Velopedia Guides
Practical guidance for evaluating used bikes, understanding archived data, solving compatibility questions, and working on modern bicycles.
Reference library
16 published guides
Compatibility & Standards
Matching the number of rear sprockets is not enough to establish drivetrain compatibility. A cassette must fit the wheel’s driver body; the derailleur must work with its sprocket range; the…
Compatibility & Standards
A tire marked “26 inch,” “28 inch,” or “700” still may not fit the wheel in front of you. The dependable starting point is the ISO/ETRTO size molded into the…
Compatibility & Standards
A handlebar and stem can share the right clamp diameter and still be wrong for the bicycle. The stem must fit the fork steerer, the headset must match the frame…
Setup, Fit & Tuning
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. There isn’t…
Setup, Fit & Tuning
Start with a bicycle that fits you, not a universal conversion chart. A 54 cm frame from one brand may overlap a 52 or 56 elsewhere, and two Mediums from…
Setup, Fit & Tuning
A geometry chart describes where a bicycle’s important reference points sit in relation to one another. It can help you compare sizes, understand why two bikes fit or handle differently,…
Buying & Inspection
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. On…
Buying & Inspection
Frame and fork damage controls the purchase because it can be unsafe, difficult to confirm, and cost more than the bicycle is worth. A worn chain or rough bearing has…
Buying & Inspection
The battery and its correct charger can decide whether a used e-bike is a sensible purchase before the motor ever turns. Do not charge or ride with a swollen, cracked,…
Buying & Inspection
Suspension can feel wrong because it is badly adjusted, overdue for routine service, or internally damaged. Those outcomes carry very different costs. Before riding, look for the findings that adjustment…
Buying & Inspection
Do not begin a test ride by discovering whether the brakes work. Establish that at the standstill first. A lever that reaches the handlebar, a hydraulic leak, a frayed cable,…
Buying & Inspection
A drivetrain can shift neatly on a repair stand and skip as soon as the rider pushes on the pedals. It can also be scrubbed clean the morning of the…
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.
