Jobst Brandt, who posted most of these articles, is the author of the book The Bicycle Wheel. Another selection of his articles can be found at the Frequently Asked Questions section of Sheldon Brown's website. The selection here differs in character in that it has infrequently as well as frequently addressed topics. It also goes more deeply into arguments; there is no shying away here from technical detail, nor from controversy. The FAQ is thus probably a better read for those new to the workings of bicycles; the articles here are more of an advanced course in the subject (although none of this stuff is horribly esoteric).

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Wheels, Tires

  • Aluminum nipples (Jobst Brandt)
  • Drag of aero wheels (Mark Drela)
  • Avocet dirt tires (Jobst Brandt)
  • Bias ply (Jobst Brandt)
  • Blowouts (Jobst Brandt)
  • Flat tires (Jobst Brandt)
  • Glass punctures (Jobst Brandt)
  • Inflation constriction force (Jobst Brandt)
  • Inner tube evacuation (Jobst Brandt)
  • Inner tube patching (Jobst Brandt)
  • Inner tube ridges (Jobst Brandt)
  • Inner tube stem fail (Jobst Brandt)
  • Inner tubes (Jobst Brandt)
  • Kevlar (Jobst Brandt)
  • Machine-built wheels (Jobst Brandt)
  • Nipple failure (Jobst Brandt)
  • Overly swaged spokes (Jobst Brandt; Rafael Raban)
  • Paired spokes (Jobst Brandt)
  • Presta valves (Jobst Brandt)
  • Pretzeled rims (Jobst Brandt)
  • Rim compatibility (Jobst Brandt)
  • Rim bending (Jobst Brandt)
  • Rim cracking (Jobst Brandt)
  • Rim heat (Jobst Brandt)
  • Rim noise (Jobst Brandt)
  • Rim tape / rim strips (Jobst Brandt)
  • Rim wear (Jobst Brandt)
  • Rims (Jobst Brandt; Hans-Joachim Zierke)
  • Rolling resistance (Jobst Brandt) (Graphed at Terry Morse's website)
  • Rotating mass (Jobst Brandt)
  • Slicks (Jobst Brandt)
  • Spinergy (Jobst Brandt)
  • Spoke count (Jobst Brandt)
  • Spoke lube (Jobst Brandt)
  • Spoke measurement (Jobst Brandt)
  • Spoke reuse (Jobst Brandt)
  • Spoke tightening (Jobst Brandt)
  • Spoke tone when plucked (Jobst Brandt)
  • Spoke twist (Jobst Brandt)
  • Spokes (Jobst Brandt)
  • Stress relieving wheels (Jobst Brandt; Mike Prime)
  • Tensiometers (Jobst Brandt)
  • Tire aging (Jobst Brandt)
  • Tire boots (Jobst Brandt)
  • Tire braid angle (Jobst Brandt)
  • Tire color (Jobst Brandt)
  • Tire cords (Jobst Brandt)
  • Tire directional tread (Jobst Brandt)
  • Tire sealants (Jobst Brandt)
  • Tire makers (Jobst Brandt)
  • Tire pressure (Jobst Brandt)
  • Tire recommendation (Jobst Brandt)
  • Tire roll-off (Jobst Brandt)
  • Tire talc (Jobst Brandt)
  • Tire wear (Jobst Brandt)
  • Track glue (Jobst Brandt)
  • Truing (Jobst Brandt)
  • Truing stands (Jobst Brandt)
  • Tubular making (Jobst Brandt)
  • Tubulars (Jobst Brandt)
  • Tying-and-soldering (Jobst Brandt)
  • Wet brakes (Jobst Brandt)
  • Wheel balancing (Jobst Brandt)
  • Wheel building (Jobst Brandt; Norman Yarvin)
  • Wheel drag (Jobst Brandt)
  • Wheel longevity (Jobst Brandt)
  • Wheel side force (Jobst Brandt)
  • Wheel size (Jobst Brandt)
  • Wheel stresses (Jobst Brandt)

