A Mountain Bike Shifters Question?
John Buenaventura has some strange questions about mountain bike shifters, the cables and the instructions. We try to answer his questions, but wonder why he wants to know? Here is our help for what ever reason!

Why a Carbon Frame?
Gerard Magnin has got a very old (20 years old) steel frame and he has had a carbon frame break, so he needs a new frame. His question is "why should I buy a carbon frame?" We list the advantages and some of the disadvantages of steel and carbon and the most important thing to look for when buying a new frame.

Heart Rate Monitor Malfunction?
Bob is having strange readings from his pulse monitor and wants to know what this could be? We hope that it is a malfunction of the monitor or more probably the heart sensor, if not then he should go and see his doctor. There are a few things he should check first and here they are.

More Lower Back Problems
Larry has been getting back problems on longer rides and has been trying different methods to help, but to no avail. He wants our suggestions on what he can do to try and help his condition. We list his options and give him an important warning as to adjustments.

Trek Madone 5.1 WSD or Cannondale Six13 Feminine 1?
Anika is looking for a new bike and she is stuck between the Trek Madone 5.1 WSD and the Cannondale Six13 Feminine 1. She has found that they both feel the similar, the Trek is full carbon and the Cannondale is part Alloy, part Carbon, the Trek has Shimano Ultegra and the Cannondale is mostly Dura-Ace. So is it frame before equipment or the other way?

Will a Short Ride Damage my Training?
Bert has had a hip resurface job done on him, he is trying to get back to his former fitness and is worried that his short ride of 1.5 miles to work and is worried that this will slow down his recovery. We are not doctors, but we can still give an opinion.

What to do about those Pedals
Abby Eyre has found a bargain bike on e-bay; the problem is that it will come with "old fashioned" pedals with clips. The question is what to do, keep the pedals or get some new clipless ones? Easy answer (we think), you have to keep up with style and be modern!

Motobecane Vent Noir or the Specialized Allez?
Ronald Sealana is worried that Motobecane is a low quality brand of bikes. He is considering the Motobecane Vent Noir 2009 or the Specialized Allez. Let's have a look at them both and tell him what we think and which we would buy if it was up to us?

Specialized Tarmac Elite or Felt Z35?
Yves has narrowed down his choices of new bike between the Specialized Tarmac Elite or the 2008 Felt Z35. Both bikes are top quality and he can buy them at about the same price, so Yves wants our opinion on which he should be riding. Here are our descriptions of the bikes and our thought on which we prefer.

Iain's Sore Knee Problem
Iain is one of our regular questioners and he has been doing quite a bit of top class riding, but he has a problem with his knee after a particularly hard ride with a long climb. He has a few ideas of his own and he wants our thoughts on what might be going on?

What Size Giant Talon?
Rudy Hizat is thinking of buying himself a Giant Talon MTB and wants our thoughts on the correct size of frame; he hasn't told us his inside leg measurements so we will have to give him a guess and how he can work it out for himself.

Helium in your Tyres?
Chris has a question that he thinks is a bit bizarre, he wants to know is anyone has ever used helium to fill their tyres, well the easy answer is yes it has been done, but there are a few reasons why its not for every day use.

Is my Chain Worn?
Tommy is having problems with his chain and it not sitting on the sprockets well when he changes gear, he thinks that his chain is worn and we agree with his prognosis. Here are a few tips on worn chains.

A Bike for the Sand
ML lives on the coast of New England and wants a bike that can stand up to a regular beach ride and all the sand and salt. We give our thoughts on this probably unwise daily trip and the best way to undertake this corrosive journey.

Compact Chain set Modifications
Mody Gonzales from the Philippines wants a compact chain set, but Shimano don't make a Dura-Ace in compact size. He has an idea of swapping his Shimano 39 tooth inside chain ring for a Stronglight 38 tooth and replacing the Shimano Dura-Ace 53 tooth chain ring for a 50 tooth chain ring. Not a bad idea to get what he wants.

Is my Bike Going to Fit?
Ann has bought a new bike after 40 years and is worried that the bike will not fit her; we put her mind at rest. Woman's Specific Designed bike frames are there to take care of women's dimensions, but most bikes can be adapted to fit most body sizes. Here are our thoughts.

Pins and Needles in the Fingers
Terry Sullivan has two bikes, on his winter bike he is comfortable, but on his summer steed he gets pins and needles in his fingers and also at the back of his neck. This could be caused by a few different things, but I think we can narrow it down for Terry.

Which Lighter Wheels for an Addict?
Stephen Lacey has a very nice Scott Addict and he wants to spend a bit of money on some light wheels. We are not sure which equipment he is running so we have listed our favorite Shimano and Campagnolo wheel sets. There are lots of wheels to choose from, so we have only looked at the best.

Is my Chain Set Worn?
Alan Collett has been having problems with his drive train, he has bought a new chain and cassette and things are better, but not perfect as it still skips. He wants to know if this can be fixed by rear gear adjustments or if he will have to buy a new chain set also? Here is what we think.

SRAM, Campagnolo or Shimano? (Again)
David Hill is asking that question again; which is the best group set between the big three; SRAM, Campagnolo or Shimano? He needs to know which is the best value, top quality and all the other reasons to buy one group over another. We have gone through this before, but here we go again.

Campagnolo Clothing for Campagnolo People!
Maria T. Campagnolo has written to us because of her very famous name in cycling circles. She wants to buy some Campagnolo branded clothing for her grandsons, we don't sell it, but we can tell her ho to find her name on some real smart bike clothes.

