It’s all very well banging on about the latest shiny new kit, but what stuff has stood the test of time in my shed?
I realise it’s May but in the world of publishing the spectre of MY27 is very much upon us. MY27 means Model Year 2027 ie. the new wave of new stuff. Which had us thinking about what end-of-year content we might be doing this coming November-December time.
As a counterpoint to all that hoo-ha, I thought it would be nice to highlight some of the things that are very much not-new. But not-new things that I still use fairly frequently. Mostly tools but also some apparel and a couple of actual bike components.
Now then. Just because I still use something does not necessarily mean that it’s brilliant. In fact, it’s probably just stuff that still works “well enough”. Some stuff may still actually be great. Some stuff I’m just putting up with despite myself! And some stuff doesn’t even do the same role as it started out doing…
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Also as others have – same Pace Grease gun and a JoeBlow track pump which I bought at the first cycle show at the NEC.
I regularly wear my wool/acrylic mix tights when it is cold. Bought them new in September 83 with my student grant. The chamois died years ago but the rest is fine. The leather soled road shoes come out at the same time. Still use the Raleigh road bike bought a month later with mostly original bits. The leather soled road shoes come out at the same time. Oldest used bike is pre WW2 , well most of it is. The trikes are all 60’s vintage. Assorted spanners etc from before the 80’s but that’s normal anyway I guess including a grease gun my dad nicked from the army when he left in the early 50’s.Â
Got a free buff at 2005 Mountain Mayhem…still in regular use.
Karrimor panniers must be from early 1990’s .
One is very very well used as I had just the one pannier on the bike for many years on my commute , the colour has faded so much ,it make the other one look new!
But as a pair still used for the supermarket shop and the camping cycle tours or commuting with a PC.
The envy of Ortlieb mega heavy pannier users back in the day on tour from what I remember!
The main draw point is they are quite light in weight and maybe the among first of the lightweight kit for touring with?
Had to becareful on rough gravel or big bump as they could detach! But in all those years not that often.
Still used, but not that much now as I commute with a frame bag now for bit more aero , but they still come out for the odd shop and bike tours with the tent.
Bought from the “original" Karrimor shop in Covent Garden, I doubt that’s still there.
Still got the base layer I bought from there as well!Â
got a 2002 superlight in regular use with its Thomson seatpost the only lasting component. It still looks brand new.
+1 on the gore camo windstopper. Used most winters for 20odd years. No wonder they have given up if the stuff lasts so well.
still on the same pair of speedplay frog pedals that have been moved across from bike to bike since 1998. 3rd set of cleats mind…
Tub of Judy butter from around ‘95 and I’m running 10sp XTR on my Spur (new cranks right enough) and Pro2 hubs
Still have on my gravel bike a Specialized bottle cage from ‘92/93’
the party trick of lifting the bike with it has now been canned though.Â
They have just revived the ACG brand/line this year
Don’t think there any cycling kit though
My road bike has a 1960s Sturmey Archer 3 spd that is controlled by a lever from the 1930s
So just one careful owner!?
I’ve had loads of free Buffs over the years, they seem to last forever!
One item still in regular use is my courier bag, a Kahuna one. I won it (along with a Kahuna watch and baseball cap) in a MTB race sponsored by them – I *think* it was an early Enduro 6. So probably very early 2000’s.
It’s quite battered now and a few frayed corners but perfectly solid. Somewhere I still have the watch too but I’ve not worn that in 10+ years.Â
Cannondale tights from the 90’s with more holes than a round of Swiss cheese
They are used for work under my jeans in the winter due to the ultra thin materialÂ
Holes in all over the knees due to falls and now have to be very careful putting them on as a stray toe or two can make the holes worse
A gore top I wore for work lasted 10 years worn almost every day and washed constantly as it could be put on straight out the machine
The zip packing in and the back pockets dropping my phone was the end for it
Bike: Most of my commuter – it’s a 60s Sun and frame fork, wheels (Sturmey), handlebars and brakes are all I think original.Â
MTB: I’ve got a Pace stem on my Curtis DJ that’s got to be early 90s but is so lovely I can’t part with it.
or my Camelbac MULE which is mid 90s and still going strong. I did mash the waist strap in the mid 2000s but it’s fine without. Can’t justify buying a new one and it was a present from my parents so sentimental . . .Â
It’s SPD sandal season! I’ve had these 20+ years. If I could only have one set of cycling footwear it’d be SPD sandals…..
Probably the oldest is my CoolTool – it’s still perfect for the Brompton (need a spanner for the wheel nuts)
Right up there with it is a Silca Track pump that was bought from Brixton Cycles some time in the late 90’s I’d guess. I was dubious about the cost (was before they became the premium product they are now but still more expensive than others). Was neglected for a while in a shed, gauge got cracked, but refurbed it with a new guage and leather washer a few years back and it’s by far the best pump of the 3 I have to use.Â
Similar to the grease/guns – I’ve got a tube of copaslip, bought (maybe stolen from work) when I was 17, it’s still going strong now I’m 50!
Shimano pedals.
One pair i know must be over 30 years old.
Lost track of the age of the majority of them as they move between bikes.
Hmmm I’ve certainly hoarded some stuff, but this question is interesting in terms of the thing must actually be useful. As in, actually useful, not just “usable" if I feel like punishing myself 😀
I submit my Park Tools toolbox from 1999. I splashed out on the full “box and toolkit" option and I remember it costing basically suspension fork money, which took a lot of hard thinking to justify to my younger self! Today, it’s still my ‘bike toolbox’; the three-spoke Allen keys still do all the heavy lifting on my bikes, the cable snips are still good and all the spanners look brand new with their lovely blue handles.
The box itself is still in great shape too, which is more than can be said for some of the brands whose stickers I have added to it over the years!Â