    Cranks, Gears, Chains, Bearings, Axles

  • Aluminum sprockets (Jobst Brandt)
  • Aluminum ratchets (Jobst Brandt)
  • Axle breakage (Jobst Brandt)
  • Bent axles (Jobst Brandt)
  • Ball bearings (Jobst Brandt)
  • Bearing seals (Jobst Brandt)
  • Biopace (Jobst Brandt)
  • Bottom bracket (Jobst Brandt)
  • Bottom bracket threads (Jobst Brandt)
  • Cassette freewheel unscrewing (Jobst Brandt)
  • Chain brands (Hans-Joachim Zierke)
  • Chain cleaning (Jobst Brandt)
  • Chain drive (Jobst Brandt)
  • Chain lubricants (Jobst Brandt)
  • Chains and shifting ease (Jobst Brandt)
  • Chain skip (Jobst Brandt)
  • Chain suck (Jobst Brandt)
  • Chain tools (Mark Drela; Jobst Brandt)
  • Chain wear (Jobst Brandt)
  • Chains (Tho X. Bui; Jobst Brandt)
  • Cotter pins (Jobst Brandt)
  • Crank breakage (Jobst Brandt)
  • Crank length (Jobst Brandt)
  • Cranks (Jobst Brandt)
  • Derailleurs (Jobst Brandt)
  • Freewheel lubrication (Hans-Joachim Zierke)
  • Freewheel pawls (Jobst Brandt)
  • Freewheel wobble (Jobst Brandt)
  • Freewheel removal (Jobst Brandt)
  • Freewheel removal without a rim (Paul Southworth; Jobst Brandt)
  • Freewheels (Jobst Brandt)
  • Gear hubs (Jobst Brandt)
  • Gearing choices (Jobst Brandt)
  • Grease (Jobst Brandt)
  • Grease stains (Jobst Brandt)
  • Head bearings (Jobst Brandt)
  • Head bearing insertion (Jobst Brandt)
  • Head bearing adjustment (Jobst Brandt)
  • The Hugi hub (Jobst Brandt)
  • Hollow cranks (Jobst Brandt)
  • Hyperglide (Jobst Brandt)
  • Hypoid oil (Jobst Brandt)
  • Indexed steering (Jobst Brandt)
  • ISIS drive (Jobst Brandt)
  • Labyrinth seals (Jobst Brandt)
  • The Mavic Zap derailleur (Jobst Brandt)
  • Narrow chain (Jobst Brandt)
  • Nickel plating (Jobst Brandt)
  • Pedal removal (Jobst Brandt)
  • The Sachs Power Link (Jobst Brandt)
  • Shaft drive (Jobst Brandt; Mark Drela)
  • The Shimano splined bottom bracket (Jobst Brandt)
  • Sprocket washer (Jobst Brandt)
  • Sprocket wear (Jobst Brandt)
  • Sturmey Archer 3-speed hubs (Jobst Brandt)
  • Torpedo hubs (Hans-Joachim Zierke)
  • Worn chains and sprockets (Jobst Brandt)
  • Frames, Seats, Handlebars, Brakes

  • Reynolds 853 steel (Mark Bulgier)
  • Brake bolts (Jobst Brandt)
  • Brake cable wear (Jobst Brandt)
  • Brake centering (Jobst Brandt)
  • Brake chatter (Jobst Brandt)
  • Brake leverage (Jobst Brandt)
  • Brake pads (Jobst Brandt)
  • Brake rigidity (Chalo Colina; Jobst Brandt)
  • Brake rotors (Bob Flumere; Jobst Brandt)
  • Brake squeal (Jobst Brandt)
  • Brake toe in (Jobst Brandt)
  • Brake types (Jobst Brandt)
  • Cable ends (Jobst Brandt)
  • Cutting cable housing (Jobst Brandt)
  • Carbon forks (Jobst Brandt)
  • Chainstay bridges (Jobst Brandt)
  • Composite frames (Jobst Brandt)
  • The Campagnolo Delta brake (Jobst Brandt)
  • Disk brakes and quick-release unscrewing (James Annan; Jobst Brandt)
  • Disk brakes (Jobst Brandt)
  • Dropout breakage (Jobst Brandt)
  • Drop bars (Jobst Brandt)
  • Epoxy (Mark Drela)
  • Fenders (Jobst Brandt)
  • Filigree lugs (Jobst Brandt)
  • Fork failures (Jobst Brandt)
  • Frame bending (Jobst Brandt)
  • Frame breakage (Jobst Brandt)
  • Frame dimensions (Jobst Brandt)
  • Frame flex (Charles Bruce Musgrave)
  • Frame joints (Jobst Brandt)
  • Frame rust (Jobst Brandt; Joshua_Putnam)
  • Frames (Jobst Brandt)
  • Frozen stem removal (Jobst Brandt)
  • Handlebar breakage (Jobst Brandt)
  • Handlebar tape (Jobst Brandt)
  • Head angle (Jobst Brandt)
  • Leather saddles (Jobst Brandt)
  • Rake (Jobst Brandt)
  • Ride quality (Jobst Brandt)
  • Rivnuts (Mark McMaster; Jobst Brandt)
  • Rust (Jobst Brandt)
  • Seats (Jobst Brandt)
  • Seat stay strength (Mark Bulgier; Jobst Brandt)
  • Unsticking a seatpost (Jon Isaacs; Jobst Brandt)
  • Short chainstays (Jobst Brandt)
  • SIS cable housing (Jobst Brandt)
  • SPD pedals (Jobst Brandt)
  • Stress formula book (Jobst Brandt)
  • Suspension fork stiffness (Dave Blake; Jobst Brandt; Mark Hickey; Mark McMaster)
  • Threadless headsets (Jobst Brandt)
  • Track dropouts (Jobst Brandt)

