Bike Myths We Wish Would Die
 

I'll go first:

1) Bike tires need to have directional treads to prevent hydroplaning.

2) When building a wheel, the greater the spoke tension, the stronger the wheel.

3) A stiffer rim will give you a stiffer wheel.

Carbon fiber spontaneously assplodes.

Since it was my idea, I'll add the one that started it.

Bicycle wheels need to be balanced to within precise limits, ie. less than the weight of valves.

I have never EVER even heard this one before.

10X the square root of the PSI so a roadie would have to be at or around 100 mph.


I'll add:

"Stiffer frames are better."

"Aluminum frames don't corrode."

"People care about my Strava results"

add to that, ..... higher tension means stiffer wheels

Myth # 1 Singlespeed bikes are only good for very short distances on flat terrain

Myth # 2 You need a gravel specific bike to ride gravel

Myth # 3 Carbon is more durable than steel

Myth # 4 Drop bars are more comfortable than riser bars or flat bars.

Myth # 5 Hydraulic disc brakes are better than mechanical disc brakes

Myth # 6 Cycling is a seasonal activity which is dependent on the weather

Myth # 7 Riding below 50 F is guaranteed to give you heart attack.

Myth # 8 Counting calories prevents obesity

Myth # 9 Passing another cyclists means that you're a stronger better rider than they are

Myth # 10 Rim brakes are useless and are more complicated to maintain than disc brakes

Myth # 11 You shouldn't ride knobby tires on pavement

Myth # 12 Every ride should be treated as a race and done at maximum effort

bicycles are cheap
bicycles are toys
bicycles are a gateway to hard drugs

There is a single, ideal pedal cadence, either in general or for a particular rider.

Fat middle age men look fine in lycra.

So if you throw a bunch of nonsense in with a couple objective facts, did you think we wouldn’t notice?

I feel the myths involved are just single aspects of more complicated issues.

For example:
more spoke tension = stronger wheel.
Are we starting out with the assumption of standard tensions of around 1000-1200N drive side, in which case the statement is correct. Going higher from there would do little to make a wheel more durable.
Or is the statement meant to portray that less is more, which would be patently false.

another example:
aluminum doesn't corrode.
Obviously aluminum corrodes. It's not lead or gold. On top of that parts and frames made out of 7000-series aluminum can corrode in a surprisingly small amount of time with the proper exposure.

HOWEVER, 6000-series aluminum used in bicycle components and frames is extremely corrosion resistant. You would really need to try and work hard to get enough natural exposure to corrode parts or frames made of 6000 series aluminum in any meaningful fashion. The 6061-alloy which is the most common alloy in cycling can be used in marine applications.

So yes, aluminum can corrode. But 6061 won't. Not in your use or anyone else's

For clarity this is not the C&V sub forum but rather General Cycling Discussion.

Why is this a myth?

It's a myth if people consider it a main factor.

General wheel stiffness is mostly determined by the cumulative spoke cross section, or the product of the number & section of the spokes.

Rim stiffness does factor locally, or spoke to spoke, but ultimately serves mainly as the anchor of spoke ends.

The rim factors more with low spoke counts, where the spanning distances are greater, but once we get to 32 or more spokes, rim stiffness makes a marginal difference at most, except as a limiting factor in spoke selection.

According to the Wizard behind the curtain (AI) it is not a myth: “Generally, a stiffer rim will make the wheel stiffer. A stiffer rim will increase the spoke tension (hmm, don’t know about that) which will result in a stiffer wheel. However, it is important to note that there are other factors that can influence wheel stiffness, such as the number of spokes, the spoke lacing pattern, and the type of hub used. Additionally, the frame and fork of the bike can also affect wheel stiffness, as they provide the foundation for the wheel and can influence the spoke tension. As such, it is important to consider all of these factors when determining the stiffness of a wheel.”

Corollary: If you chip the paint on a CF frame or fork, the frame or fork will assplode during the next ride.

A classic:

Steel frames soften over time.

This is exactly what makes it a myth. It wouldn't be one if it weren't so often repeated and believed.

If one simply reads the entire passage, the BS factor should become obvious, ie. frame and fork affecting wheel stiffness...... In fact, just about every claim is false.

Yes, a stiffer rim can handle stiffer (thicker) spokes, but that's the major extent of its contribution.

BTW & FWIW this is a good example of the limits of so called AI, (Actual Ignorance) which isn't as much intelligent, as able to collate and spout out a bunch of data, including both good and bad info. A perfect example of GIGO.

Disc brakes with quick release wheels are going to fall out of the drop outs.

95% of threats of imminent catastrophe from mechanical failure, ie. tire blowout while riding.

helmets are required in the USA

Don't go there.

None of those are actually myths. They are just voices in your own head that you don't agree with.

My favourite myths:-

An ounce off the wheels is worth a pound off the frame

Longer pedal cranks increase your power

Narrow, high pressure road tyres are still the fastest

Titanium frames give the most comfortable ride

1. Fenders make the bike more aerodynamic
2. Handlebar bags the size of a samsonite make the bike more aerodyanmic
3. Steel bikes plane
4. 48 mm tires are faster than 28 mm tires
5. MSW chains and rain don't mix
6. Loose ball wheel bearings are faster than cartridge bearings
7. Steel frames are easy to repair and carbon repair is difficult (opposite)