That Helly Hanson base layer that refuses to wear out, that you have to hide from the other half who will immediately bin it if found, based purely on its overpowering aroma.
Three things banned from public transport:
1. Surströmming
2. Durian fruit
3. A sweaty cyclist in their vintage HH base layer
I have some Endura overtrousers that refuse to die, and are magically still waterproof. They must be around 15 or more years old. They don't smell though, being overtrousers.
Funny, because everything else I've had from Endura has rapidly fallen apart.
1. Stems. If it wasn't for changing standards, I think I'd still be using my 2005 Hope stem. Has anyone actually broken one of these?
2. Shimano SPD pedals. Why can't manufacturers use the same bearings in these pedals for all components? My kids will inherit my gangly frame, my handsome blue eyes and my Shimano SPDs. They're so lucky.
3. Plain forged cranks. Non of this fancy hollow centres or carbon or 3D printed Titanium cranks. Just the cheap, solid forged aluminum crank arms that refuse to bend or break. Yeah, they're more battle scarred than a Challenger tank, and have long lost their anodized luster, but they're still going strong, even after being smashed into rocks for years. My GRX 600 cranks come to mind.
4. Hope hubs. Can you find a more reliable hub for your money? Love em! I wish I was more flamboyant to go for the purple.
I have some tops that are older than some of our younger members of staff - that material just doesn't seeem to die
As above. I've still got two 'Northcape' long sleeved shirts that I know for a fact I took to the Himalayas in 1997. They were far from new at that point, plus they never whiffed like SmellyHellys.
Plain forged cranks.
Hope hubs.
Yep, my monstercross during yesterday's ride: 19 year old Pro 2 hubs (front wheel still on the original Rhyno Lite rim), and 11 year old Deore 3x9 cranks repurposed for 1x.
Hope hubs. Can you find a more reliable hub for your money?
I had a pair that were getting on for 20 years old and had been on two bikes and built into about 4 different rims.
Still in perfect condition when I sold the bike.
+1 for Hope Hubs and Helly Hanson base layers.
I also have a few buffs that must be at least 25years old.
Two first gen Bulbs here (the ones with the separate spider) waiting to be built back up onto a jump bike for my son. If there was an easy 15mm axle conversion for them they'd be already in use.
garmin HRM. I've had it for 20years and its only on its 2nd CR2032
Definitely Shimano spd pedals. It takes decades to actually wear them out
Shimano Saint pedals. Bomb proof and smooth running. I think they are now on their 5th bike.
Everything as above.
Ronhill tops I've worn for running and biking for years, to the point I get photo reminders from yonks back and see myself in them - blows my mind A) they're still going b) they don't smell (to me).
I've nearly started a similar thread in the past on how hard it is to wear certain kit out. As a result, turning 50 this year, I'm into the mindset that anything I buy now will see me to the grave. Exception: gloves, socks, maybe shoes.
Definitely Shimano spd pedals. It takes decades to actually wear them out
I've got several pairs of 520s in a box that got upgraded to 540s when I bought new bikes, and recent bikes have now upgraded to XT....
XTR m970 pedals. Had since new. Probably serviced twice in their life. Just keep on turning.
I've now got Hope hubs on all but one of my bikes (and weirdly I was looking this morning at how much it'd cost to put a set on my gravel bike) - absolutely brilliant bits of kit. Bearing swaps are a 5 minute job too when they do eventually die.
Apart from that, I've got a pair of Fox shorts from when I used to ride DH. I reckon they must be 20 years old and are still worn reasonably regularly. Absolutely indestructable and are only now getting a bit "bobbly" on the arse.
90's XT and LX shifters/Mechs - still using mine on my commuter bike. They just work.
Subzero thermal tops (tactel I think?).
Purchased in 1990, worn every day for four months in 1995 when I cycled around Britain, and still going strong...
Shimano square-taper bottom brackets. I got 42,000 miles out of one in the mid/late 90s. The Trek 520 touring bike it was on died at 65,000 miles.
Brooks leather saddles
Carradice saddle bags. Purchased in 1995(ish) and still going strong. Bit faded now.
Hope Hubs
I'd say nah. I've fractured two Hope hubs and destroyed the freehub on a third.
I have 2 pairs of Endura tights, 1 is about 20 years old, the other about 25 years old...work well, still fit well and I'm scared to buy other tights as they won't be as reliable or long lasting.
This is also making me wary of buying new endura kit as it seems it just doesn't last.
Actually I've got anorher pair that are 30 years old...the ankle zips burst and I sent them back to Endura and they claimed to have no knowledge of them...other than the label in them branded Endura they claimed to have never made them and didn't know the material. They fixed the zips and sent them back (cost me £4 for the repair!). They are a slightly loose fit and feel more like some kind of windproof material rather than lycra.
