What are the the best components, not silly money stuff just Merc (not Rolls Royce)?

Thompson seat post?
Fizik saddle ?
Hope hubs?
Chris King headset?

plus Thompson Stem & Easton bars, I’d agree…

not sure about the saddle choice as everybodys backside is different but the rest i would agree with with maybe the Hope stem in there alongside the Thompson

Saddles are a bit too personal to say which is ‘best’. I really don’t find Fiziks at all comfortable, for example, and would say SDG are much better.

And Chris King headsets are pretty Rolls Royce.

I’d also add Shimano SPDs to that list.

Definitely Shimano SPDs

Mavic rims? A lot of competition around these days though.

Stems – don’t see how one can be better than another when you get to a certain quality level, it’s just what you like the look of…

And I’d say my Controltech seatpost is better than a Thomson – does the same job, but is cheaper and lighter.

I’m being awkward, aren’t I.

Stems/seatposts/bars…lots of cheap brands do it just as well as Thomson, so their marketing dept would be pleased.

LX hubs- cheap and and last as long as xtr.

Rims-stan’s for weight weenies, good to see mavic get competition at last.

BOS or Cane Creek suspension 😀

the internally ovalised thompson seat post doesn’t bend, unlike the straight gauge cheapo ones. I know, I’ve had one for 10 years.

Fizik Saddle… SDG BelAir 8)

+1 Hope Headset, Stem, Hubs (best below Rolls Royce standard IMO)

Easton Bars

Thomson Post (or Reverb 😀 )

XT Drivetrain

Maxxis rubber for me too.

thomson
shimano spd’s
charge spoons
xt cranks
blackspire middle and inner rings
icebreaker merino
5/10 exum’s

Renthal bars and stem.

Fizik Saddle… SDG BelAir …Prologo saddle 😉

SDG squeak and break too much (have had all 3)

Grips?
Cables?
Hoses?
Brakes?
Saddlebag?
Bolts?
Rotors?
Pedals? (agree XTR or XT SPD)
Skewers?
Spokes?
Rims?
Tyres?
Tubes?
Shoes?
Shorts?

Grips? Bonty for me
Cables? std shimano and cablemagic
Hoses?
Brakes? SLX
Saddlebag?
Bolts?
Rotors?
Pedals? I also agree XTR or XT SPD, or 647s for rougher stuff
Skewers? Shimano, always
Spokes? DT
Rims? Stans or Mavic
Tyres? Like my fat alberts
Tubes? None
Shoes? Spesh (or Northwaves for winter)
Shorts? Lycra – Giordana, baggies – whatever.

So nothing much then

Shimano 647 DX spds.
From a SS perspective…White Ind freewheels.

Topeak Hummer multitool.
Lezyne alloy drive pump.

Endura Humvees.

I have a thompson stem. very nicely made but the clamping system is far too easy to overtighten and get to jam / seize. Also a fiddle to fit sometimes.

Best stuff Iown?

topeak alien multtool

tubus racks,

XTR rear mechs

Marzocchi open bath forks

Are they brands dear boy?

King hubs (and headsets, and BB’s)
Mavic rims
Easton carbon bars
Xtr over the equivalent SRAM
Sdg bel air
5:10s

Before anyone starts crying over the price of kings, they last forever (im on set 2, only reason being the first lot were nicked) so they are good value if bought new, or a good S/H buy, as I did.

Topeak Hexus
Formula The One brakes
Easton carbon bars

Hope hubs are a bit of an odd one, they’re not the best of anything never mind the best of the best. But they’re the most competent of the adequate.

Time ATAC over Shimano SPD for me – but I reckon all contact points, not just saddles are personal.

the internally ovalised thompson seat post doesn’t bend

You’re not trying hard enough 😉

I managed to put a bit of layback on one of mine.

King – over-rated.
Thomson – heavy and expensive

I think almost everything on this thread is subjective, except:

Tubus racks

And i’ll add Ortlieb panniers.

There are genuinely no better alternatives to these products.

The “Best” for any given component?

It’s all just opinions and anecdotes innit?
I know what I like and what has/hasn’t worked for me in the past, but that’s just me.

Hence there is no such thing as Best… IMO