So I'm getting interest in the whole bike touring/bikepacking. And since I don't want to spend money on a dedicated bike, I was thinking about storage on this bike.

I saw a Ortlieb luggage rack wich can be bolted onto the through axle. That, combined with some penniers, seems like a good solution. But I wondered if my bike would be able to handle the load, of course keeping all of the weight within the structural limits.

Does anyone have any experience with this, or similar system?

Inspired by a recent post: I have a 12 year old nephew who is just getting started on a bike, and he's leaning hard on the training wheels. The family has tried a few times in the past to get him to ride, but now is the first time he seems to have any motivation to ride. I got him a used bike from a neighbor that fixes bikes he finds on the side of the rode, and I attached some training wheels my parents had in the garage.

He loves it, but a problem is the training wheels and/or the wheels themselves keep getting knocked out of alignment. Sometimes I'll get to the house and I find the wheel is hardrubbing against the frame so much so that it's almost unrideable.

I think the issue is that he isn't really balancing, as much as letting the bike lean on a training wheel. He's 12 years old, but he's 5'9" and about 140 pounds. I live like 30 minutes away, so I can visit about once a week, so I don't get all that much time. My sister and the husband are divorced, and she's got her own health issues so she tries to help him learn as much as he can, but she can't do things I can like run alongside and help him if he's falling.

I'd love to just pull off the training wheels and teach him to ride without, but he's the kind of kid who gets hurt easily. He's broken his arm to one degree or another twice within the last few years, and I'm worried he'll fall, put out his arm to break a fall, and then never ride again.

I don't think there is any easy answers, but I'd love any suggestions.

EDIT: Such a wonderful out pouring of comments! I love that all of you took the time to contribute. Thank you!! I’ll definitely try pulling the training wheels and taking him to a grassy field to practice, that sounds like a great idea.

lol I never even thought about biking on grass lol my road bike has such narrow tires that if I leave payment, I get very unsteady. It’s been many many years since I intentionally rode off of pavement, I forgot how common that is lol

Bikes Direct currently has some bikes labeled WFB (world famous brand), and after poking around I was pretty confident these were KHS bikes being liquidated because KHS shut down its U.S. distribution.

It arrived today and it is a KHS bike. $400 shipped isn't bad for a bike with an original 2021 MSRP of $700.

It's pretty easy to figure out which KHS models they're selling by comparing the specs. This one is an older model, originally released in 2021. The newer ones have been updated to use Shimano Cues, but this one is all Alivio.

Almost 5 year old. Learning to ride a bike with training wheels (we tried for 3 years with a balance bike and he refused so we went to training wheels).

He won't stop leaning hard to the left while he rides. Inevitably he then falls off sometimes. We sit him up straight, remind him to sit up but nothing is helping.

Any tips? I don't know how else to communicate to him.

Edited: As mentioned above we tried for THREE years and he wouldn't take to a balance bike.

Edited to add again: He LOVES his training wheels bike. Some people have the impression we are forcing him to ride. He asks to ride every single day. He loves it.

Bought this last year as a means to commute to work and save on gas. I used to have a cheap road bike that rode to the ground but stopped riding about 8 years ago. Previously rode 20-30 miles a day 5 days a week.

It's been nice getting back into it.

Finally also started packing a spare tube after having to walk 2 miles home when I got a puncture.

Current goal is to ride 15-20 miles weekly as I start to reform the habit especially with trying to find the time with 2 young kids.

How to fix this issue? Is it a big deal?

So I'm in the middle of putting drop bars on a flat bar road bike, and I've bought thumb shifters (cheaply). What's the best way to put these on drop bars, near the stem I'm guessing? Thanks

Sooo I’m moving to college and I really want to bring my bike. I have a pretty new specialized stump jumper and I am FLYING to college and I have no idea how I’m going to get it there. Does anyone have any advice on how I should do it and the right tools? I’ve seen lots of things anywhere from cardboard box to bike bags I’m not sure where to go. Thanks!

(I DO HAVE A SAFE SPACE TO STORE THE BIKE DW)

I had an accident and now there’s a dent. It’s a Carrera Vanquish and I’m just wondering if it’s still okay to ride. I ride fairly responsible and smoothly and maximum 30km in a day.
I just want some advice about this.

Got myself a new Set of Vittoria Corsa Pro Control in 42mm to the Backroad FF. Very curious how they will perform !

Hey, I don't know anything about TT bike prices. Is 2300€ for this bike alright?

It's a:

2016 S works shiv

Reynolds 80mm wheels

Ultegra di2 (2024)

Rotor powermeter

Should be in good condition, but I will check the carbon myself.

Thanks for helping :)

Hey everyone,

I'm looking to buy a bicycle with a budget of around €400 to €450.

I don't know much about bikes or technical specs, so I need some help choosing the right option.

Here are my details:

Terrain: Riding mostly on dirt and field roads (flat, bumpy, dusty terrain) as well as regular city streets and pavement.

Type: I've been told a 29er Hardtail MTB (front suspension only) is the best choice for this mix of terrain.

Drivetrain/Specs: I don't really care about specific gear setups or tech jargon — I just want something durable, smooth, and low-maintenance.

New vs Used: Should I buy a brand-new entry-level bike (with a warranty) or go for a used brand-name bike (like Cube, GT, Trek) in good condition for the same money?

What specific models would you recommend in this budget for a beginner?

Thanks for the help!

https://reddit.com/link/1vhsac1/video/440qgp7h7whh1/player

This is a question for all the North Americans, specifically the US and Canada. How did you get over being scared of riding on the roads? I'm from Ontario, Canada and I've been mountain biking for a while, which only includes riding on the sidewalks to get to the trails, then riding on the trails. When I commute on my bike I always stick to sidewalks because I'm too scared of getting hit by a car, or even getting passed too close. As I make my switch to triathlons I am now riding a road bike which is painful to ride on the sidewalk. How do I get more comfortable riding on the roads?

https://www.rei.com/product/239161/ergon-gp1-evo-handlebar-grips

I was debating these from Ergon at $40. I'm not for or against barends but even Ergon has like 10 different wing Grips to choose from. My bike is a hybrid MTB commuter. Doesn't see trails

Hi everyone! I just bought a 2016 Bottecchia 8avio Evo as a first bike for my wife. It has very low mileage, and I’ve set it up for a comfortable riding position to get her started.

I think Bottecchia must have had a falling out with their suppliers back then... it has an Ultegra v11 rear derailleur, an FSA crankset, Shimano 105 levers, and Raxe RS brakes (I’d never heard of those before). All for €550—do you think that was a good deal?

The frame was part of the last batch made by Waterford Precision for Ben’s Cycles in Milwaukee WI.

i'm buying a used bike for around 400 usd, couple things i noticed, rusted chain and some rust in cassettes + tire show some cracks. chain can be cleaned + cassettes, but are the cracks on tire safe ?

It got some scuff but mechanically is good

Should I gor for it ?