Ask Nick

Tech editor Nick Legan answers reader questions on perfect tubular mounts, TT bike purchases, fitting a second bike and buying wheels for gritty climates

Tech editor Nick Legan answers questions on thin bar tape, bang-for-buck upgrades and tubeless safety

Nick Legan's third-to-last installment of Ask Nick looks at rice cakes and frame pumps, directors in team cars and Quarq 'cross crank

Technical editor Nick Legan discusses boxers or briefs, pro bike building, 8-speed cassettes and wet ride maintenance

Our tech editor answers reader questions on planning a trans-Oklahoma charity ride, drivetrain wear and radio scanning in the team car

Tech editor Nick Legan takes another look at neutral support bikes, as well as time trial support and Specialized's un-branded branding

Nick Legan answers reader questions about neutral Mavic bikes, keeping helmets clean, elegantly clipping in and bilingual WorldTour mechanics

Grade is grade, transponders aren't calibrators, Tour hotels get better and yellow helmets get tossed out

Technical editor Nick Legan answers questions about attaching race numbers, Campy chainrings and why riders down the cold soda after a stage

Tech editor Nick Legan answers reader questions on antiquated repair stands and running a TT water bottle

Tech editor Nick Legan answers reader questions on front vs. rear flats, cramps and more

What position is fastest when riding in a tailwind? What's on the feedzone menu at le Tour?

Nick Legan answers reader questions on a 30+ cassette for the new Dura-Ace, gearing for bike storage and more

Tech editor Nick Legan gives a tough answer on wheel/frame compatibility and talks road rash treatment

Nick Legan answers reader questions on replacing worn rims, a unique chain holder for bike washing and aero whiskers

Tech editor Nick Legan gives advice on building ice socks, choosing and aligning the perfect saddle and replacing derailleur pulleys

Ask Nick: replicating position from bike-to-bike; swapping chains, cassettes between SRAM and Shimano

More on motos, podium cleanup, tubular glue and reusing sealed bearings

Tech editor Nick Legan also answers readers' questions about using DOT fluid on carbon and new bike nervousness

Our tech editor answers questions on bottom bracket height, pressure gauges, budget wheel choices and balancing your hoops

Tech editor Nick Legan answers questions on technical innovation in the WorldTour, bottom bracket replacement, gearing for wheel changes

Also: draining water from rims

Tech editor Nick Legan addresses reader questions on gear ratios for big days in the mountains… or the hills

Also: Pros racing on untested equipment, Exergy on microSHIFT Whitte, pro teams on custom components, mixing Dura-Ace and SRAM

Also: Chinese frames, Carbon polish and 11-speed chainrings.

Also: a follow up on tubulars

Also: Ti seatposts and dirty shifters

Also: Checking for cassette wear

Also: Squeaky rotors

Also: Gearing for Mt. Washington

Also: Pro's off-season bikes and choosing a wheelset for your style of races

Also: seating tubeless, CDI torque wrenches and wider road rims

Also, is water OK for your bike and Gore cables

on carbon durability, carbon seatposts, KMC, mixing SRAM and Shimano

Careful rear derailleur installation, maintaining a bike for indoor riding, adjusting your cassette rather than your derailleur

Plus: loud freewheels, how the pros keep their shoes fresh and clean and if pros train fixed in the off-season

The trick is in the b-tension screw

Quick-change saddle device, windproof tights and a mechanic's mistakes.

Cleat lube, dream wheels, fixie conversions and more.

Team tactics, chain lengths, choosing a new bike and more

Team income, degreaser tips, wide q-factors and more.

Carbon handlebar lifespan, long-lasting tires, mechanical sabotage & more

Prescription lenses in the rain, Roubaix tire options, and more

Bikes at worlds, Olympian mechanics, the Little 500 and carbon-railed saddle care

Cav's helmet, mountain bike weight rules, those mysterious initials on the maillot jaune, and more.

Pros' personal bikes, the UCI weight limit and more

Carbon brake surface repair, team mergers and more

Squeaky pedals, carbon brake tracks, post-Tour fashion faux pas & more

Pros' replacement parts, where to carry your stuff, carbon brake pads and more

Pro saddle choices, worn-out wrenches and more

Dirt road ridin', team chef job opportunities and more

Time trial crank lengths, nature breaks, and more

Cork remnants, long-low pros, and what do retired pros ride?

The weight of steel, pro warm-ups, UCI rules and more

What do UCI WorldTour teams do with team cars after races outside of Europe such as the Tour of California or the Tour down Under?

What's that bike CVV is riding at the Swiss Tour?

Bar tape underlay, sticky numbers, and trainer stress

Nick Legan checks in from the Dirty Kanza 200 and the Rapha Continental tour of Colorado.

Pre-race weigh-ins, TT follow cars and a Dirty Kanza update

Road rash treatment, skewer placement, vans in the caravan and more

After questions on tire pressure and my favorite chain lube, the most popular question I’m asked is how to become a pro team mechanic.

Questions on spectator etiquette, pros with fenders and lightweight bike

Fat tire love, Mavic's neutral support questions and power meter queries.

Readers ask Nick about Contador's plans to switch bikes mid-stage and what it takes for a mechanic to make adjustments on the run.

Special shorts for Roubaix, team vehicle parking spots, painted roads and more questions, answered

Caravan order, water bottle practices and Roubaix flats. All your questions, answered.

Why white tape? Why no gloves? How do I become a team doctor?

Readers ask about treating tires, both inside and out, and protecting your knees in cold weather.

Time trial follow cars, just how qualified IS my local bike mechanic, and what the heck is an 'ice sock?'

Classics wheels, roof-rack hierarchy and team car inventory

Nick talks about flying with bikes and takes a few questions about shoes and cleats.

The varying roles for race follow cars, pros changing their own tubies, and Nick's favorite workstand, revealed.

What do mechanics do on long, boring stages? Will Boardman's hour record be broken? And more

As a former RadioShack mechanic, I’m constantly asked for the inside scoop on working with Lance Armstrong. With today’s announcement of his (second) retirement from professional racing, the timing is right to answer that question.

Brakes, flats and Superman

Speed wobble, shoe covers and single-ringing it

Quack! Nick answers questions about Q-factor, tire choices for epic rides and more

The pros and cons of two-step chain lubing, getting team vehicles Down Under, and Bontrager discography

Questions of epic tire failures, the real wheel behind the team label and possible refinements in electronic shifting.

Questions on wheel-change technique, pumps for lightweight riders, and steel in the pro peloton