Products and reviews – CAUTION!
Universal review disclaimer by BikeGremlin – exposing how modern services and products use fake upgrades and lock-ins to keep you spending.
Start » Author: Relja Novović
Relja Novović
Lubricate cables – should you?
Should you lubricate brake or shifter cables? Learn what lube to use, when it’s needed, and how to do it properly without causing problems.
Shimano cable grease explained
Detailed specs and real-world performance of Shimano’s special cable grease for OT-SP41 and BC-9000 housings. Why it’s better than typical greases for long-term cable smoothness.
Why I’m Mostly Inactive™, Yet Recommend Bike Forums
Why I rarely post on Bike Forums despite valuing it as a top cycling resource – my experience, reasons for stepping back, and where I now focus my efforts.
How to Critique Without Being a Twit
How to offer real feedback without just bashing creators. A guide to making your criticism useful, respectful, and worth reading.
How I Organise and Share My Knowledge
How I organise cycling ideas and turn them into useful articles and videos, plus how to navigate BikeGremlin websites, YouTube, the forum, and search.
Your Support Keeps BikeGremlin Rolling!
Help BikeGremlin stay online and intependent of any corporations with your donations!
Where should I buy bicycle parts (and tools)?
A short list of shops where I buy bicycle parts and tools online – what I’m using and can recommend
Bicycle helmets 101 – do they really help?
Important things to know about cycling helmets and about being safer when cycling in general.
When to replace bicycle brake discs (“rotors”)?
Bicycle brake discs (“rotors”) wear when you brake. If they wear too thin, they might break, and stop braking. 🙂 When should you replace them?
When to replace bicycle disc brake pads?
When should you replace bicycle disc brake pads? What is the minimum safe brake pad thickness?
Bosch Pro power tools and customer support
My experience with the Bosch Pro power tools and their customer support in my country (Serbia).
Mandatory Electric Scooter and E-bike Registration?!
Should electric scooter and e-bike registration be mandatory? Would that be a dis-incentivising policy, and is it good to dis-incentivise electric scooter use?
Bike Team bicycle repair shop in Novi Sad (Serbia)
A few words about the “Bike Team” bicycle repair shop in Novi Sad (Serbia), run by my friend Miloš Radosavljević.
Is it the best one in Serbia?
Questions & answers “moved” from the website to the forum
Why did I “move” and redirect questions and answers from the website to the forum?
Bicycle maintenance service intervals
At which intervals should I lubricate my chain, change cables and brake fluid etc?
What are the recommended bicycle maintenance service intervals?
Which fluid should I put in my hydraulic bicycle brakes?
Should I use DOT 4, DOT 5 brake fluid, or hydraulic mineral oil with my bicycle brakes?
Is BikeGremlin a reliable source of information?
Is BikeGremlin a reliable source of cycling and mechanics (and computer-related) information?
Optimal bicycle cranks(et) length
This article answers the questions:
“What cranks(et) length should I use/buy?”
“Is 170 mm better than 175 mm, or should I get something in between?”
Torque wrench buying guide
This article answers the questions:
Do I really need a torque wrench to service my bicycle?
What kind of torque wrench should I buy?
BikeGremlin’s Black Friday recommendations
A very brief (and exclusive) list of offers that I consider good enough to buy myself, or recommend to friends. Nothing more, nothing less.
Tightening torque and torque wrenches explained – 101
This article answers the questions:
What is tightening torque and why is it important?
What are torque wrenches and what kinds of them exist?
Nonsense in the cycling industry
Why and how do nonsense and even unsafe patents and solutions emerge and remain in the cycling industry – with a few words about artificial intelligence
Commuting bicycle buying guide
A guide for buying a bicycle for commuting (to work, school, running errands etc.)
Bicycle chain durability test
Comparative bicycle chain durability test. Do narrower chains for more speeds wear faster?
Square drive socket wrench (ratchet) size standards
What are the common, standard sizes of the square drive socket wrenches (i.e. socket spanners, or ratchets) – and what each size is best used for.v
City bicycle buying guide
Guide to help you when buying a city bicycle – what to look (out) for and how to choose
Buying a bicycle – new vs used
For a given budget, is it better to buy a new, or a used bicycle? Which one of those gives you more bang for the buck in the long run?
Screwdriver hex-bit size standards and types
Screwdriver hex-bit size standards and types explained – so you don’t make a mistake when buying tools and spare bits
Tubeless bicycle tyres – pros and cons explained
What are bicycle tubeless tyres, and what are their pros and cons? Should you switch to tubeless?
Hookless Rims Explained
What are hookless rims? How do they differ, and what are their pros and cons compared to the “ordinary” clincher rims (the ones with hooks)?
Mailing list and website monetization (adverts)
My thoughts about the mailing list (newsletter), and website monetization (adverts)
Drum brake (& roller brake) pros and cons
Drum brake (and “Shimano roller”) pros and cons compared to disc brakes and rim brakes
Bicycle repair or tuning – how to ask for advice?
How to ask for help and advice for bicycle repair, maintenance or tuning?
Buying a bicycle – how to ask for advice?
How to ask for help and advice when buying a new or a used bicycle?
My bicycle saddle is uncomfortable, what should I do?
What to do if your bicycle saddle is uncomfortable? How to find a comfortable saddle – and how to know it’s comfortable before buying it?
Bicycle parts tightening torque (N⋅m) specifications
A list of recommended tightening torques (in N⋅m) for various bicycle parts (stems, bottom brackets, cassettes, derailleurs, brakes etc.).
Flat tyres – causes and prevention
What causes flat tyres on bicycles? How to prevent, or at least reduce the probability of having a flat tyre?
