Ever been a bit of ...
 

[Closed] Ever been a bit of bike tech released that has been, generally, liked by all?

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Based on the Di2 XTR thread, and countless others that have just descended into 'I'll never use it' or 'it's all just marketing guff' or 'bloody manufactures forcing us to buy what they sell'

Can you think of a bit of (no 'it was the only option stuff, like 'pedals'') kit that hasn't had this?
Thoughts? Lock on grips?


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 1:55 pm
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Lock on grips?

Lots of folk prefer ESI or Renthal like ones instead.

Flite Ti saddles were my first thought. Everyone I know who tried one loved it.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 1:56 pm
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Lock on grips?

Can't stand them.
Seriously.

Completely unnecessary, pointless toss. 🙂


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 1:57 pm
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You don't see many people opting for non-indexed gears, do you? (Among those who opt for more than one gear, obviously)


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 1:57 pm
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Completely unecessary, pointless toss.

And, what is more, they kill starving kittens in Africa. Or something like that. 😉 #isheback?


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 1:58 pm
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Bolt heads have gone rusty on mine so no, don't like them


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 1:58 pm
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In the '90's, purple.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 1:58 pm
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Lock on grips?

i literally could not live without them.

literally.

threadless steerers?


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 1:58 pm
 MSP
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Everything before the internet.

It's not bike technology that's the problem, it's people having a platform to winge.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 1:58 pm
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Freewheels?


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 1:58 pm
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Pneumatic tyres, must have saved many a sore arse.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 1:59 pm
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In the '90's, purple.

Nope. All about the blue ano for me BITD.

Pneumatic tyres, must have saved many a sore arse.

Yeah, but like, y'know, they go flat and everyfink, so what if you were thousands of miles from the nearest pump? 😉


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 1:59 pm
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The pneumatic tyre for first off, what a development after the bone shakers of yester year.
The freewheel hub is pretty cool.
The modern day gear derailleur works and is pretty universal.

EDIT: beaten to my first two points by others while I was thinking of things to say.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:02 pm
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CaptainFlashheart - Member

Completely unecessary, pointless toss.

And, what is more, they kill starving kittens in Africa. Or something like that. #isheback?

I wish I'd come up with the idea though.
A completely unnecessary solution to an easily solved problem.
However, in appealing to the vanity of the customer, plus enabling owners to feel that they are participating in the 'personalisation' of their bike, someone, somewhere has made a bloody fortune.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:03 pm
 D0NK
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You don't see many people opting for non-indexed gears, do you?
I bet when shimano introduced them there was a volley of "Completely unnecessary, pointless toss" from a bunch of roadies*.

Flite Ti saddles were my first thought
nearly everyone who's ever swung a leg over my bike has complained about the seating, could be due to the expanse of seatpost and their shortness of leg or maybe just the angle I have it set at.

*guessing mtbers getting their fillings rattled loose on rigid bikes were quite happy about it, could be wrong.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:05 pm
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i think lock ons are wickid!

nothing worse than grips turning on your bars in the pissing rain coming down a rocky descent


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:07 pm
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Freewheels?

Freehubs, without the luddite campag lovers (lovers of prestige and history, not quality gears given the state of campag in the 80's), universally lauded. No more broken axles!

Totally agree about internet whinging. It is fun though.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:07 pm
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650b

😉


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:07 pm
 D0NK
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A completely unnecessary solution to an easily solved problem.
I quite like them, in the past I've had grips that stay put and grips that are comfy haven't managed to get one that does both until lock on, I will admit they are heavy and expensive (comparatively). Not tried ESI yet tho, going to see what they are like.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:08 pm
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Normal Man - Member
650b

Chuckles.

What about helmets?*

*Blue touchpaper lit, retires to a safe distance.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:08 pm
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SRAM 11 speed. I haven't met someone that's got it or used it that hasn't liked it.

Good hydraulic disc brakes


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:09 pm
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Disc Brakes. Even if you have a rigid unobtanium singlespeed... you still put discs on it.

The only people who disagree are fixie riders. As far as I can tell they're not even human and therefore their opinion is invalid.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:09 pm
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threadless headsets

cartridge bearings?


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:11 pm
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nothing worse than grips [s]turning on your bars in the pissing rain coming down a rocky descent[/s] that haven't been fitted correctly

FTFY


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:11 pm
 D0NK
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The modern day gear derailleur works and is pretty universal.

"Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur?" he wanted fixed aswell.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:11 pm
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Dropper posts that work? everyone that's got a use for them likes them. The only people that don't are people that just don't really drop their seat, so not really revelant.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:13 pm
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D0NK - Member

I quite like them, in the past I've had grips that stay put and grips that are comfy haven't managed to get one that does both until lock on, I will admit they are heavy and expensive (comparatively). Not tried ESI yet tho, going to see what they are like.

Me too, need some new grips, might give them a go.
Do you know anywhere round here that does them?

I've used the Ritchey foam ones for years, they don't slip and they're very comfy.

Sticking a hard bit of metal on the bit of the bar likely to hit you when you come off also strikes me as a bit daft.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:14 pm
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Lock on grips are ace...but they'd be better still if the bolt heads were 0.5mm larger.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:15 pm
 iolo
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Bike frames, wheels (who cares what size), breaks.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:15 pm
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Rusty - Charlie the Bikemonger


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:37 pm
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The mountain bike disc brake, now that it's reliable.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:37 pm
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About 5 years ago MacNeil developed the Pivotal seat & post combo, and now 99% of BMX riders (Not including BMX racing, although I'm sure they do also) use the Pivotal system.

Yeah you loose forward and backward adjustment but it's SO SIMPLE, light and cheap & strong. No one sits on those things anyway.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:42 pm
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The wheel?


