For most quality bearings, including every bearing Enduro Bearings makes, Panaccione assures “with a small blade and a careful hand, seals can be removed from the inside race for servicing“. What are bearings made from? Older loose bearings rolled directly on the hardened steel race. Benedict Pfender / Immediate Media

Take the Bicycle Tie, for instance. It’s more than just a fashionable accessory. It’s a subtle nod to their cycling passion, making a statement in every boardroom or social gathering they attend. For the bibliophiles who cherish their reading time as much as their cycling hours, the Bicycle Bookend provides a dual purpose, holding their favorite reads while showcasing their love for bikes. And what better way to toast to memorable moments than with the Bicycle Beer Glasses? Every sip becomes a reminder of the joy of riding. For those whose love for cycling transcends the road and spills into every aspect of their life, bicycle-themed delights make for ideal gifts. These are presents that not only reflect the recipient’s passion for cycling but also seamlessly integrate it into their daily routine or home decor. Such bicycle-themed gifts bridge the gap between practicality and passion, offering a touch of cycle love in unexpected ways. Plugging it in and connecting it to your car’s tyre valve is very easy and intuitive, although you might miss that torch function of the 635 if you’re attempting to do it on the side of a dark road. The three-metre power lead unwinds easily and is long enough for most purposes. Subsequently, they sacrifice a small amount of performance because forces within these moving parts usually have a non-radial vector associated. As a result, they have to compensate with decreased tolerances.

Mixing headset standards

The RAC 610 doesn’t do anything particularly fancy - it goes without the torch and flashing light of the 635, as well as the automatic cut off. It’s a small, lightweight device with an air hose that wraps up neatly and a wire to plug into your car’s 12v power outlet. Does it work?

A blend of tech and tradition, the Cowboy Electric Bike is a nod to the evolving world of cycling. It represents not just the future of two-wheeled transportation, but the present of what modern cycling feels like. Protection and aesthetics often go hand in hand for riders, making the Clos ca Loop Folding Bike Helme t a relevant choice, offering style without compromising on safety. And for those rides when solitude and song go hand in hand, the Soundcore by Anker Life A1 True Wireless Earbuds are a cyclist’s companion, delivering crisp sounds without disturbing the ambiance of the ride. Køb et par flotte lysende Bike Balls, der svinger frem og tilbage i vinden, mens du racer afsted på cyklen! En super sjov og anderledes cykellygte, der nok skal bringe et smil frem ude på vejene! Bike Balls kan tændes, slukkes og skifte mellem 3 forskellige lysindstillinger, ved at give dem et lille blidt klem. Og i mørket er det super vigtigt at du er synlig for andre cyklister og bilister. Men hvorfor nøjes med kedelige, utilitaristiske cykellygter, når du kan få noget, der både er praktisk og sjovt, på samme tid! It has been claimed this configuration is a cost-saving measure on behalf of manufacturers. Rather than pressing a bearing cup into the frame, the bearing can simply be dropped in during assembly.

Instead, the head tube is bored with conical seats. When preload is applied, these angled seats result in the bearings self-aligning, as well as securing them in place, creating a rigid assembly. What the ABEC standard qualifies is bore diameter (an acceptable variation of the size of the inner bearing hole), parallelism (width variation), and the radial raceway run-out (variations in the groove in which the balls sit). They may sound like a dry and boring topic (pun intended), but they have a big bearing (eyyy) on the overall performance of a bearing. Bike Balls is a single, LED unit enclosed in a silicon housing, designed to look – and dangle – like the human scrotum. The light the device emits is red, and its strap is designed to attach to the rails under the rear of a bicycle saddle, roughly where a male cyclist's own testicles would hang, given the freedom and a very warm day. Just turn them on with a gentle squeeze. As well as being capable of pumping up car tyres, this air compressor also comes with a handful of other adaptors to inflate bicycle tyres, inflatables and footballs. Should I buy one?

The SHIS (Standardised Headset Identification System) describes headsets in a way that makes it easier to find what you need. It was once all so simple with only a few headset standards on the market. These days… well, it’s not quite that simple. Velo Orange Bearings are made from a huge range of materials. Some examples include chromium steel, 440C stainless steel, XD15 super nitrogen stainless, and silicone nitride ( ceramic bearings). When it comes to gifts for a cyclist, it’s essential to remember that size isn’t always an indicator of value. Sometimes, the smallest tokens encapsulate the essence of their passion in the most beautiful ways.Sometimes, it’s the smallest gifts that leave the most significant impact. For those occasions when you’re looking for a thoughtful gesture rather than a grand present, there’s a plethora of compact yet meaningful items that can warm a cyclist’s heart. The stem – known as a quill stem – attaches separately, sliding inside the steerer tube. It is secured by tightening the top bolt, which engages an expanding wedge at its base to clamp the stem in place. Cycling isn’t just an activity – it’s a way of life for many. And recognizing this passion can make all the difference when selecting gifts for bicycle riders. Functional yet stylish accessories like the Buff Multi-Functional Headwear or the playful Bike Turn Signals ensure safety without compromising on the cool quotient. They complement the radial and side-force loads exerted with the rotating components of a bike, but require extreme tolerances in mating bores to accomplish a precise fit and rolling performance.

Thankfully, there is a standard of sorts for headsets to help navigate you through the array of parts, and – moreover – the names of parts on the market.

As a leading supplier of ball bearings, at Simply Bearings, we offer an unrivalled choice of bike bearings loose balls. No matter what make of bike you have, or what grade of ball you require, we have all you need under one roof. Festive occasions call for special presents. When the snow starts to fall and jingle bells ring, Christmas gifts for cyclists top the shopping list of many. And when it’s time to blow out the candles, birthday gifts for bike lovers become a delightful way to show love. An integrated headset creates a clean look (if you clean your bike). Benedict Pfender / Immediate Media