CALL FOR GUEST WRITERS!!!

If you have something you'd like to contribute, please write it up in an email and send it to: bemidjiyehudamoon@gmail.com with the subject of Guest Writer Confession.  I will review what you have and if I like what you sent me I will post it here, I will refuse to post things that don't have all the facts, are not relevant, or anything else that I deem unfit to post.  I would like to have Guest Writers, because I  don't have time to write every other day, so if you have relevant bicycle info that you would like to have shared, please email it to me.

Thank You,

Keep on Biking....

DIY Bicycle Repairs; Do's and Don't's!

I have come across quite a few bikes lately that people try to repair on their own, either because they had to to get it to the repair shop, or because they think they know how to, or they had someone else work on it that thought they knew what they were doing.  I have seen everything from tubes being patched with duct tape to pedals being put on wrong.  If you don't absolutely know how to do it, DON'T DO IT!  It not only saves you time and money, but it doesn't make the job for the bike mechanic harder.  If you want to know how to do something, have someone knowledgeable show you how to do.  Don't just try and learn from online sources.  Repairing a bicycle is not always easy, it takes some practice.  I have been doing this for 4 years now and it took me up until a year ago to learn everything i know today, that's 3 years.

Do's:

-Take it to someone that knows what they are doing, if you do not.
-Learn form them on how to do it in the future.

Don't's:

-Don't repair it if you don't know how to do it.
-Don't learn from someone that doesn't really know what they are doing. (Learn from someone in a bike shop)


I have how-to videos on this site, but don't try to do it with out the supervision of a knowledgeable individual.  They are there to show you what is done, and what it all entails in the repair.  When all else fails, bring it to your local bike shop and ask if you can watch them repair your bike, and see if they will explain what they are doing.  Some bike shops will and some won't, so do not get mad when they say NO, they have the right to say no.


Keep on Biking....

Question Answered!?!

I have had quite a few of you asking me what blog service i use.  It's very simple: Blogspot!  I don't use wordpress, or any of the other ones out there.  Blogspot has been very easy to use, user friendly, no ones hacked it.  I would recommend Blogspot to anyone looking to start a blog of their own.


Keep on Biking....

Buying a new bike?

About a month ago i bought a new bike from one of the bike shop in town here.  It was the Jamis Commuter 3 with a Shimano Nexus 7 speed internal, 700c tires, and chocolate brown.  I liked how it looked, and i think that's what attracted me to it.  Don't get me wrong it rode nice to, but internal gearing is different then external geared bikes.  With external geared bikes you have more gearing range then internal does.  I had to trade the Jamis in for something different, it was killing my knees, plus i need something that goes off road as well.  I didn't think everything over before i bought my bike; What terrain am i going to be riding over, what conditions, what size tire do i want/need, and is it the overall right bike for me. 

1. What terrain are you riding over;
1. Road
2. dirt
3. sand
4. ???
2. What conditions are you going to be riding in:
1. Is it mostly dry
2. wet ( are you going to need disc brakes?)
3. snow
4. or are you riding all year 'round?
3. What size tire are you needing or wanting?
1. 24"
2. 26"
3. 27"
4. 700c
5. 29"
4. Is the bike right for me overall, or am i buying it just for one thing?

What Terrain?

If you are riding on only the road back and forth to work or school, i would recommend getting a road bike. With a road bike they have skinnier tires and a bit smoother so that it has less drag then say knobby tires.  If you are doing just sand and dirt, a mountain bike will do you just fine, but if you are going to be riding on both road and dirt, i would recommend getting a newer mountain bike with urban style tires.  The mtn bike will have wider tires for going off road, but you can also pump up the tires to be road worthy and still feel like a road bike.

What conditions are you riding on?

If your riding on mostly dry surfaces and conditions, regular cantilever brakes will work just fine for you, but if you are going to be riding in the rain, snow, or anything else, i would recommend getting a bike equip with disc brakes.  Disc brakes are in my opinion easier to work on, and also the brake pads hit on the disc rather than the rim which will have mud, dirt, water, ice, etc...  the disc will not as much, and you'll have better braking power as well.

What size tire is right for you?

The bigger the tire the more tread area hits the road.  26" vs. 29ers:  A 26" tire will have an inch or two or area on the ground, and a 29er will have more like two to three inches or tire area hitting the ground (all depends on amount of PSI pressure that you have in the tire at the time).

Is the bike right for you?

Or are you buying it just cause it looks pretty.  If that's why your buying the bike, then don't do it, unless you wanna have it as a garage ornament cause that's all it will end up being after a few times of riding.  When you buy a bike keep all the info mentioned above in mind, but also keep in mind that you need to feel comfortable on the bike.  If you don't like how it rides, gears, seat height etc...  When your buying a bike from a bike shop they will go over this with you and make sure you like the bike.  If they don't, don't buy from them.  Also Walmart, Target, Kmart, or any other big box store will not help you with saddle sizing, frame size, whether or not you are comfortable on the bike or not.  Their goal is to sell, sell, sell...    If you can't afford to buy a bike from bike shop, go to a bike shop and have them help you get sized for a bike so you know what kind of bike you can fit onto, then from there you can pick which one is comfortable to you.

When you buy a bike, a lot goes into consideration before you roll out onto the trails.  Just be careful before you buy.  Don't regret you buy like i did.

Keep on Biking....

Questions: Contact me!

I have had a lot of you commenting and asking if there is a way to contact me.  Well there is, along the top of the page in the tabs is the contact me tab.  Click that and my email is on there.  That's the best way to get a hold of me for any bike questions and/or ideas you may have.  In the subject tab put "bike confession."  I check my emails at least 5 times a day.  I will get back  to you as soon as i can.  

Keep on Biking....

Fixing the oldies but goodies

I just recently got a couple of antique bikes that i'm trying to fix up and resell.

the first one i really like:

This is a Sears and Roebuck 5 speed women's frame

27 x 1 1/4

i love this chain guard, such a vintage look, well i guess it is.

Almost everything is original to the bike.  I had to change the rear derailleur, shifter and cable.  The rear derailleur had one of the cogs destroyed, and i couldn't change the cog, the bolt was too stiff to undo.  I had to also replace the rear tire and tube, both of these bike sat in a shed for thirty or so years like this.  in my opinion they are in beautiful condition.

The other bike needs a little bit more help:

this is a 1960's Huffy 3 speed men's framed bike.

26 x 1 3/8s

the rear hub needs a bit of help, i looked into the hub, and part of the pin had broken off inside.  I need to open it up one of these days and clean it out.  It won't take too much to do that though.  it's kind of fun to open them up and see what they have been through, whether they have been abused or not.  Most of the hubs i've opened up are pretty clean, but i have had one that i was able to get running, but it was on the line between needing to be replaced and barely fixable.  I have a few more that are sort of walmart mtn bikes that need to be fixed up, when i have them running, i'll tel you about them.

Keep on Biking....

Guest writers? Yes or No? That is the Question.

hello everyone,

i had someone ask "do i allow guest writers to contribute to my blog?"  my answer: YES!

If you have any information that you would like to contribute please send it to me in an email to: bemidjiyehudamoon@gmail.com, and if i like the information that you have to contribute i will put it on with your name attached, and if i have any additional info to add to it, i will add it in the same post, but separately.
Please dont be afraid to email me, i would like to hear from you.  if you have info to contribute, please do so, so that that knowledge can be spread to the rest of the world.

Keep on Biking....