The Unchained Blog- Resources for Your Best Day Ever

The best hot or immersive chain waxes will produce some of the lowest chain wear rates and will increase the number of miles you can cover for a single application. As well as provide excellent drivetrain efficiency and a pretty much spotless drivetrain.  Lubricating a chain using hot melt wax is the benefits can be excellent. Waxing a chain ensures each metal surface of a chain such as the link plates, rollers, bushings and pins are covered in a layer of hard wax. This means there is minimal or no metal-to-metal contact and abrasion which is what wears chains out, accelerated by contamination such as dirt and dust.  Though plenty of people wax their chains already. We often hear that it is too much hassle, or a little excessive, or over the top. Changing your cleaning regime and switching to waxing may require some initial investment and effort to learn a new process, but it's something you should at least consider if you want to achieve some of the best drivetrain performan...

  Benefits of Utilizing a Tubeless Insert  Rough Trail or Enduro Riders - Should Highly Consider! If you're looking to improve your mountain biking experience, tubeless tire inserts are a game-changer. These inserts sit between the tire and the rim and provide a range of benefits. Firstly, they offer superior puncture protection, preventing pinch flats and allowing you to ride with more confidence on rough terrain. Additionally, tubeless tire inserts reduce the risk of rim damage by absorbing impacts and shocks. They also help to dampen vibrations, providing a smoother ride and reducing fatigue. And finally, tubeless tire inserts allow you to run lower tire pressures, improving traction and control on the trails. Upgrade your ride and enjoy all the benefits of tubeless tire inserts today! Tannus Tubeless is an insert that sits between the tire and the rim. It offers  comfort and enhanced riding capabilities. Tannus Armour is made of a patented material called Aither. It’s...

  Route Short L out of shop onto Foothill Blvd. R – Mountain Ave L – Wildrose Ave continues into Bradbury Ave L – Royal Oaks Dr R – Encanto Pkwy Beg. Ride Turnaround Encanto Park L – Encanto Pkwy L – Royal Oaks Dr R – Royal Oaks Dr N**This is 2mi. from Encanto Park R – Winston Ave L – Lemon Ave R – Bradbury Ave continues into Wildrose Ave R – Mountain Ave L – Foothill Blvd. Or Extra Credit Route – Continue straight on Mountain to N. Mountain L – E Greystone Ave R – Myrtle Ave L – Hillcrest Blvd L – 5 th Ave.                                                                                                    Route All the Way L out of shop onto Foothill Blvd. R – Mountain Ave L – Wildrose Av...

Brake Performance Tech Tips Excessive Lever Throw: If your levers have excessive brake lever throw, it may be the result of the caliper pistons advancing only minimally as the pads wear, sometimes from light use, such as dragging the brakes frequently or not braking hard enough to advance the pistons. You can advance the pistons by performing the following steps:  1. Adjust the lever reach all the way out. Count the number of clicks or note the reach measurement beforehand.  2. Pull hard on the lever 5 times. You may use two fingers if needed, but you do not need to pull the lever all the way to the handlebar.  3. Adjust the reach to the starting position measured in step 1.  NOTE: If this doesn't resolve the excessive lever throw it could indicate the system needs to be bled or the brake pads need to be replaced. Brake Bed-in Process: The bed-in process requires you to perform heavy braking. You must be familiar with the power and operation of disc brakes. Braking h...

Carbon Rims and Wheels  Carbon Fiber Bicycle Wheels - Just about everything you need to know to make your purchase. -What is carbon fiber and are there different fiber types? -What about the Spokes? -Does Lacing Matter? Radial, 2-cross, 3-cross? -Who is building my wheel? Does spoke tension matter? -Anatomy of a hub Clients often come into our bike shop thinking that all carbon wheels are the same. This leads them to focus on weight and price; however, it's not that simple. This article will help you understand the concepts of a bicycle wheel construction and be more educated when you invest in carbon wheels.  First let's talk about what a carbon wheel upgrade will do for your ride. A wheel upgrade significantly improves the performance of your bike.  Upgrading from entry-level to premium wheels can reduce weight, increase speed, and improve overall performance.   Carbon wheels specifically can increase stiffness, making your bike more responsive and ultimately...

Bicycle Chain Lubes   Chain Lube As a bicycle mechanic one of the most common questions I get is, "What chain lube should I use?"  The best chain lube needs to be designed for the type of conditions and weather you ride. SoCal weather is very different than East Coast weather and the conditions are extreme opposites. To simplify chain lubes, there are two basic types, wet or dry. To determine which type to use, just take the conditions and weather where you ride into account. In SoCal, it rarely rains and everything is very dry, so gravitate toward a dry lube. In a wetter climate, lean to a wet lube. A note on Dry Lubes: these lubes although the type says "dry", it still goes on wet. Therefore, to get the best results, allow the lube to dry for an hour before riding. If you don't have an hour, not to worry, you can still ride immediately after applying lube. Your chain may just get a little dirty prematurely. Quick Explanation of Wet vs Dry Chain Lube: Wet lube ...