Group Set Questions
Dave wants our advice on what the numbers mean on the descriptions of group sets from Shimano and Campagnolo. It can be very difficult to know what 53/39 and 165 and 170 or what a 11-23 is all about, so we explain for anyone who is looking to get a new group set or are about to up grade and need to know what to get if they just accepted what was on the bike when it was new.

Can a Woman Ride a Mans Bike?
Katie has the typical dimensions of most women, long legs and a shorter torso and she has been measured up for a Trek 2.3 WSD, her problem is that she can get a Pinarello Galileo or F3:13 FP at a god price and wants to know if it would be possible for her to get the perfect position on either of these "men's" bikes. We look at her option and how she could manage to adapt one of the bikes to suit her needs and we give our thoughts on which bike we would choose.

A Single Speed Schwinn
Mark Buczek wants to convert his Schwinn Super Le Tour into a single speed and wants our advice on the cheapest method. There are a few ways of achieving this, so we run through the different ways he can get a single speed.

A Rear Hanger Problem
Andy Copplestone has contacted us with a gear problem; he thinks it's caused by a bent rear hanger. This is a common problem with alloy hangers; it can be caused by falling off, during transportation, either on a plane or even in the back of the car. There are a few things you can do, but Andy already knows the answer.

Bill's Bike
Bill has put together his bike to suit his needs and wants; this is the way to get the bike for you, yes your personal choice with frame and equipment. This is sometimes not the cheapest way to get the bike of your dreams, but it the only way to get what you want. Here is Bills bike.

Shimano Ultegra Bottom Bracket
Bruce Hill is looking for a replacement Shimano Ultegra BB-6600 bottom bracket and is having a problem locating one. This shouldn't be a problem as they are still widely available from most bike shops everywhere. It is possible that he wants an up-grade, best he sticks to the proper Shimano bottom bracket.

Specialized or Trek? (Again)
Mario has given us a very difficult job, choosing between two great bikes that are so similar he is having difficulty deciding which the better bike is. We take a look at both bike and give him our thoughts and cut down his options and say which bike we would go for, it's a tough job!

Weight Distribution
Ben has a tricky question about the distribution of weight on the bike, we know that weight saving on the wheels is a big advantage, but he wants to know what is the effect on the bike of top and bottom weight distribution. All very interesting?

Tubulars and an Old Colnago
Joe Cohn from New York has a beautiful old Colnago and he wants to get it back to a rideable condition and back to its original beauty. His questions concern his wheels, he wants to use them without having to stick tubulars on the rims, and he also wants to know a local bike shop that can do a good job for him. We can help with one problem, but not much with the other.

Replacement BRIKO Lenses
Stan Van Loon lives in the Netherlands and he is the proud owner of a pair of BRIKO Sprinter 1 glasses, but he has a cracked lens and wants to replace them. His problem is finding some where to buy them from; we have done our investigations, but...

Where to get that Basque Clothing?
Derek Westwood has taken a liking for Basque cycling clothing; we try to point him in the right direction. The Euskaltel-Euskadi team kit is easy to get your hands on, but the Euskadi national team clothing is not so easy!

Which Heart Rate Monitor?
Lee Henry wants a wireless computer for his bike and needs our help in choosing one. He needs all the functions that you can find in the more expensive HRM's, we like the look of the bike fitting CS100 from Polar, it has everything ha wants and at a very reasonable price. If you are in the market for a new bike computer this could be the one?

Scott or Specialized?
Donald can get a good price on a 2007 Scott CR1 with a Shimano Dura-Ace group set and at a similar price a 2008 Specialized Tarmac with the SRAM Rival group. He wants to know which one we would go for, it's a very difficult one to call, but in the end it comes down to the choice of equipment.

SRAM, Shimano or Campagnolo Group Set?
Scott is building up a new bike and he wants to know which group set he should go for. He is worried that he isn't a serious enough bike rider to spend lots of money on expensive equipment, we tell him what we think about that and our thoughts on which group sets he should consider.

Too Much Chain?
Ross is swapping his cassette from a 12/27 to a much smaller 11/ 23, he wants to know if he will have to shorten his chain to suit the smaller cogs on the cassette, usually you don't need to do anything, but its something you should check at home before you go for a ride. Here are our suggestions on what he or you should do to check if you need to shorten the chain when using a smaller cassette of sprockets.

A Bike for Under $150?
Bill Lechner has a question that we think will be very difficult for him to achieve, he is looking for a bike for under $150. A new bike is going to be hard to find at that price, well a good one that is. His best bet would be to look for a second hand bike, here are our thoughts.

Can I Fit a Compact Chain Set?
Sam Wright is from New Zealand and has a Shimano 9 speed set up on his bike with an 11/25 cassette and 9 speed shifters. He wants to fit a compact chain set, but he can only get his hands on a 10 speed chain set, so he wants to know if this will work.

What Shoes for VP?
Conrad needs to know which shoes the VP cleat will fit for the road pedals? Just about all shoes will fit those cleats, he needs to take a look at the sole of the shoes and he will find the correct fittings.

Shorter Reach Brake/Gear Levers
Philip Eddington wants to know how to bring the brake/gear levers closer to the handle bars so that he can reach them safely. This can be a big problem with certain handle bar shapes and with smaller hands. We give Philip a couple of suggestions on how to sort out this quite common problem.

How to Clean a Frame
Larry has a titanium frame and wants to know how to clean it properly; we go through what he should use to get his bike like new. Its very simple really, just wash the bike; it's not difficult to clean a bike frame.