    Politics, Companies, Trends, Riding, Transport

  • Air transport of bicycles (Jobst Brandt)
  • Baggage on the bicycle (Jobst Brandt)
  • The bicycle industry (Jobst Brandt)
  • Learing to bicycle (Jobst Brandt)
  • Bicycling style (Jobst Brandt)
  • Bike helmets (Dave Blake; Lee Green MD MPH)
  • Bike jackets (Jobst Brandt)
  • Bike trails (Jobst Brandt)
  • Botts' Dots (Jobst Brandt)
  • Campagnolo (Jobst Brandt)
  • Camelback (Jobst Brandt)
  • Car vs bike (Jobst Brandt)
  • Cycling caps (Jobst Brandt)
  • Cops (Jobst Brandt)
  • Descending (Jobst Brandt)
  • Dogs (Jobst Brandt)
  • Electrolytes (Jobst Brandt)
  • Elliptical oil rings on the road (Jobst Brandt)
  • Eye protection (Jobst Brandt)
  • Gloves (Jobst Brandt)
  • Gyroscopic effects (Jobst Brandt)
  • Helmets (Charles Bruce Musgrave; Lee Green MD MPH)
  • Headlights (Jobst Brandt)
  • High speed (Jobst Brandt)
  • Hip breakage (Jobst Brandt)
  • Italian pronunciations (Jobst Brandt)
  • Ice riding (Jobst Brandt)
  • Indoor trainers (Jobst Brandt)
  • Jargon (Jobst Brandt)
  • Knee problems (Jobst Brandt)
  • Knit jerseys (Jobst Brandt)
  • Learning to ride a bicycle (Jobst Brandt)
  • Lawsuits (Jobst Brandt)
  • Left turns (Jobst Brandt)
  • Leg shaving (Jobst Brandt)
  • Magazines (Jobst Brandt)
  • Mountain bikes (Jobst Brandt)
  • Mountain bikers (Jobst Brandt)
  • Nerve compression (Dave Blake)
  • Nutrition (Dave Blake)
  • No-hands riding (Jobst Brandt)
  • Ocean beaches (Jobst Brandt)
  • Going over the handlebars (Jobst Brandt)
  • Pack riding (Jobst Brandt)
  • Pedaling (Jobst Brandt)
  • Pepper spray (Lee Albert Green MD MPH)
  • Poison oak (Jobst Brandt)
  • Polarized glasses (Jobst Brandt)
  • Polypropylene clothing (Jobst Brandt)
  • Power bars (Jobst Brandt)
  • Puncture vine (Jobst Brandt)
  • Pumps (Jobst Brandt)
  • QR accidents (Jobst Brandt)
  • Racers' descending abilities (Jobst Brandt)
  • Recumbents (Jobst Brandt)
  • Roof racks (Jobst Brandt)
  • San Francisco area bike paths (Jobst Brandt)
  • Shimmy (Jobst Brandt)
  • Spinning (Dave Blake; Jobst Brandt)
  • Steep grades (Jobst Brandt; Mark Bulgier)
  • Storage (Jobst Brandt)
  • Stunts (Jobst Brandt)
  • Track riding (Jobst Brandt)
  • Track stands (Jobst Brandt)
  • Triathletes (Jobst Brandt)
  • Water bottle taste (Jobst Brandt)
  • Jamming wheels (Jobst Brandt)

    Miscellaneous

  • Altimeters (Jobst Brandt)
  • Aluminum hydrogen embrittlement (Tho X. Bui)
  • Antiseize (Jobst Brandt)
  • Bicycle-mounted generators (Jobst Brandt)
  • BMW opposed-cylinder engine (Jobst Brandt)
  • Cattle guards (Jobst Brandt)
  • Camshaft drive (Jobst Brandt)
  • Cyclometer waterproofness (Jobst Brandt)
  • Cyclometer contact cleaning (Jobst Brandt)
  • Cleaners (Jobst Brandt)
  • Clearcoat (Jobst Brandt)
  • The Corvair (Jobst Brandt)
  • Dessicant (Jobst Brandt)
  • A double-acting pump (Jobst Brandt)
  • The Sturmey-Archer Dyno Hub (Jobst Brandt)
  • Engine balance (Jobst Brandt)
  • The Golden Gate Bridge (Jobst Brandt)
  • Limited-slip differentials (Doug Milliken; Jobst Brandt)
  • Loctite (Jobst Brandt)
  • Mystery squeak (Jobst Brandt)
  • Pump oil (Jobst Brandt)
  • Railroad energy losses (Jobst Brandt)
  • Rear steering (Jobst Brandt)
  • Road cracks (Jobst Brandt)
  • Rotary engines (Jobst Brandt)
  • The Silca Impero pump (Jobst Brandt)
  • San Francisco cable car brakes (Jobst Brandt)
  • The myth of "tired" springs (Jobst Brandt)
  • Top tube wrap (Jobst Brandt)
  • Tribology (Jobst Brandt)