Compatibility & Standards
How to Check Cassette, Chain, Chainring, and Derailleur Compatibility
Matching the number of rear sprockets is not enough to establish drivetrain compatibility.
Updated August 29, 2026
Read guide
Velopedia Guides
Bicycle buying, inspection, service, and specification guides
Practical guidance for evaluating used bikes, understanding archived data, solving compatibility questions, and working on modern bicycles.
Guide purpose
Technical subject
Reference library
Latest guides
16 published guides
Compatibility & Standards
How to Identify Bicycle Wheel and Tire Size
A tire marked “26 inch,” “28 inch,” or “700” still may not fit the wheel in front of you.
Updated August 29, 2026
Read guide
Compatibility & Standards
How to Check Handlebar, Stem, Steerer, and Headset Compatibility
A handlebar and stem can share the right clamp diameter and still be wrong for the bicycle.
Updated August 28, 2026
Read guide
Setup, Fit & Tuning
How to Set Saddle Height and Fore-Aft Position
A useful saddle position supports steady pedaling without making the rider reach for the bottom of the stroke, crowd the top of it, or brace against the handlebar.
Updated August 28, 2026
Read guide
Setup, Fit & Tuning
How to Compare Bicycle Sizes Across Brands
Start with a bicycle that fits you, not a universal conversion chart.
Updated August 28, 2026
Read guide
Setup, Fit & Tuning
How to Read a Bicycle Geometry Chart
A geometry chart describes where a bicycle’s important reference points sit in relation to one another.
Updated August 28, 2026
Read guide
Buying & Inspection
Inspecting a Used Bike Bottom Bracket and Frame Shell
A complete bike and a bare frameset expose different evidence. On a complete bike, check for play, rough rotation, a loose crankarm, and movement between the cups and frame.
Updated August 15, 2026
Read guide
Buying & Inspection
Inspecting a Used Bicycle Frame and Fork
Frame and fork damage controls the purchase because it can be unsafe, difficult to confirm, and cost more than the bicycle is worth.
Updated August 15, 2026
Read guide
Buying & Inspection
Checking a Used E-Bike’s Battery and Electronics
The battery and its correct charger can decide whether a used e-bike is a sensible purchase before the motor ever turns.
Updated August 15, 2026
Read guide
Buying & Inspection
Evaluating Suspension on a Used Mountain Bike
Suspension can feel wrong because it is badly adjusted, overdue for routine service, or internally damaged. Those outcomes carry very different costs.
Updated August 15, 2026
Read guide
Buying & Inspection
Inspecting Used-Bike Brakes Before a Test Ride
Do not begin a test ride by discovering whether the brakes work. Establish that at the standstill first.
Updated August 15, 2026
Read guide
Buying & Inspection
Checking Drivetrain Wear Before You Buy
A drivetrain can shift neatly on a repair stand and skip as soon as the rider pushes on the pedals.
Updated August 15, 2026
Read guide
Practical guidance is one part of bicycle knowledge for the life of the bike. Discover bicycles in the Archive, use Guides to understand them, then keep a physical bike’s record in My Garage.