What is the 15 at the back?
Don is starting indoor spinning training and has been told to use the large gear up front and the 15 on the back. He needs to know what the 15 at the back is, to some this might be simple, but there are many riders out there who don't need to know, but Don does!

A New Bike for a New Rider
Joe is just starting out and wants to know which bike he should be spending his money on? He has a fancy for a Trek 1.5 and he wants our thoughts on whether it will suit his needs. We have taken a guess at what he wants and taken a look at the Trek.

Big Upgrades to a Trek Pilot
Tom Anderson bought a Trek Pilot bike and has systematically changed most of the equipment. His question is whether he has taken it too far and maybe he should have just bought a new bike? This is all a matter of opinion and here is ours.

When are Wheels too Old?
Ron has a trusted Trek touring bike which is 13 years old and he is worried that the wheels need replacing? He needs to have a good look at the rims on the wheels to see if the are excessively worn or damaged in any way. We give him some pointers as to what to look for.

29er's or 700c Wheels?
Michael wants to know the difference between a bike fitted with 29er wheels, like the Specialized Crosstrail and a bike with 700c wheels like the Giant Cypress LX. We explain the differences between the wheels and agree that those two bikes are well worth looking at.

A Gear and Cassette Problem
Jim has written in to us with a problem with his gears, he has a snapping, jerking when he is pedaling. There could be a few different reasons for this, so we run through some of the causes and hope he can sort it out for himself?

Litespeed and Campagnolo Daytona Questions?
Jorge has some collector's items and wants some information. His bike is a Litespeed and his equipment is Campagnolo Daytona, he wants to know which frame he has, but the problem is that the markings have all disappeared. Campagnolo Daytona was a medium priced group set, but it had to change its name because for copy right reasons.

Dura Ace Rear Mech Compatibility
Titus likes Cannondale's and wants to up grade his old Shimano Ultegra to a Dura Ace one. His question concerns the compatibility of a 10 speed Dura Ace rear mech and all his other 9 speed equipment. We run through what works with what and suggest that he changes all of his bits as soon as he can.

How does SRAM Compare to Campagnolo?
Marshall has written to us wanting a comparison between the SRAM Red and Force group sets and the Record and Force groups from Campagnolo. We have tested all of these groups in the past, so it's not too difficult a proposition.

What do all those Numbers mean on a Chain Set?
Jeff Howlett wants to know what all those numbers are all about when he sees a chain set. We explain what all those numbers mean, he is asking about a triple chain set, but we explain about normal double chain sets and the compact versions. If you need to know about chain set teeth here is what they mean.

Is 67 Too Old to Ride an Event?
Darlene Steffen has written in to us wanting to know if she is too old to ride a 63 mile woman's event. She want our thoughts on if she should consider it and if she can get fit enough to ride. We think she should give it a go, she may ride well, but it would also be good experience for the next event she wants to try.

Should Titus upgrade from Shimano Ultegra to Dura Ace?
Titus has 08 Shimano Ultegra on his bike and wants to know if he should upgrade to the top of the Shimano range, Dura Ace? We think if he wants to that's up to him, but we think he should ride the Ultegra until he needs to replace it, and then go for the Dura Ace.

Mirror, Mirror on your Bike
Dennis wants our advice on cycling mirrors; he has seen a few on the internet and would like to know which we would advise and what other riders out there are using? We take a look at his choices and make a couple of suggestions of our own. We don't see many mirrors out there, but they could be a good idea?

Light Wheels make you go Faster
Van Sharp has written in to us passing on some very important information about bike wheels. He has also sent us some photos of his new bike and wheels, he has good taste in bikes and he knows his wheels, so we have pleasure in showing you his choice of weapons...

Brake/Shifter Lever Rattle
Claire Achen has Shimano Sora brake/shifter levers, but has a rattle. She has had some advice that it could be the internal parts that are causing the problem. We agree and we give Claire some suggestions on how to cure any other causes and what to look for to check for problems.

Pinarello Style or Trek Madone Fit?
Eric Sandrow wants a new bike, he has a problem, he likes the look of the Pinarello FP5, but he can't get one to fit his height of over six feet. He also likes the Trek Madone and it fits him, so we say that the Trek is the bike for him. A proper fit is more important than style. Well just!

Campagnolo, Fulcrum or Mavic Wheels?
Alistair Simpson wants to buy himself a smart pair of wheels for racing and training. He has selected three pairs of wheels that are by far amongst the best around, Shamal from Campagnolo, Zero from Fulcrum and Ksyrium SL Premiums. As always it's a very difficult job to split them, but here goes!

We Think Polar is Great!
Gervase Barnes in New Zealand has sent us a comment questioning our impartiality and integrity especially on Polar HRM's. He thinks our advice is not impartial, well in a way he's correct it isn't, but then there is a good reason for this, we think that so far we have not found a better manufacturer of monitors or bike computers. Here is our reasoning.

Specialized S Works Carbon Cranks and New Chain Questions
Adam had written to us earlier asking about the Specialized S Works carbon cranks, we had not answered his question yet, but now that he wants to know about the manufacturers grease and the re-oiling of his new chain we have managed to take a proper look at the carbon crank offerings from Specialized.

Which Cervelo; R3-SL or Soloist Carbon?
Rick has a very interesting question about one of our favorite frame makers, Cervelo. He wants to know which frame we would buy, the R3-SL or the Soloist Carbon. He will be using it for everything from training to racing; he needs a good bike for all round cycling, hills and flat. Here are our thoughts.

Look and Koga Miyata Bikes
Mo lives in Switzerland and recently asked us about replacing his tires and what we thought about the Shimano Flight Deck bike computer system, which you can read all about. He now wants our views on Koga Miyata bikes and the Look 481 carbon frame. His problem is that he needs a 66 cm frame, BIG!!

