Bio-Mechanics Cycles & Repairs (BMCR)

20/10/2026

From Streaky Bay to Middleton, 16 cycling projects are delivering safer, more connected rides across the state 🚴

The projects include new shared-use paths, upgrades to existing infrastructure, and planning and design work to support future cycling improvements.

Find out more 👉 https://bit.ly/4rYe7aA

19/10/2026

🚩🚩SECOND-HAND BIKES - RED FLAG AREA 5: WHEELS🚩🚩

Wheels can take a lot of punishment, especially on downhill and enduro mountain bikes, so it pays (literally!) to check them out before you buy.

1. Check the spokes and bearings.

Are the spokes rusty? If so, mentally add the cost of a new wheelset to your potential purchase. Rusty spokes are very likely to break, and it's more cost-effective to replace the whole wheel than one spoke at a time.

Do the bearings feel smooth? Take the wheel out and turn the axle. Crunchy or rumbly means worn or damaged bearings. 🔧

2. Check for cracks.

Alloy rims can crack, particularly around the spoke holes, often as fine hairline cracks. Inspect carefully. Be especially vigilant on downhill bikes, a discipline made for smashing wheels (not to mention riders). 🚑️

3. Check for rim wear.

On a rim brake bike, feel the braking surface. Concave, grooved, or uneven patches mean it's worn and needs replacing.

4. Be wary of carbon wheels.

Cheap carbon wheels are bad at the best of times, and second-hand ones are usually worse. If they're cracked, they're cactus — that wheel's going in the bin. Delamination's the other big risk, usually from excessive heat via poor braking technique. Delamination is also hard to spot, especially from photos.

Overall: think twice — thrice, really — about buying used carbon wheels, especially rim brake ones. 🚫

Send this to your mate who's about to buy a "barely used" wheelset online. 📲

18/10/2026

A blast from the past! Who had one of these back in the day?

(EightyOneSpices, we're looking at you. 😝)

15/10/2026

15/10/2026

C'mon, man, you're holding up traffic!

(Just kidding, we love it.)

15/10/2026

🥳

13/10/2026

Q: Can you guess what the most popular colour is for Garbaruk drivetrain conversions? (Boy, there are a lot at the moment!)

Drop your guess in the comments and let's see if you're tuned in to the zeitgeist. 🔮

p.s. How's this titanium + citrus combo? 🍋 🍋‍🟩 Thanks for the pic, Gary!

13/10/2026

Pelicans can get up quite a speed when they're ticked off. (Trust us.)

Gothic is a friend to all creatures, including pelicans.

Big, slightly bite-y pelicans.

Thanks to David for the pic!

12/10/2026

🚩🚩SECOND-HAND BIKES - RED FLAG AREA 4: FRAME CONDITION🚩🚩

Frame damage isn't as common as the other issues in this series, but it's a serious one. Frame repairs are complex and costly, assuming they're even possible.

✅️ How do I check if a carbon frame is OK?

Look for points of impact. Inspect the top tube carefully. If the bike's been in an accident, it's common for the handlebars to swing around and smash into the frame.

An impact point often shows up in a star shape. If you find one, press on it, hard. If that area's more flexible than the surrounding carbon, it's cracked and needs to be sent off for repairs. (And it will be going interstate, most likely.) 😬

✅️ How do I check if a metal frame is OK?

Look for dark marks or lines at the welds, and check for any bent or dented tubes. On old steel frames, make sure the forks haven't been bent backwards from an impact; there's usually a matching bend in the top tube and down tube where the frame's collapsed, so take a good look from side-on.

Corrosion's the other big one. It can sometimes show through the paintwork, but it's most commonly hidden inside the frame. Check by removing the seatpost (if you can) and looking inside with a torch. 🔦

Send this to your friend who's about to buy a frame they've only seen in photos. 📲

Next week: the wheel red flags that are easy to miss until it's too late.

11/10/2026

HORROR FIND: factory quality control failure. 😱

It looks like the factory were in such a hurry to assemble this bike that they forgot to route the brake hose through the olive. (Photo 2 is what it's supposed to look like.) The olive compresses onto the hose to secure it, and to stop air getting in and fluid getting out. 'Cause, you know, air-filled + leaky brake = bad news.

Looking at this hose, it's kind of amazing that this rider was able to stop at all.

Bike is now all fixed up and the owner is very happy (and a lot safer). Ever wonder what's lurking inside your own bike? Get in touch, and we'll make sure it isn't hiding anything the factory forgot. 📥