# Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Technical Info

49 Hacker News commenters recommended Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Technical Info and 0 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 6 of 13 months; owners who said how long report a median of 19 years (4 owners). It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** A free, long-running bicycle repair and wheelbuilding reference by Sheldon Brown, praised for generous, practical information that helps people fix their own bikes.

## Why people recommend it

- Generous, long-lived free knowledge (5 comments): "It’s amazing what a difference just a little generosity of knowledge can make in other peoples lives." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46920141)) "This is an incredible ressource without which I feel so many bikes and bike parts would go to waste." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46917384)) "The service Sheldon Brown provided to cyclists worldwide cannot be overstated." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46924471))
- Taught beginners to fix bikes (5 comments): "Sheldon was a wealth of information when I first started tinkering on my vintage 3-speed back in 2007." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46915914)) "It is still helpful, teaches me how to install front derailleurs properly" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46918500)) "I discovered this website and found out everything I'd done wrong." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46922406))
- Helpful for wheelbuilding and obscure sizes (3 comments): "It still has a ton of relevant information if you ever find yourself dealing with obscure wheel sizes" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46915987)) "Sheldon's site took the mystery out of wheel building, at least for my basic needs." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46919486)) "A wealth of knowledge here, especially helpful for wheelbuilding" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46915741))
- Influenced custom and creative builds (3 comments): "This was a major influence for me, both getting into single speed and fixed gear biking before the craze" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46916037)) "his website was the main reason I have this beast of a frankenbike gravel bike" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46920614)) "this guy was our jezus! He influenced so many of my creative bicycle builds" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46916812))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Animated Knots by Grog](https://hackerapproved.com/p/animated-knots.md): 14 recommend
- [Ian's Shoelace Site](https://hackerapproved.com/p/ian-s-shoelace-site.md): 10 recommend
- [OEIS](https://hackerapproved.com/p/oeis.md): 9 recommend
- [RF Cafe](https://hackerapproved.com/p/rf-cafe.md): 9 recommend
- [Snopes](https://hackerapproved.com/p/snopes.md): 8 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Technical Info", https://hackerapproved.com/p/sheldon-brown-s-bicycle-technical-info/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).