How Heavy are our Testers?
Richard wants more information on our bike testers are he wants to know if we can put them through their paces. Our test riders are not as heavy as Richard but we do give all our equipment a thorough testing over many different terrains. Here are the details.

Which Tires and Computer?
Mo has two questions for us; he is using Bontrager X Lite tires and wants our recommendations on other tire brands as he will soon have to replace his present rubber. His second question is that he is also thinking of fitting the Shimano flight deck computer but, wants our in put on the Shimano set up and which other speedometers we like.

Vitus Frames; To buy or not to Buy?
Robert has been looking at a Vitus aluminum bonded frame; he wants to know what we think. Luckily we have some experience of the old Vitus 979 frame, so we can pass on our remembrances and some history on what was ground breaking frame technology, for the time.

When can we get ReSkins?
Joseph Holaman wants to buy a set of ReSkins that he has read about earlier on bike cycling reviews. We thought they were really comfortable and saved any chafing on the saddle area. Joseph wants to know when they are available, easy answer!

A New Bike for the Wife
Craig Holtz writes to us because he wants to get his wife a new bike, what a kind husband he is. He wants our advice on which bike we think would suit her. She is not tall and he wants to get her a bike with either Shimano Ultegra or SRAM Rival components, so we have selected a couple of choices.

Pump Those Tires!
Frank Angelo wants our recommendation on what is the best way to get your tires back up to pressure after a puncture out on the road. We give you all advice on the best way to look after your tire pressures and what we suggest you should be taking with you on a ride for those occasions we all hate, when we get a flat.

Cervelo or Lightspeed? Carbon or Titanium?
Joe Incardona has taken a fancy to either the R3, the RS from Cervelo or the Ghisallo from Lightspeed. This comes down to Carbon verses Titanium which we have looked at many times before. He has also listed his component choice, so we discuss that too.

Where to get Neuvation Wheels?
Julian Rodriguez lives in Spain and wants to buy a set of Neuvation wheels; the problem is that Neuvation don't export out side the U.S.A. They are great wheels at a wonderful price, but you would need to go to America to buy them.

Felt F30 (Carbon) or Casati Laser (Steel)
Nils Erik from Norway has a very nice Felt F30 Carbon frame with Shimano and Mavic wheels, but he has taken a fancy to a steel Casati Laser with all Campagnolo equipment. He likes that Italian style and he likes to climb hills! We do too, well the Italian style anyway, but we are not sure if steel is a great choice over carbon, we compare the two bikes, Steel V's Carbon.

Brian's Cramps and his Wheels
Brian Sopher has written to us in the past on different subjects, most recently his problem has been cramps in his hamstring. The good news is that he has found a cure; here we pass on his answer to what can be a terrible problem. Brian also has another question for us; he wants to know which wheels we prefer as an up grade form the choice of Shimano WH 550, ZIPP or Mavic, so this is what we think.

How to Fall!
Joo Mong Lee is a regular writer to us and this time he has a bit of advice for all of us about falling our bikes, this is something none of want to do, but occasionally it happens. Joo also wants to hear what we think about platform pedals and clipless pedals and getting out of them in an emergency.

Mavic Ksyriums, To Buy or Not to Buy?
Tim lives in Mississippi and has a Giant TCR, he is thinking of up grading from his Xero wheels to a set of Mavic Ksyriums. His questions are; can he use them every day, will they take his weight, will he notice a difference and should he buy them? We set his mind at rest and give him two questions he needs to answer for himself before he makes this decision.

Cheap Bike Transport
Fiona is in Singapore and wants to transport her bike, but doesn't have a hard case to transport it; she wants our suggestion on how to get her bike around safely without the security of a bike box. It's quite simple really.

Cervelo or Parlee and Headset Spacers
Seth is interested in Cervelo frames, the RS the R3 and also the Z4 from Parlee. These are all great frames so we don't mind having a good look at them and giving him our thoughts. He also wants to know how headset spacers affect the frames handling and geometry.

What's that up the Riders nose?
Dave has been watching his Tour de France videos very closely and he has spotted that riders warming up for the time trials have cotton wool stuffed up their noses, he wants to know what it's all about. Is it a secret weapon? No, not really, here is his answer.

Butt and Leg Problems
Brian has written to us quite a few times before and this time he is having problems with the lower part of his body and not his bike. He is not happy with his shorts and wants to know what he can do to make his ride more comfortable. His other problem is the hamstring on his left leg, he feels like it is about to cramp up, not nice. We give him some suggestions to sort him out.

Scott CR1 Team or a Cannondale Sprint Caad9?
Ami Elkus wants to ride a few Triathlons and wants a good bike for Sunday rides. His choice is between the Scott CR1 Team form 2008 and the cheaper Cannondale Sprint Caad 9 from 2007. His idea is to up grade the Cannondale, we have other ideas and here they are.

New Wheels for an 8 Speed Fezzari
Curtis B has a Fezzari Speedster R1 Hybrid bike and wants to up grade his wheels, his problem could be that he is running on 8 speed, we have found that the Shimano 8 speed cassette will fit a Shimano 9 speed hub, so he has no problems there. It's down to how much he wants to spend as usual.

Pick a Time Trial Bike, Orbea?
Ian wants to get his hands on a carbon time trial frame, but he is worried that his height and size would be too much for carbon, we put his mind to rest on the strength point and suggest either of the TT bikes from Orbea. The Ora and the new Ordu are classics of carbon aerodynamics, we hope he likes them?

