow/road salt, mud), you may consider [...]
Popularity: 59% [?]
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Tags: Advanced Commuter Tips · Gear · How To · Just Ask Jack
January 14th, 2008 · 5 Comments
John, also known as Moveitfred By Bike sent in the following question:
“Do you have any recommendations for fenders? I’m looking for something that’s easy on and off for a steel frame cyclocross bike with cantilever brakes. “
My initial response to him was that unfortunately, you can’t have it both ways: you can either have [...]
Popularity: 46% [?]
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Tags: Advanced Commuter Tips · Gear · How To · Just Ask Jack
December 10th, 2007 · 6 Comments
Ben C. sent in the following question:
“I have a 2003 Giant Boulder SE I converted to a commuter bike by slapping on some 26 x 1.6 slick continentals. I have also made a rear bike rack for my luggage.
Anyhow, my problem is that I would like to get more speed out of it. When [...]
Popularity: 14% [?]
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Tags: Advanced Commuter Tips · Commuter Bikes · Gear · Just Ask Jack
November 10th, 2007 · 9 Comments
Quinn sent in the following question:
“Commuters know about the ‘right hook’ — what about the opposite? By that I mean those drivers who creep behind you for a city block, when if they drove at speed they would clear the intersection before you got there. How do other commuters deal with them?”
This is another [...]
Popularity: 10% [?]
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Tags: Advanced Commuter Tips · Commute · Just Ask Jack
November 2nd, 2007 · 2 Comments
Quinn sent in the following question:
“What is a good fog headlight? I have a 5-LED Cat Eye on my bars, and the fog hit tonight and I had about a 20ft visibility. Not Fun!”
That’s a good question, Quinn! As I researched this, Quinn and I suspected that a low-mounted, tight-beamed light would be [...]
Popularity: 11% [?]
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Tags: Advanced Commuter Tips · How To · Just Ask Jack
One of our readers posted the following questions the other day:
“If you commute to work but bring all your work clothes on the Monday that you drive to work are you still considered a commuter? Lets say that you live oh…36 miles from you job and it takes about two hours to get there [...]
Popularity: 6% [?]
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Tags: Articles · Just Ask Jack