Pedals, grips, tape and saddle are all part of a finishing kit.
The pedals, grips, tape and saddle are the parts of the bike where the body touches the bike, so it is important that they are comfortable.
Handlebar grips are fitted to the end of flat bars and are just called “grips”. Handlebar tape is fitted to drop bars and is called “bar tape.”
Bicycle pedals support our feet when cycling. The feet rest on the pedals while we freewheel, making cycling easier.
This part of a finishing kit is made either of plastic (lighter, weaker, cheaper) or metal (heavier, more robust, more expensive). It is important to note that the pedals have different threads. The left hand pedal screws in anticlockwise and the right hand pedal screws in clockwise.
Some pedals are fitted with a mechanism that clips your shoes to the pedals. These are called “clipless pedals”. If you want to use these, you will need to buy dedicated cycling shoes that accept the cleat fitting.
Saddle is a type of a finishing kit that lets the rider sit down while riding. Bicycle saddles are designed to be small so that they don’t get in the way of your pedalling.
In this section you will find which finishing kit components to choose and how to replace them.
Unlike the grips fitted to flat bars, because of their shape, drop handlebars are wrapped with a special tape that provides a layer of cushioning for your hands. This makes learning how to replace road bike handlebar tape a useful skill when it comes to maintaining your bicycle. Reasons why you might need to know … Read more
Bike seats, or saddles, sometimes need replacing, either because they are worn out or the rider wants a different one. Today we are going to find out how to fit a bike seat. There are other versions on the market, but these are the three most common. Once you have identified your saddle clamp, you … Read more
If your saddle isn’t comfortable, then riding a bike just seems hard work. In this article we are going to discuss how to make bike seats more comfortable. Are you sitting comfortably? No? Then let’s begin. How to make bike seats more comfortable Sitting on a saddle is not like sitting on a sofa or … Read more