New Wheels; Big Difference?
Claude Marcheterre has a Specialized Allez A 24 with a set of wheels built with Alex rims and Ritchey hubs. He wants to know what difference he would feel if he was to replace them with a set of Mavic Ksyrium wheels. We have our theories and here they are.

Can you Change from 7 Speed to 9 Speed?
Matthew wants to know if he can change from a 7 speed cassette to a 9 speed cassette by changing the freewheel. I think he is referring to the cassette body that is on the hub and the answer is not easy. To change the cassette would cause more problems and if you go to 9 speed, then your 7 speed shifters won't index with 9 sprockets. Here we out line why it's not a good road to go down.

A Collectors Bike; Ciocc with Campagnolo 50th Anniversary Group
Mike Freville has a very smart bike, it really is a collectors item, an Italian Ciocc frame fitted with the very special Campagnolo 50th Anniversary Group Set of which there wasn't that many made, what he wants to know is how much is it worth, a very difficult question to answer, but here we go.

Computer Cadence Sensor Placement
Shaun has fitted a cadence sensor to his bike to use with his ECR 2 wireless computer, his problem is that he has to move the magnet to near the end of the crank, up at the pedal end, but leaves his sensor too far away from the computer head and he is worried about getting a correct reading of his pedal revs. This is our suggestion on what he should do.

Head Set, Pedals and Steel Frames
Lee Joo Mong is one of our regular questioners, this time he is having head set and pedal problems, the head set comes apart and the bearing are falling out of the pedals on his Peugeot Professional 600 bike. He also wants our suggestion on a replacement steel frame. We give him our cure for the head set and pedals and we give him our views on steel frames.

The Bottecchia Carbon Bike
Lin Hammond has seen our review on the Bottecchia Aluminum bike and has taken a liking to the Carbon version. We don't mind taking another look at Bottecchia bikes and as our regular readers know, we like carbon, so it's a perfect assignment for us.

The Saddle Fit System
Craig has a question which we all go through, "what saddle should I buy?" We have been through this before, but it's a very important subject that will never go away. Craig has seen a saddle measuring service, but he can't remember where he has seen it. We have been doing a bit investigating and found which saddle system he was talking about and describe here what its all about.

Mountain Bike Gear Ratios
Rick has a great bike that he is mostly pleased with, except that the gear ratios are not what he wants. His question is; how can he get the chain rings and cassette sprockets that he wants? We think he will have problems to do exactly what he wants, so we have given him some alternatives.

More on Crank Lengths
Terje Larsen has some very interesting questions on the lengths of cranks and there effects on your riding. We have covered this before, but it's a good subject that needs discussion. Crank length depends on your physique and pedaling style, let us explain why.

Giant TCR or OCR?
Sandeep H Ambardekar wants to start racing and is not sure to go for the TCR or the OCR bikes from Giant. He knows that the OCR has Shimano 105 and the TCR only has Tiagra and he wants our confirmation that the OCR is the best bike for him. We review both of them and agree with his choice.

A Front Gear Problem
Brian has written to us on many occasions about his Cannondale Caad 9 Optimo 4 and how much he likes it. He has a little problem with his front derailleur; it is rubbing against the chain when he is on the smallest sprocket. This is a common problem and one that we all have from time to time. There are two reasons this could be happening, here is the cures.

Sizing a Litespeed Siena
Jill is the woman all (cycling) men would want to marry as she wants to buy a Litespeed Siena titanium for her husband. Her problem is the size, he at present rides a frame with a 60 cm top tube and her bike shop is suggesting she buy a size L, this could be a little small and it looks like she should maybe go for the next size up. Here are our thoughts.

Look or Shimano Pedals?
Look Keo carbon or Shimano Dura-Ace SPD-7810 Pedals? That's the question from frank, he cant make up his mind which to buy, so we have had a look at both of them and made a comparison. Which do you think we liked the best?

Landrider Gear System
Zee Evans has been given a Landrider bike with the Autoshift gear system and is wondering if it is a good set up, or not. He has been riding for many years and is planning a big cross country ride soon, so wants our opinion on the bike and its gears.

A Rim/Tubular Problem
Sean is a luck guy, he has bought a pair of second hand carbon wheels, but he has a problem with the tubular not sitting properly on the front rim at the valve. He thinks it's a problem with the tire, we agree that he should get a new one and fit it correctly.

Frame and Crank Lengths
Monching has been riding a 50cm size frame with 172.5 mm cranks and he wants to know if they are the correct length. He hasn't told us his leg or thigh lengths so we can't really say, but we do give him our thoughts on sizing.

Frame Size for Sarah
Sarah is trying to find her correct size frame and has given us her dimensions, from these we have given her roughly the frame size she should need. There are many different ways of calculating frame size; especially that now we have slopping frame designs. We have gone for the traditional method of deducting from the in seam measurement, we also give her advice for compact frame designs also.

Shimano Group Difference

Brian asked us about his wheels and tires a while ago and we suggested he just got on with it and enjoy his bike and his cycling. He now wants to know more about the differences between the Shimano group sets. We explain what we think.

Up Grade or Not?
Braham Power has a full carbon Orbea Liege with Shimano Ultegra equipment which is a nice set up. His question is to do with up grading from Ultegra to Dura-Ace, he wants to know if it is worth it and would he notice the difference. We give him our opinion.

Three Titanium frames, Omega, Everti and Habanero
Ben wants to buy a Titanium frame and he has seen three that interests him; Omega, Everti and Habanero, all are from different countries which add to our problem, but we give them a good looking at and here are our opinions. Carbon is our favourite, but we don't mind running an eyes over something different.

