How To Find Bicycle Parts

Everybody with a bicycle knows that they need new parts occasionally. Sometimes components break or need upgrading. Maybe your bike doesn't look right, and new bright pink wheels are just what it needs. The following is a quick guide for finding the bicycle parts that you need.

When looking for new components, be sure to know exactly what you need. Find the proper size--a stem for 120mm handle bars is useless if yours are 100mm. You may be able to look up the specifications in the manufacturer's brochure for that year or online. Otherwise, take it to a bike shop, where they can either measure or check it against other components. Similarly, buy parts in a size that fit your body- do you need 110mm crank arms, or 140mm? Again, if you don't know the answer, a bike professional can help.

It is also important to find components that work with the rest of your bike. Braze-on front derailleurs need special extra parts.  Also know if your bike is clamp-on compatible. Additionally, certain bike parts are compatible across brands and years, while others might be too old or new, or not function with components from different companies. Much of this information can be found on the Internet or in bike maintenance manuals.

There are plenty of choices for components even once you find the right size. Most brands make components in several quality levels and sell groups of different weight, quality, and, of course, price. Since the price of any given part can range from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars, keep in mind the kind of riding you plan on doing before you drain your bank account for primo components.

Once you know what you need, you might find it at a number of places. Buying new components through a bike shop is the safe way to go. It ensures that parts will fit and work correctly and you'll have someone to take your bike to if you run into problems. For people on a budget, Internet auction and classified websites can offer cheap prices on good components, but more care is required to get the right part in good condition. These are also good places to look for parts that are no longer made and won't work with newer components.

If this sounds like a lot of work, that's because it can be. The reward, though, is a bike that works perfectly and looks sharp, and anyone that spends much time on a bike knows that this is worth a bit of effort.