Tire weights for the same make,
model and size can vary up to 10 percent of the total tire weight. Bring a
scale when you buy your next set of
tires to make sure you get the lightest
in the inventory. Same goes for tubes.
MBA
FEA
TU
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Bike manufacturers often
skimp on components that can’t
easily be seen on the shop floor,
like cassettes, headsets and bottom brackets. While it’s flashier
to upgrade from a Shimano XT
to a Shimano XTR derailleur,
there’s a bigger reward and
lower cost to upgrading from
that entry-level cassette to a
Shimano XT cassette.
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80 Handlebar grips are inex- pensive and extremely easy to
install. They are one of the most
hassle-free ways to spruce up
your bike. Lock-on types won’t
require you to pull out the hair-spray to shimmy the grips onto
the bar and will be ready to ride
as soon as you tighten the pinch
bolts.
Even if they still have a good
amount of tread, old tires can
get dried out and hard, which
kills their performance no matter how often you check the air
pressure.
Old, crusty derailleur cables
and housing not only cause
excess stress on shift components but are a pain for your
thumb at the lever. New cables
and housing reduce friction in
the shifting system, allowing for
faster shifts and a lighter lever
feel.
If you are running tubes,
pump a few squirts of baby
powder into the tire. Then, roll
the tire around so the powder
coats the inside of the tire. This
makes the connection between
the tire and the tube as soft as a
baby’s cheek.
When you go tubeless, be
sure to use the right amount
of sealant—and no more. Most
sealants come with a measuring cup, and you should use it
religiously. Just pouring and
saying, “That looks about right,”
will almost always add a couple
ounces to your wheels.
Get in the habit of drinking
more water. A common rule is
about 34 ounces per thousand
calories of food per day. For
most people, this will be about
68 ounces or more water per day
and about 16 to 24 ounces on
top of that for every hour during
exercise.
Rotating mass is the best
weight to remove from a bike,
since you not only have to carry
the heft to the top of the hill,
but you also have to use energy
to accelerate and decelerate it.
Tires and tubes are probably the
most cost-effective place to shed
weight from your bike.
Removing excess weight is a
no-brainer. Things like reflectors, light mounts, lock mounts,
unused bottle cages, or the seat
bag that contains an expired
PowerBar should be removed for
trail riding. This weight savings
is free and will make your bike
look and feel streamlined.
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Water can get trapped in your frame
if you wash it with a hose, even if
you’re not using a pressure washer.
Pulling the bottom bracket from time to
time to drain it will not only save a bit
of weight, it will save your frame and
bearings.
It is almost always better to go the
new bike route than to upgrade your
old bike. Estimate how much you can
get if you sell your bike, and then add
the money you were going to spend on
upgrades like a fork, wheels, saddle,
seatpost and tires. Compare your grand
total with how much you would need
to spend on the bike of your dreams.
The numbers may be closer than you
think.
There is no shame in getting off your
bike and previewing a section of trail
before you ride down it. We recommend it. The last thing you want to
do is find out that you are in too deep
as you’re leaving the takeoff of a drop.
Professional downhill racers regularly
walk entire racecourses before they
ever put rubber to the ground.
You will be surprised how
many creaks and groans disappear if you simply clean and
re-grease areas like your stem,
seatpost clamp and derailleur
hanger.
Worn-out cleats make getting out of
your pedals more difficult and less predictable. Most of the time, a new pair
of cleats will suffice for a rejuvenated
connection with your existing pedals.
101 Tips