Can Shimano 105 Work with 9 and 10 Speed?
Jack has asked us a question that we have answered similar questions before, it's the one about what shifters work with which speed cassettes. Normally we are asked can Campagnolo work with Shimano, this time Jack wants to know if Shimano 105 will work with both 9 and 10 speed.

New Pedals for a Schwinn
Dolores Weber wants to know where she can get new pedals for her grandsons Schwinn bike. We don't know her area (Queens), but we do know many on-line bike shops that should be able to help her.

Flight Deck cables for FSA Carbon Wing Handle Bars
Larry Strayhorn has a set of FSA Carbon Wing Bars and he uses Shimano Dura-Ace equipment with the Flight Deck computer system. His problem is how to put the cables from the brake levers to the computer head. We have three suggestions; one is easier than the other.

Wheels and Tires on a Cannondale CAAD 9 Optimo 4
Brian has got himself a sweet Cannondale CAAD 9, The Optimo 4 Sprint. He is worried that his wheels and tires are not good enough, we say "of course they are" and just get out on the bike. We all wear stuff out so wait till the tires need replacing and then he can get what he wants and not to worry about the wheels.

What Age is a Diamondback Sorrento?
Aris Phinicarides has a new bike and wants to know the age of it. The Diamondback Sorrento 2005 was designed and spec'ed in 2005, but the bike was probably not built that year and has not been lying in a bike shop for three years, but who cares if it's a good bike at a good price.

Specialized/Roval Problems
Tom has a Specialized S Works Roubaix with Roval carbon rims and he is having problems with the braking not being even. When he slows down he gets a pulsing from the brakes, he has had some advice from his local shop, but wants to know what to do for the best.

Nike Shoes or Turbo Trainer?
Hugo has a very difficult question; he can't decide which would be the best thing to spend his money on. It's either a new pair of Nike cycling shoes and pedals or a Turbo Trainer to use in the notoriously bad British weather. We give him our views on what he should do.

Which Stem Length?
Gary Simpson has bought himself a very nice pair of carbon FSA K-Wing handle bars and now he wants to know which length of stem he needs. Well there are a few different ways of answering this question, so here we go.

Up Grade or Replace?
Steve has an old bike he loves, bit he wants to know if he should up grade the equipment on his old frame or replace the frame with a new, lighter frame. We think that when a frame is 15 years old, it's maybe time to say god bye and join us in this century with something lighter, stiffer and more modern.

Hutchinson Fusion; Air Lite or Comp?
Elliot Schwartz has read our review on the very good Hutchinson Fusion Air Lite tires. Hutchinson has changed the name and this has caused confusion, the Fusion Air Lite is now the Fusion Comp. Here we explain.

Jamis Citizen or Giant Cypress
Michael can't decide between two great bikes, it's between either a Giant Cypress LX or a Jamis Citizen 3.0. Both bikes have very good dimensions and equipment, so we needed to have a good look at them both to see what we thought and here is what we decide.

Campagnolo or X Lite Wheels?
Brett Gunter has heard some different views on the X Lite wheels and so have we, so we suggest some other wheel sets that should suit Brett. He also likes the look of Campagnolo, so we suggest two wheel sets form Campagnolo, Fulcrum and three from Mavic. These are our recommendations.

Adistar Cycling Shoes and VP Pedals
Conrad has a pair of Adidas Adistar Road Comp cycling shoes and a pair of VP-R61 clipless pedals, he wants advice on which shoe plate cleats he can use on these very smart shoes. We have had a good look at both and this is what we think.

The Calfee Dragonfly
James Correia has seen the Dragonfly from Calfee and wants to know what we think. We know that Calfee do a great job of repairing broken and damaged carbon frames, but we have never been asked about the frames, so here is what we think about the Dragonfly.

Spinning Interval Training
Michael is spinning to keep fit through the winter months and wants to know when to start interval training. Steady riding is great to build up a good base fitness, but eventually you need to start changing your training and making it more varied, Michael wants to know when?

A New Saddle
Lou Frankel is going through the problem most of us go through at some time in our cycling life. This is trying to choose a new saddle to replace one that is no longer in production, the one that you have got used to over many years. Here is what we think Lou should do.

The Look 555 Frame
Lawrence Borda has a short and to the point question. He wants our opinion on the quality of the Look 555 frame, simple! It's a beautiful looking frame and it's a pleasure to give an opinion on a class piece of kit. Here is what we think.

More Tire and Gear Questions
Brian has asked us about tires and helmets in the past and now has more specific tire questions and he is also having problems with his gears. He wants to know the best pressures for his tires and find a solution to his gearing which is not great on his higher gears; we try to help, again.

Clamping a Carbon Scott Bike
Adam has bought a Scott CR1 and wants to take it away in his car and is worried about clamping the frame, we give him our suggestions on the safest way to transport his pride and joy. He also wants advice on clamping the bike in his work stand, so we tell him the best way.

How to Buy a Group Set
Jessica is a very kind person and wants to buy her special friend a Shimano Ultegra group set, her problem is she is not sure what to order. We give her some suggestions on what to look for and tell her that maybe it would be a good idea not to keep it as a surprise and get some help from her friend.

Sloped or Level Top Tubes?
Albert Lawrence has asked a very interesting question about frame design and which is more popular with professional racing cyclists. There is an easy answer which is; that they have to ride what they are given, we explain this and look at how many frames slope and how many are horizontal.

