Category: Drivetrain | Bike Gremlin US

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How to install square-taper cranks

How to properly install square taper cranks (to lube or not to lube)?

Proper square-taper crank installation explained: correct lubrication, torque, preload mechanics, myths debunked, and what experts like Park Tool say.

Bicycle chain durability test

Comparative bicycle chain durability test. Do narrower chains for more speeds wear faster?

1x drivetrain (groups) pros and cons

1x drivetrain pros and cons explained: compare 1x vs 2x and 3x systems, gearing range, gaps, chainline, durability, cost, and best use cases.

Bicycle chain wear (elongation)

Chain pitch is shown with green markers, though it is determined by measuring the distance between 3 adjacent pins (blue mark) and dividing it by two. Picture 4

Bicycle chain wear explained: what chain elongation really is, how pitch changes, how wear affects chainrings and sprockets, and why timely replacement matters.

Bicycle Chainline Explained

Good (up) and bad (down) bicycle chainline

Bicycle chainline explained: what chainline is, why it matters, how to measure front and rear chainline, and how to set it for quieter, longer-lasting drivetrains.

Removing rear bicycle sprockets

How to remove bicycle rear sprockets explained: identify freewheel vs freehub, required tools, step-by-step removal and mounting, plus common pitfalls.

Bicycle pedals – types, standards

Bicycle pedals explained: pedal types and standards, BMX vs 9/16″ threads, platform, clipless (road & MTB), and hybrid pedals with pros and cons.

When to replace the chain on a bicycle?

When is a bicycle chain worn ("stretched"), i.e. when should you replace your bicycle's chain?

When to replace a bicycle chain explained: chain wear thresholds, how elongation damages sprockets, and accurate methods to measure chain wear before it’s too late.

Chain length sizing for bicycles with derailleurs

Chain sizing for bicycles with derailleurs

How to size bicycle chain length with derailleurs: the big-big method for 1x, 2x, and 3x drivetrains, common mistakes, and derailleur capacity limits.

Determining single speed chain length

Chain length sizing for singe speed bicycles

How to determine single-speed chain length: set correct slack, avoid dropped or overstressed chains, and adjust tension using horizontal dropouts or tensioners.

Bicycle equipment (“groupset”) classes

A complete MTB groupset. Front and rear derailleurs, shifters, brake levers, V-brake callipers, crankset, sprockets and chain.

Bicycle groupset classes explained: Shimano, SRAM, and Campagnolo rankings, what each class offers, best value choices, and durability vs performance trade-offs.

Bicycle front derailleurs explained

E-mount type front derailleur, model: FD-M9100-E. Picture 12b

Bicycle front derailleurs explained: how they work, mounting standards, clamp and direct-mount types, cable pull, swing designs, and double vs triple compatibility.

Bicycle rear derailleurs: types, characteristics

Bicycle rear derailleurs explained (direct mount vs classic mount, RD capacity/cage length etc.)

Bicycle rear derailleurs explained: how they work, mounting types (hook, standard, direct mount), cage length and capacity, max sprocket size, and compatibility basics.

Speeds – rear sprockets

Cassette: individual sprockets with spacers that go between them.

Bicycle rear sprocket “speeds” explained: cassette standards from 6 to 13 speeds, sprocket spacing and width, road vs MTB differences, and compatibility basics.

Bicycle rear sprockets – freewheel VS freehub

Freewheel vs freehub explained: how to tell the difference, how sprockets mount, cassette vs freewheel pros and cons, and Hyperglide, Uniglide, XD basics.