It always amazes me how many bikes come in with uneven brake hoods. Most people probably wouldn’t even notice if one hood slipped down a bit, but if you’re OCD like me, it’ll drive you crazy. Once you notice it, you can feel every bit of the imbalance.
I’ve been using the Abbey bike tools lever setter because it takes a lot of the guesswork out of hood alignment. There are other ways to check, like measuring from the ends of the drops, but I’m not convinced that’s the most accurate method since the drops themselves can vary slightly from side to side. I’m not saying the lever setter is perfect—I just trust it more than the alternatives.
Either way, this bike is going to feel much better now that the hoods are properly aligned. In this case, one hood was over 20 mm lower than the other, which is an extreme example. The rider had no idea until I pointed it out.
Would you notice if your brake hoods were this far off, or would you just keep riding?
Bike Works by Wes
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Bike service by appointment only We are a full service bike shop ran and owned by cyclist. More importantly, come ride and hang out with us! @citruscyclery
If you're looking for a new bicycle or your current bike needs some service we would be more than happy to help you. Open seven days a week and you can give us a call, email us or check our website out.
Don’t let a hidden weight inside your tire ruin your ride.
Tubeless setups give you lower rolling resistance, fewer flats, and better grip by running without an inner tube and using sealant to self-seal punctures. But over time, that same sealant can dry up—especially if the bike hasn’t been ridden in a while.
When it dries, it can form clumps or “puddles” inside the tire that act like an uneven counterweight. At higher speeds, this can throw off wheel balance, create vibrations, and make the bike feel sluggish or unstable.
Quick tip: if your bike’s been sitting for a while, it’s worth pulling the valve core and checking or refreshing the sealant to keep everything spinning smooth and fast.
07/02/2026
I’d like everyone to meet the newest addition to the Bike Works By Wes family, Benjamin Hendershot. 👶🔧
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be spending some quality time getting him trained on all the necessary shop duties. So far, he’s not very helpful with tune-ups, can’t true a wheel, and spends most of his shifts sleeping on the job.
As a result, service turnaround times may be a little slower than usual while I get my newest apprentice up to speed. Thanks for your patience and support during this exciting new chapter for our family! ❤️
Pro tip: If climbing feels hard, cut your rolling resistance in half. 😂
Results may vary.
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Riverside, CA