Bike Fitting for a South African Bike Shop
Taahir Saley is taking over his father's bike shop and want some advice on fitting the customer to his new bike. He already has a very good idea on how to do this for a standard bike, but we give him some advice for more sporting customers and sporty bikes, it might help you too.

Which Handle Bars for a Big Rider
Chester Foster is a long guy and uses a long stem, but he wants some advice on handle bars. He needs 26.0 center section and would prefer non-anatomic design, this is not easy as anatomic and large section are in fashion at the moment, we try our best to find some for Chester.

More about Tubular Tire Pressure
Dave Balthaser is putting 160 psi into his tubulars and wants to put more in! His question is how? We are not sure he needs to go quite so hard with his tubulars, if his floor pump can't get them hard enough then there is not many other ways of doing it.

Cuts on the Tyre Treads
Pearse McCabe is having problems with cuts on the treads of his tyres; he wants to know if there is any way of repairing the treads so that they last longer. There aren't many ways of doing this, but we tell him how to cut down on cuts and suggest ways of trying to repair the damage.

Well Priced Cycling Shoes
Frank is looking for a new pair of cycling shoes, but he wants shoes with a carbon sole at a reasonable price, we explain the problems that can occur with carbon soles and we do recommend some well priced shoes that should fit his wants and his feet.

Tire Wear, Tire Pressure and Helmets
Brian has three questions; he wants to know if his tires are worn and need replacing and if they should lose pressure on a regular basis. His third question is about his new Giro helmet, he needs advice on fitting. Here is what we have to say.

Oil, Good or Bad?
Krystian Paczkowski has a question about spray oil, he wants to know if WD40 is any good for his bike or will it damage it. We tell him our thoughts on lubrication for the bike and make a suggestion as to what he should use after he has cleaned his bike.

Stem Angles
Nikos has bought one of our favorite bikes, the CR1 from Scott, nice choice! His question is concerning his stem, he is looking to change from the original Scott stem, which is 110 mm, to either a Thomson or BBB in a 100 mm length, the angle is different he wants our opinion on it.

Single Gear?
Joo Mong Lee has written to us before on a few different subjects, this time he want confirmation on what he should do about his gearing. We try to help with suggestions on his chain wheel set up and also his cassette. He needs a higher gear that is for sure.

How to Improve your Bicycle Fitness Training
Mario Cesar Acevedo wants to improve his fitness; here we list some basic training methods for Mario to lift his game. Strength is an important basis for anyone who wants to improve, once you have good condition then you can start your specialized training with intervals. We explain the methods of building up strength, power and speed here.

Shaft Driven Bike Conversion
Ramaswamy K has read our previous answer about shaft driven bikes and he wants to convert his present cycle from chain and gears to a shaft system. It's a good idea, but conversion is maybe not the best way for him to do this. These are our thought.

Carrying your Tools and Inner Tubes
Iain is one of regular readers and questioners and he has a good tip for carrying those bits and pieces on his bike, its very similar to the bottle cage bag from Sci-Con that we reviewed not long ago. We have another look at the Sci-Con bag and Iain's suggestion of an old bottle cage.

How to True Roval Wheels
Ed Seaman has bought himself a new Specialized and it is fitted with Roval Echappee wheels, his problem is that he doesn't know how to true them up. There are a couple of things he needs to know, here is our conclusions.

Gear and Brake Cable Replacement
Jack has written in to us because he is thinking of replacing his gear and brake cables, his problem concerns the adjusting screws on the gear mechanisms and the brake cable adjusters. Here is the answer.

Search Bike Cycling Reviews
Richard and Adam have both asked a similar question, not about cycling or bikes and equipment, but about Bike Cycling Reviews. They both want to be able to find specific articles quicker, here is our suggestion.

A Bike for an Ex-Runner
Dave Sausen is looking for some thing that maybe doesn't exists and that's a bike that wont let you be dropped by your training partners, if they invent one of those then I think there will be a very long Q, with me at the front, for one of those babies!

More on the FSA SL-K Chain set Question
Larry has recently asked us about his FSA SL-K crank set and we gave him advice, but that's not enough, he now wants to know what to look for if it is loose. He is having gear change problems and we don't think the crank set should cause this.

What are the Angles on a Trek?
Stephen Brown wants some information on some older Trek Madone bikes and who are we not to do it? The older Madone looks to have a sloping top tube, but not in the usual direction; from the seat up to the head, it looks like it runs down from the seat to the head, he also wants to know the angle of the seat tube, here is the info.

Scott CR1 or Litespeed Siena?
Marshall Wade has a problem, he can't choose between the Scott SC1 and the Litespeed Siena. This is carbon verses titanium, we love both materials, the use of titanium is great, but maybe it should only be used in components as we prefer the use of carbon for frames.

Neuvation Wheels; M28 or R28?
Andrew Kremer wants to up grade his wheels and has seen the Neuvation M28 aero wheels, he wants our opinion on them, we liked them but prefer the R28 aero 3's, they are lighter and not much more expensive.

Puncture Problems
Lee Joo Mong is having problems with punctures to his Vittoria tubulars, we look at why this could be happening and what he could do to stop or at least reduce the chances of punctures. Tire pressure is the answer; the tires need to be hard.

FSA Cranks for a Cannondale CAAD9
Larry has a Cannondale CAAD 9 bike and I guess he is thinking of buying a FSA SL-K chain set, I say guess, because there isn't a CAAD 9 that comes supplied with the FSA chain set. He is worried about the quality of the FSA, so we put his mind at rest.

Handle Bars for a Trek Madone 5.0
Roy Dunham has a Trek Madone 5.0 and is thinking of changing the handle bars; he has not told us exactly which handle bars he has now so this has made it a little difficult. We have tried to find his present handle bars and look at his choice of either flat section or round section handle bars.

