Riding a mountain bike, proper riding technique, equipment with helmet, outfit and shoes - that's one side of this wonderful sport. Care and maintenance or even the repair of our sports equipment is the other. For some, "wrenching" is a meditative exercise after the sport. We have put together this special so that everyone else can easily tick off the most important steps in the care and maintenance of their mountain bike after their after-work ride.
But our collection of how-tos and guidelines for MTB maintenance is not just aimed at beginners. Did you know, for example, that a Disc brake after braking in must smell burnt? Would you have thought that special saddles for women in most cases can lead to bigger problems than they can solve? So feel free to test your screwdriver knowledge on our articles - you might just find a trick or a knack that you haven't realised yet.
Our special "MTB care and maintenance" at a glance:
- The mountain bike categories at a glance - Is this already all-mountain or still a down-country bike? We explain the most common bike categories and categorise them in terms of suspension travel and centre of gravity.
- Sram or Shimano: 12-speed drivetrains in comparison - What is the difference between NX and GX Eagle? Is Deore better than SLX? We provide an overview of the 12-speed groupsets from market giants Sram and Shimano.
- How women and men can find the perfect saddle for their mountain bike - If it pinches or even burns, our tips on sit bone distance and cushion firmness may help you quickly. We also spoke to ergonomics specialist SQlab to finally clarify the difference between biker and biker.
- MTB suspension: the perfect setup for suspension fork and damper - If you were previously overwhelmed by the adjustment options for suspension forks and shocks. BIKE shows you how to quickly and correctly adjust the suspension on your mountain bike - from the basic setting to fine tuning.
- 6 myths and 4 facts about MTB disc brakes - They are literally a hot potato: We provide clarity on issues such as brake disc size, brake fluid and how to run them in properly.
- Cleaning and changing the MTB chain: how it works! - The chain also often ekes out an unnoticed existence. We put it in the spotlight in our workshop and show you how you can get the drive back on track and save many watts of power.
- Anti-Platt: Convert tyres to tubeless or change inner tube? - Ouch! The stone was mightier than the rubber! This how-to is about how switching to tubeless tyres can (almost) make flat tyres a thing of the past. And for all those who want to stick with tubes, here's a quick guide to changing tubes.
- Answers: Which MTB inner tube fits which tyre? - Sclaverand, Dunlop or Auto? 29x2.25 or 57-622? Here you will find answers to questions you were afraid to ask. As an encore, we show modern and lightweight alternatives to the black butyl tyres that many have been struggling with all their lives.
- What is the optimum tyre pressure for MTB tyres? - Tyre pressure is crucial for good grip and puncture protection off-road. We tell you how much pressure is optimal for mountain bikes and how rolling resistance changes.
Marc Strucken
Editor
