Single Track Cycle

Browse our "Tip of the Week" archive for helpful hints on keeping your bike in great condition and making the most of your ride!

Bicycle tires lose air slowly -- it's just their nature. Be smart and check your tire pressure regularly: every week during the season for mountain bikes and before every ride for roadsters.

The best place to store a bike is indoors. If left outside for extended periods of time, a good bike can rust and corrode to dangerous condition in less than a year.

Carry your bike on a trunk- or bumper-mount car rack? Beware the exhaust pipe! With these types of racks, it's easy to mistakenly place your bicycle in such a way that the tire is near the exhaust. Doing this can actually allow the hot exhaust to melt your tire

Remember to properly lubricate moving parts and check tires and brakes before leaving on long trips.

For your protection, always wear a helmet. Head injuries account for 75% of bicycle-related deaths and permanently disabling injuries.

Registration of your bicycle with your local law enforcement agency will aid in its recovery in the event of theft.

Wear sunglasses while you ride to enhance your vision and to protect your eyes from dust, debris, wind, and UV rays. Some glasses come with different coloured lenses designed for different riding conditions i.e. clear for nighttime riding, yellow for dull days, and tinted for bright days.

A heart rate monitor is an excellent tool for road and mountain bikers. It helps you to know if you are getting the maximum out of your workout or ride.

Computers with a 'cadence' feature help you to become a smoother rider.

Wearing padded shorts will make all the difference in your comfort on the saddle.

Wearing technical clothing will wick away moisture more effectively than a cotton t-shirt. This makes for a much more enjoyable ride.

The steeper the uphill climb, the more you need to shift your weight towards your front wheel

Clipless shoes and pedals enhance and provide more power to your pedal stroke.

Never use a high pressure hose to wash a bike since it forces water into the bearings.

When riding, keep out of these gear combinations: large back ring and large front ring, and small back ring and small front ring to prevent stress and wear on the chain

Bearings should be repacked once a year to maintain optimum performance of your bike. If you need help, come by the shop at we'll give you a few pointers.

We can custom-build a set of sweet new
wheels especially fit for your bike, your riding
style and your personal preferences!

Wrap your spare tube in a sock, so when your chain falls off or you have a greasy situation just place the sock over your hand.

To ensure that a helmet is properly fitted, it should stay snug on your head with no straps attached while tilting and moving your head.

New brake cables and housing will make your bike stop like new!

Rear tires wear out twice as fast front tires.

When riding, avoid these gear combinations to prevent stress and wear on the chain:
- large back ring and large front ring
- small back ring and small front ring

Keep your spare tube in a sock, so when your chain falls off or you have some other greasy situation, just place the sock over your hand and you'll stay clean and ready to ride again!

Feel too reached-over the handlebars? Try a shorter handlebar stem or higher rise handlebar.

When shifting, taking the pressure off your pedals while still pedalling will make for smoother shifting and promote longer drive train wear.

Chain stuck? Try replacing your chain, checking for bent chainrings, or cleaning your drivetrain

To get the very best out of your bike, get your suspension serviced every 30 - 50 hours of riding.

If you're ready to get serious about riding, get yourself a bike computer. These small handy gadgets mount on your handlebars and monitor your speed, distance, and various other statistics. This is all great stuff for helping you maintain goals for your training, or just for keeping track of your stats for fun.

Swing by the shop and we'll analyse your bike,
riding style, and posture and show you how you
can maximize efficiency and comfort!

Once a month, check your frame for defects… Look for chipping paint, cracks and weak or irregular welds.

Fresh new gear cables and housing make your bike shift like new!!

Always apply grease when installing anything with threads.

Unwanted stress in the posterior area? A common problem is not having your saddle parallel to the ground. So, try levelling that seat -- your backside with thank you for it!

While riding on pathways in Calgary, every cyclist is required to have a bell on their bike.

As of May 1st 2002, Calgary's new helmet law took effect. Riders 17 years old and under MUST wear a helmet, or face paying a $50 fine.

Want a new bike but don't have the cash? Throw down for a new set of grips… It'll feel like new.

Stranded with a flat tire and no tube or patch kit? Try stuffing your tire with leaves, moss, bark, branches, fuzzy animals, etc

Rotate your tires often to promote even tire-wear. This will help your tires last longer and work better for you over the long-run.

When replacing your chain, be prepared to replace other parts of your drivetrain as well, as the parts wear interchangeably.

You should replace your chain roughly every 1500 - 2000 km depending on weather conditions

Adequate: Having a spare tube.
  Good: Having a spare tube and patch kit.
  Better: Having a spare tube, patch kit and pump.
  Best: Having a spare tube, patch kit, pump, and a mini-tool!

We can custom-build a set of sweet new
wheels especially fit for your bike, your riding
style and your personal preferences!

On average, a rider should consume a small bottle (600ml) of H2O per hour.

Bike-specific clothing wicks sweat away from your body, helping to keep you dry and comfortable during your ride.

The steeper the descent, the further back your weight should be over your rear wheel (this means hangin' your butt behind the seat). Plus, more of the front brake should be used.

Getting a sore neck and lower back aches? Try a higher rise handlebar.

A general rule for proper seat height is to have about a 15-degree bend between your knee and hamstring with your pedal at the lowest point.

To measure chain wear, take a ruler, and measure the distance from the centre of one pin to the next. If the distance is 12 1/8" or more, it's time to replace the chain. (12" is considered new).

A proper fitting chain will make for a more efficient ride and will help keep your gears in good condition.

Descending at high speeds on a road bike can cause your front wheel to shimmy. To correct this, place your inside knee on the top tube of the frame. This should help keep your bike more steady and stable.

Want an easy way to keep your bike clean? Try applying Pam non-stick spray (available at any supermarket) on your bike before a muddy ride, and the mud will come off easier with a garden hose! Hint: Just be sure to keep it away from your brakes and gears.

For winter riding, decrease your tire pressure by about 5 - 10 psi to get a better grip over snow, ice and frozen ground.

Lubricate your chain weekly to keep your chainwheel and cogs in good shape, and to avoid long term damage to those parts.