What Are We All About?
Claire and Rudy have both written to us not asking question, but thank us for our work, which is really nice, thank you. When we receive e-mails like this it makes our work worth while. Both of them realize what we are all about here at Bike Cycling Reviews, let us explain.

Neuvation, Campagnolo or Rolf Wheels?
Jerry wants to up grade his wheels from some no name wheels to either Neuvation R28 SL 3 or Rolf Prima Echelon or Campagnolo Protons. All three are a good choice, but Jerry wants our recommendation on which wheel set he should spend his hard earned cash on.

Gear Ratios, Climbing and Tandems
Lee Joo Mong has written in to us not really asking a question, but brining up some interesting subjects. He talks about taking his bike upstairs, wearing his cassette out prematurely because of his weight, changing his gearing ratio and how to get a girlfriend/wife to ride a tandem with. The last one we can't help with.

What is the Orbea Aqua For?
James Dixon has spotted the Aqua from Orbea fitted with Shimano 105 equipment and likes the price, but wants to know what kind of riding it would be used for, so we have had a good look at the Aqua, and we like what we see, also!

A Strong Bike for a Strong Guy
Robyn Hughes has been off the bike for a few years and wants to make a come back, his question is which bike would suit his large physique, he's a big guy and not light and he is a strong guy. We have some suggestions.

Shaft-Driven Bikes?
Matthew has a very interesting question that we didn't know the answer too! So we have had to do quite a bit of investigations to find out more about shaft-driven bikes, this is the first time that we have been asked about them, so it was a nice surprise to look at something new. Here is what we think.

Carbon Frames; Can they be Comfortable?
John Nives is at a good age and wants to up grade to carbon, but he wants a more relaxed frame set up, this is a tricky question as there are not too many of them being manufactured, luckily John likes French frames and Look makes two frames with a slightly more laid back geometry. Here are our findings.

Fi'zi:k Arione Saddle; Good or Bad?
Which saddle to buy is a terrible choice to make and Rich is asking for our advice on this most uncomfortable questions. Once you get a saddle you like it's best to stay with that saddle, the problems arise when they stop making them or you want something newer, lighter or more stylish.

The Best Rear LED Lights
Elizabeth is putting lights up all over her house and wants to know the best LED's for the back of her bike. We give her some suggestions to which LED lights she should get.

Bike Size for an ATB
Jan Klerken is asking us whither he should buy a 26 or a 29 inch ATB, we guess he wants to know the wheel size, as that size of frame would be enormous for a Mountain Bike or any other kind of bike for that matter!

Aero or Low Profile Rims
Wheels are a very important part of your race bike; Dale wants to know if he would notice the difference between aero carbon and lighter alloy climbing wheels when he is on the flat. He is thinking that if there is no difference then he might as well get the lightest, we agree and say why, we also suggest what style of wheels would be best.

Teschner Piuma SL Carbon Bike
Craig has been looking at the Teschner Piuma SL bike and wants us to run an eye over the bike in question. As usual we dig out the info on the Teschner Piuma SL and do a "mini-review" on this Full Carbon framed bike; it's a nice offering from Teschner.

Shimano Group Sets, What's the Difference?
David Hill wants to know the difference between the Shimano group sets, 105, Ultegra, Ultegra SL and the top of the range Dura-Ace. We give David the low-down, how it is and what he should spend his money on and why.

More Numb Hands!
Dick Caley read our answer on numb hands and gives us his thoughts on the problem. We suggest some more cures for the numb hands problem and we look at what Dick has to say. This problem could ruin a great bike ride, so it's very important that we try to sort it out, if you are suffering this ailment? Then read on.

More Words on Puncture Proof Tires
Steve has been using Nu-Tech solid tires for some time and has put about 700 miles on them. He wants to pass on the lessons he has learnt to rest of us who might be thinking of going down the puncture proof road with our tires.

Which Computer for my Scott CR1?
Adam has bought a new Scott CR1 bike, just like our test bike, and wants our advice on which cycle computer he should get. We think he should get a Bike Specific Polar pulse monitor; they do everything that's needed.

Is the Bottecchia a Good Bike?
Frank Mazzagatti has spotted a bargain in a Bottecchia bike at a very reasonable price and he wants to know what we think of it. Bottecchia has a lot of history behind the name and build a very nice bike. Here is what we think.

Can you Mix SRAM and Shimano?
Gordon Gravatt has two very important questions about the SRAM gears. He wants to know the ratios it can cover and his big question is will the rear derailleur work with a set of Shimano shifters. We tell him what we think.

Which Carbon Frame?
Napoleon wants a carbon frame and needs some advice as to which we think is the best and also he wants to know how long a carbon frame will last? That's a bit like asking "how long is a piece of string?" We do our best to convince him to follow his dreams and get a hold of a carbon frame.

How Old is my Specialized Crossroads?
Rick Peoples has written to us twice wanting information on his Specialized Crossroads. He wants to know the year of its production and has had to help from Specialized. With the little information he has given us we explain why there is no problem by not knowing the age of your bike.

Wheels For Trek Madone 5.0... Shoes and Pedals
Brett Gunter has asked for our advice on wheels, pedals and shoes. He has a Trek Madone and wants to upgrade his wheels, he wants lighter and stiffer wheels for climbing and he is a big lad, so the wheels have to be good. He likes Campagnolo pedals, but doesn't want to spend that much money so we give him some alternatives.

Wellgo and Shimano Clip less Pedals
Max has written in to us