Why do some people still buy brand new bicycles without gears?

I noticed that cyclists, especially the younger ones still schooling, would prefer to choose the type of bicycles their friends are ridding, which are usually single speed bikes, like BMX 

or fixie.

Parents would rather buy their children single speed bicycles if they think that their children do not know how to care for their belongings. Maintenance cost will be lower if there are less parts there for them to damage.

How much air should I have in my fixie bike tyres?

Try to maintain the correct inflation pressure in your tube to lower the risk of punctures. Look at the inflation recommendations marked on the sidewall of your tyre and pump your tube to the pressure within that range.

If you are aiming for speed, you can inflate your tube right up to the maximum PSI indicated as that will help to reduce the rolling resistance of the tyre.

For better grip, you can let out some air for a more comfortable ride, especially when it is raining. Remember not go below the minimum PSI range recommended as the inner tube can get pinched between the rim and the tyre which can cause punctures.

If you enjoy riding your fixie downhill, during descents, use your brakes in an on-and-off fashion to prevent the rim from been heated up as that could expand the air in your tube and cause a tyre blow-off. That is a good reason not to over inflate your tube.

If you visit Schwalbe’s website, you will find a tyre pressure chart calculated based on body weight.

Some companies supply their pumps with a PSI chart attached. So, for fixie tyre of size 700x28C, if you can’t read the markings on your tyre, it is safe to pump your tube right up to 73 PSI .

How can I fix my bicycle puncture at home?

Before you remove your tube to replace it, you need to make sure that you have the right spare tube on hand. Following are information on selecting the right tyre and tubes.

Locate the hole on your puncture tube. If the hole is on the inner side (facing the rim) of the tube, especially along its seam and small, it could be manufacturing defect. Bring it back to the shop to see if they will replace it for you.

If it has been punctured by a foreign object, check along the tyre to make sure that the sharp object is not still sticking to the tyre. Look at the size of the hole and decide if you would like to patch it instead of replacing it. There are many kind of patch kits in the market.

If your rim tape need to be replaced, you can buy it or DIY.

Other than tyre levers, you will also need a pump to inflate the replaced tube. Here are some notes on choosing the right pump if you do not have one yet.

It is best to watch a video on how it should be done then experimenting on your own. For a beginner it can be a hassle to change your own tyre or tube. You may not be familiar with using the tyre levers and may pinch your new tube in the process.

I hope that knowing the above facts will ensure that you do not have to perform the same task twice because you have used the wrong size or have the replaced tube punctured again sooner than it should.

Is a folding bike more convenient than a regular bike to carry on board public transit?

Different countries have different regulations about traveling with a bicycle on public transport. I think it is best to know what is acceptable in your country before you make a decision to carry one on board.

A regular alloy 26″ bicycle can weigh 15kg or less while a 20″ alloy folding bike can weigh between 9kg to 12kg. Which of these weights are manageable for you to carry around?

If you travel with a folding bike, once it is folded, it does not intrude the space of fellow passengers. As the pedals can also be folded you do not have to worry about anyone bumping into them or your handlebar and getting hurt.

You can also get a bag for storing your folding bike before boarding a public transport. That way, you can be assured that it does not get scratched by your own carelessness or by passengers bumping into it.

This folding bike bag comes with a storage bag that you can hang on your handlebar when it is not in use. If you leave the folding bike bag at home, you can use the empty storage bag as a handlebar bag.

This is also a bag for folding bike but with wheels attached. It will be easier for you to move your bike around if you do not intend to ride it after alighting from the public transport.

Here are guideline provided by Rapid KL of what you must look out for when traveling on their trains with a foldable or non bicycle in tow.

Provided you are lucky enough to find a friendly bus driver who is willing to accept a token from you to help, most bus company in Malaysia will not allow you to take bikes onboard their buses.  However, if it is a folding bike packed in a bag small enough to store in the bus luggage compartment, the driver will consider it a piece of luggage.

Choosing the right BMX for doing stunts.

If you plan to get a BMX  to learn some tricks with it, first you must find one that is suitable for your height. The top tube length will determine that.

You can find charts online that  provides information on choosing the right bike size based on your height.

Since you are doing stunts on it, choose one that is installed with gyro brake system so that you can make twists and turns without entangling your cables.

Make sure that the chainring have lesser number of teeth on it. This is so that you can start to ride off faster after doing your twists and turns. This photo shows a GT BMX 43T chainring. You should be able to find BMX with 28T (teeth) right up to 48T (teeth) chainring installed.

You can also decide if you want one with sport rims to withstand hard knocks or one with the standard rims with spokes inserted. This model with sport rims have disc brakes and pegs installed on its front and rear wheels so that you can stand on them as you perform your tricks.

While this model installed with V-brake has the standard rims with 68 spokes installed. The more spokes there are, the less likely it will be for you to damage the wheels when your BMX hit the ground during high jumps.

You also have the option to choose BMX with hi-tensile steel frame or chromoly which is lighter but more expensive. Cyclists who have ridden bikes with steel frame and also on chromoly frame find that the later is flexible and more comfortable to ride on.

If you are talking about what brand you should buy, do a search for reviews on the brand you are interested in getting. Since you are learning, it may not be a good idea to buy an expensive model to start.

Maybe you should consider borrowing or getting a used unit that is still in good working condition. After some tries (ouch, ouch), you may decide that doing stunts is not for you.

What is the difference between slim and broad tyres?

Broader tyres used on MTB tend to be knobby. That means the threads on them are cut deeper which is why they have better grip and are suitable for rough terrain rides.

Cyclists who ride for speed or on paved road will prefer slimmer slick tyres with shallow grooves which can roll faster and smoother.  700C slick tyres like this are usually installed on road, touring, hybrids and fixed gear bikes.


Some broader tyres are also supplied slick but you will not be able to find 700C slim tyres with knobby threads.

The width can be seen imprinted on the side of the tyre with its size. It will read like, 27.5x2.1”, 27.5” indicates its diameter and 2.1” is its width.

When cyclists, who ride on MTB with knobby 27.5” tyres, join racing events on paved road, they will replace those tyres with slick ones of narrower width. So, they may consider getting slick tyre in size of 27.5x1.5” to 1.75” in width. They will also need to replace the tubes if the size of their current tubes does not match.

You will find the information here useful if you want to know more about bicycle tyres and tubes, especially if you are considering changing them yourselves.

Air leaks out of tube faster for cyclists who are overweight. While others may need to pump air into their mountain bike tyre at least every two to three weeks, cyclists who are overweight may find that they need to pump their tubes more often. So, it will be less of a hassle for them to ride bikes with broader tyres. Fatbike can be considered as the tyre size is 26X4”.

What are the best options to ship a bicycle internationally?

If you plan to ship your bicycle internationally, check with your local bike shop to see if they can pack your bicycle up for you. 

If you do not want to pay for the service, you can easily find tutorials on YouTube to guide you along. The bike shop you go to regularly will most likely be willing to give you a used box for this purpose if you make a request.

You can also buy a hard case travel bag that is large enough to fit any bike from size of 26″ to 700C, which is about 29″.

If plan to ship a folding bike, this is the luggage size to consider.

If you use a hard case bag with wheels attached, it will be easier for you to move it around to your next destination, once it leaves the airport.