I've a pace Ultra fleece that gets worn now and again...zips are burst and the waist band fully stretched but it still works.
Shimano DX pedals. A British hub with industrial bearings from the 70s (Aero something) and an Edco hub - however two Hopes with shattered flanges broken at spoke holes. Ortlieb panniers. BBUN72 even in a tandem. XT and Duraace shifters but not Ultegra or LX which stop engaging. Mavic rims with inserts for the spokes. Flite 1990 saddles. 8s hollowtech XTR cranks. Cheap rack Boryeu or something - multiple long tours.
Clothes all leak, fall apart, get packed-down pile, wear through or get ripped and beyond repair eventually
I've got some Dakine shorts, light grey with a blue liner, the lining material is pretty threadbare but otherwise they refuse to die and they must be 15 years old at least. Various Ground Effect items, mostly merino blend tops that are in regular use and all must be over ten years old.
Two first gen Bulbs here (the ones with the separate spider) waiting to be built back up onto a jump bike for my son. If there was an easy 15mm axle conversion for them they'd be already in use
I have a set of those, they were in very regular use with some Mavic D521s, most recently in my rigid MTB, they’ve done some serious miles. Most recent big ride on them was a 160 mile round trip.
I’ve swapped to some 650b wheels for now due to tyre choice.
The rear hub is still on its original bearings somehow. They must be nearly 30 years old.
Agree with Hellys.
I’ve killed a few Hope hubs - cracked the flanges off Pro2s, and my missus actually wore out a Ti Glide - the ratchet had worn smooth and the recesses in the freehub the pawls sit in had stretched/deformed so it didn’t freewheel reliably. Must have been getting on for 25 years old though and mega miles.
Shimano SPDs only last maybe 3 years for me before the release starts getting iffy - the jaws that hold either end of the cleat wear and they can either jam or release unexpectedly. Technically spares are available but it’s as easy just to buy new pedals complete with new cleats.
Shimano cranks are generally pretty good although I’ve got a collection of high mileage XTR M970s that have been used with Hope BBs where the metal on metal bearing/axle interface has caused some fretting and is now a bit sloppy.
I did crack a Hope stem faceplate once. Otherwise stems are generally reliable.
Hope headsets?? Chris King we’re pretty good but definitely not everlasting like they claimed and the old o-ring in the top cap caused me no end of issues coming loose until the diacomp patent on the conical taper bit ran out.
Still got my first 2 fleeces - mountain equipment ultrafleece pullovers. Must be 35 years old now. Unwearable in polite company, but fine for fixing the car.
Bomber 55rs
Mavic xm 317 rims
These as well. Was using mine in the garage last night - used mutiple times a week for the last easily 20 years.
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90's XT and LX shifters/Mechs - still using mine on my commuter bike. They just work.
Nods. My main bike is still running a blue LX rear mech.
Ride Concepts Hellion Elites - I famously destroy all types of shoes in all walks of life, but these just keep defying the odds. I even have a spare pair I grabbed when they were selling them off for peanuts tucked away ready to replace them, but it doesn't look like they'll be getting used any time soon.
I still have (and use) some SLX M665 twin and bash cranks fro about 2011 (although now single ring). They are unkillable! They used to do a twin and bash and a triple. The triples were aimed more toward XC/trail whereas the twin and bash were much more strongly built (steel pedal inserts,thicker axle ect). 90% the strength of a Full on DH crank but a fair bit lighter. In my ever so humble opinion they are the best MTB component ever!
Mavic xm 317 rims
Interesting. I finally wore through one (well, the braking surfaces got worryingly thin) a year ago. I'd seen it coming, and managed to source a brandnew XM317 on ebay a couple of years previously, so the rear wheel is now rebuilt and will probably outlast me.
I use disc brakes, so they should survive another 50 years
Hayes MX 2 brake calipers. Dependable but as heavy as anvils.
FSA Pig headsets ditto
turning 50 this year, I'm into the mindset that anything I buy now will see me to the grave.
At the age of 58 I sometimes find myself thinking this about certain kit. Measuring your remaining years by the number of boot soles you'll get through does feel a bit bleak, though.
It is bleak, but I'm meaning it more positively in terms of kit longevity. Right?
Yeah, Hope hubs last forever, and seem to hold their value well too. I sold my old 26" EX721/Pro 2 wheels a couple of years ago at a decent price, they were still going strong with only the front one needing it's bearings replaced in my 15+ years of ownership. They were 2nd hand when I bought them too so no idea how much mileage the rear one had. Freehub was a bit chewed up though.
Up to yesterday I'd have said headset bearings, but it turns out these ought to be checked slightly more regularly than once a decade as they can give the appearance of being fairly okay whilst actually being very not okay.
I need a word with myself about the "give it another 1000km, see if it's got any worse" attitude.