Technical FAQ

Flats and tubeless woes are in the spotlight this week.

How many spare links is too many?

Different speed chains require different installation methods.

Keeping your bike on the trainer all the time doesn't make it maintenance free.

How long will your disc brake pads last? There are a lot of factors at play.

Getting to the bottom of a complex question about the fastest tire options.

Helmet and bike safety are on readers' minds this week.

Lennard Zinn answers more groupset compatibility questions and a couple readers provide some helpful updates to previous questions.

In this week's Technical FAQ, Lennard Zinn discusses riding while on anticoagulants.

How inter-compatible are different generations of Campagnolo components?

Zinn comments on WiFli RD capacity, shiftmates front and rear, Shimano hydraulic MTB/Road caliper compatibility, wire flats, and more.

Zinn comments on adaptations — like converting a hardtail to a gravel bike or using a "city" e-bike off-road.

Some tips and tricks for choosing an e-bike and getting the most out of it.

Tips for extending the life of tubulars tires in their second year of use.

Can Shimano and SRAM's latest generation parts be interchanged?

Zinn dives into SRAM electronic groupset inter-compatibility and tries to get to the bottom of one of the most frustrating sources of flats.

Zinn weighs in on some quotidian questions — like, can constantly removing and replacing a thru-axle damage the threads?

Counterfeit carbon frames not only are shaped, painted, and decaled to look like the brand-name frames they are mimicking, but they are often also built to weigh the same as those brand-name frames.

'Don’t sweat trying different tire sizes on your gravel bike,' says Lennard Zinn.

Lennard says you can 'rung what you brung' in terms of chains and mineral oil and talks about his exploits on the legendary Morgul-Bismarck course in Boulder

Shorter legs = lower saddle, lighter cranks = less energy spent

In this week's Technical FAQ, Lennard Zinn answers questions on tire pressure and chain optimization.

Lennard asks the experts at Zero Friction Cycling, Ceramic Speed, Silca, and Molten Speed Wax about the order of operations.

An interesting back-and-forth discussion of rolling resistance data.

Examining hill gradients, Campagnolo components, and the IT band.

Examining the effects of crank length on saddle position, and changes to gearing.

Tips, tricks, and hacks to alleviate leg and knee pain.

Are tubeless tires for road — and pavé — a trend or are they here to stay?

Hacks to get the fit you need on your road bike.

A refresher in Isaac Newton's laws of physics as they pertain to materials used in bicycle fabrication.

A look at some of the concerns surrounding new and repurposed carbon fiber materials in the production of bikes and bike parts.

How to service Phil Wood Hubs, clean disc brake calipers pistons, and praise for Di2 ‘triples.’

Is the pro peloton finally catching up to Lennard Zinn's predictions about dropper posts? More disc brake maintenance tips.

The final word for optimizing your chain for low friction and longevity from industry experts.

To remove—or not—the lube that ships with chains, and more options for ‘climbing’ gears.

Manufacturer guidelines and recommendations for tubeless tire inflation upper and lower limits.

How to choose and apply chain lube, mixing double and triple chainring groups, what Campy parts work with each other.

Mix and match accessory hydro levers, stripped Camp crank bolts, and Campy front derailleurs.

Differences between chain lines of Campagnolo, Shimano, and SRAM disc brake setups.

Space for disc brake rotors, gearing combinations, and chain line considerations for Shimano and SRAM drivetrains.

Swapping stems, handlebars, and spacers for more comfort on your bike.

Considerations for adapting stack and reach when loss of flexibility becomes a consideration.

Do weights of tires factor into the amount of energy required to turn them, and discussions of what causes front-end shimmy.

Cycling wheel and tire experts offer opinions about and insights into tire testing.

VeloNews technical expert examines brand cross-compatibility of brakes and drivetrain components.

A real-world example of how rolling resistance impacts effort, and duration, over a 200-mile gravel ride.

A discussion of tire rolling resistance testing methods and protocols.

More tips for mounting tubeless tires on tubeless wheels.

How to mix and match braking components across brands, and why Shimano does not offer a 10-tooth cog for new groups.

How to size tires to rims and more discussion about tire hysteresis and aerodynamic drag.

More analysis of tire pressure and rolling resistance at the ‘Hell of the North,’ and tubeless tires removal and installation.

The finish order of the riders in the Hell of the North mirrored the finish order of their tires in our rolling resistance test.

Optimal rim/tire combination widths, rolling resistance, and tire-wear questions answered.

Simple tips and clever tricks for getting stubborn tubeless tires mounted on rims.

Technical expert Lennard Zinn offers tips and tricks for mounting tubeless tires.

Technical expert Lennard Zinn offers his views regarding carbon fiber longevity and the future of tire tech.

Lennard Zinn discusses tubeless tire standards, drivetrains, stainless steel frames, fork flex, and more.

Options for custom steel frames, more advice about tubeless repair plugs, and un-sticking sticky components.

Lennard Zinn answers questions about cockpit aerodynamics, wide tires, and sticky components.

Can tubeless tire plugs be shed? Lennard Zinn has answers.

VeloNews technical expert answers questions about the future of tubular tires, and the science behind ‘tank-slappers.’

Lennard Zinn answers questions about dating Campy components, SRAM chainring compatibility, and tolerances for new TRP brake rotors.

Tips for traveling with disc brakes, road tubeless safety, and bespoke yellow cycling kits.

More tips and tricks for limiting high-speed wobble, mixing drivetrain components, and more.

VeloNews technical expert discusses tire pressure changes while riding.

What you'll need to increase gear size — and rear derailleur tooth capacity — for Campy, Shimano, or SRAM drivetrains.

The VeloNews tech expert offers advice about how to stop ‘tankslappers,’ keep tubulars in place, and more.

VeloNews tech expert answers questions about v-brakes and hydraulic brakes.

VeloNews tech expert continues a discussion about titanium spindles for heavier riders, tubeless sealant in tubes, and more about finishline cameras.

VeloNews technical expert Lennard Zinn takes a deeper dive into finish line cameras, offers suggestions about SRAM drivetrain batteries, cardiac health and prevention, and oversized derailleur pulleys.

The VeloNews tech guru explains what a finishline camera records, and how it may differ from a still photo, and even what you think you see.

VeloNews technical expert and author of the Haywire Heart Lennard Zinn answers questions about side effects of ablation procedures, and also Supraventricular Tachycardia.

Will using tire sealant in an inner tube prevent a catastrophic flat tire? Plus, how much force will break a titanium pedal spindle?

VeloNews technical expert and author of The Haywire Heart answers more questions about a variety of concerns about athletes with heart issues.

Whether Štybar can race again at his former level — only time will tell.

Tips for mixing Campy and SRAM drivetrains, internal cable routing, and how frequently to replace a carbon fork.

VeloNews' technical expert offers suggestions for fishing internally-routed cables and further discussion about chain tension with oversize pulley wheels.

Chain friction in systems with oversized pulley wheels, and more solutions for mounting a rear rack on a carbon frame.

Mixing 11- and 12- speed SRAM eTap shifters and derailleurs, 11-speed chainrings on 10-speed drivetrains, and mounting a rack on a carbon frame.

Campagnolo drivetrain maintenance, Shimano wide-range gearing, and mounting racks on carbon road bikes.