Search sheldonbrown.com and sheldonbrown.org
The Adventure Cycling Association, a nonprofit supported by its 40,000 members (as of 2011), develops bicycle touring routes and organizes tours in the USA, and provides a wealth of useful information for bicycle tourists. From 1997 through 2007, Sheldon wrote the column "Mechanical Advantage" for Adventure Cyclist, the Adventure Cycling Association's magazine. The articles are available online, and they are linked here.
-- John Allen
Sheldon wrote the lead article for this guide. The information on specific bicycles is dated; the general information is timeless.
Sheldon proposes a new way to describe bicycle gearing.
For any bicyclist who rides in wet weather or even only on wet roads, fenders make the difference between misery and relative comfort, and spare the bicycle a lot of wear. Types, compatibility, installation.
The advent of threadless headsets.
Types of seatposts; choosing a seatpost.
How to adjust a seatpost and saddle.
How to adjust a derailer and perform on-road repairs.
Toe clips? clip-in pedals? Adjustment? Where to position the foot?
How to choose, modify and use cranks and chainrings, with special attention to the needs of touring cyclists riding long days and carrying baggage.
Steel is real, but good design is more important than frame material.
Is an internal-gear hub suitable for touring? A single-speed?
How to get on and get off.
Should touring bikes have disc brakes?.
Straight bars, flat bars or, believe it or not, both?
Tires for touring -- the good, the bad and the knobby.
Sidepull, centerpull, cantilever, direct-pull and disk brakes: advantages and disadvantages, compatibility with frames, fenders, racks.
An appreciation by John Schubert.