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:51 pm
 mrmo
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dropper posts f*** that for a waste of metal, warranty claims, maintenance etc etc.

The only thing i think most would agree on is disc brakes for MTBs. Cross there is some point, road even less*

*yes they work, yes i will buy them at some point, BUT on a MTB if i had to choose Suspension or discs, discs win. No more rims wearing out in 6 months, brakes in the middle of winter when bike is covered in crap, no more cables catching bits of twig and grass and stopping the wheels turn. On the road bike Meh... even in the middle of winter the rims never get that much crap on them


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:54 pm
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Disc brakes weren't universally liked in the early days. Don't remember anyone having a bad word to say about v brakes though.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:54 pm
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Can't stand them.
Seriously.

Completely unnecessary, pointless toss

+1

Did anyone mention the Aheadset?


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:54 pm
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Shimano DX pedals or DMR V8's or whatever the first platform pedals with pins in were


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:54 pm
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Akshewally....

V-Brakes.

I remember when they first came out. Virtually universal love.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:56 pm
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mrmo - Member

dropper posts f*** that for a waste of metal, warranty claims, maintenance etc etc.

Only a waste if you don't use it, at which point it's just not for you anyway- like complaining that boxxers are pointless because you only do XC, or something. Maintenance is very low on the good ones- way lower than a fork etc.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:57 pm
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I quite miss wiring my odi yeti grips on the night before a DH race ...stares into middle distance nostalgicly


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:59 pm
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Sticking a hard bit of metal on the bit of the bar likely to hit you when you come off also strikes me as a bit daft.

I always thought that......but the newer fangled single collared grips solve that. I've got Charge Griddles on two bikes ~ perfect!


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 2:59 pm
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V-Brakes.

I remember when they first came out. Virtually universal love.

I remember almost killing myself several times when I fitted a set of the original XT ones. Compared to the cantis I'd been using, the Vs were so powerful that endos were almost inevitable in sudden braking, until I got used to them. Of course discs came along soon after and are generally better, but Vs are so easy to set up and maintain, and even cheap ones offer decent stopping power.

My first bicycle had rod brakes with perished hard rubber pads. Technology's great. 😉


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 3:05 pm
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V-Brakes.

I remember when they first came out. Virtually universal love.

Good call, V brakes and Aheadsets then.

Anything since the 1990s?


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 3:05 pm
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Disc brakes weren't universally liked in the early days. Don't remember anyone having a bad word to say about v brakes though.

Early discs were heavy, expensive, unreliable and few bikes had mounts. V brakes were cheap, reliable and would fit on any bike with canti mounts.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 3:07 pm
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Rock Shox Pike forks!


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 3:10 pm
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Rock Shox Pike forks!

Not the new ones, managed to blow mine up on the second ride.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 3:14 pm
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Rock Shox Pike forks!

I remember being distinctly unimpressed with the weight and performance, though I did come to them late.

Or do you mean the new murdered-out version?


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 3:14 pm
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In the '90's, purple.

Nope. All about the blue ano for me BITD.

In the early 90's purple. In the later 90's blue ano 😆


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 3:23 pm
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I was just sooo far ahead of the fashion curve, dahhhhhling! 😉


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 3:24 pm
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Or do you mean the new murdered-out version?

No, the old ones. They were pretty good when they were first released in 2005 (i think). They seemed to be a default choice for most


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 3:27 pm
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The new pikes are indeed awesome


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 3:30 pm
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Sticking a hard bit of metal on the bit of the bar likely to hit you when you come off also strikes me as a bit daft

you mean the bar made out of hard metal?


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 3:36 pm
 Gunz
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Avid Rollamajigs.
Mine finally gave up the ghost last weekend.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 3:40 pm
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The bit of the metal bar usually covered in soft rubber?
Yeah, that bit!


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 3:43 pm
 D0NK
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you mean the bar made out of hard metal?
I was going to argue with rusty about this but then I remembered the yellowy blotch on my right knee, left over from crashing the other week, pretty sure it was the end of the grip that hit my knee, not the end of the bar, may not have hurt so much with normal grips


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 3:56 pm
 D0NK
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I remember almost killing myself several times when I fitted a set of the original XT ones.
XT V canti with PC7 levers made for a stupid amounts of leverage, saw a few of my mates go over the bars first time they had a go of my bike 🙂


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 4:00 pm
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I was going to argue with rusty about this but then I remembered the yellowy blotch on my right knee, left over from crashing the other week, pretty sure it was the end of the grip that hit my knee, not the end of the bar, may not have hurt so much with normal grips

less chance of taking a core sample from your thight/groin with a lock on that with a stuck on foam grip as the foam deforms and leaved the end of the bar exposed


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 4:08 pm
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How about... LED mountain bike lights. Practical, affordable, durable, effective... Can't think of a single person going oh! If only I still had my HID!

Road lights for that matter, don't see many people using DD-cell Everreadys any more.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 4:26 pm
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How about simple LED cycle lights? Bright, noticeable, effective. Much longer battery run times, no more need for massive expensive cells which last a couple of hours at best.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 4:29 pm
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There was as much argument about disk brakes as there is now about wheel sizes. V brakes certain took without a lot of fuss, but they were an easy evolution - no need for different frames/forks/rims/hubs to make the change. People took to hydration packs quite happily too.

There were very few dissenting voices when cake, jellybabies and hip flasks were all introduced


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 4:33 pm
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Oh dear. 😀
Wondered who it was.

ssimon, the foam grips still have plugs.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 4:35 pm
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Old skool Pikes for the win! My hardtail runs a set, as does the missus' Marin and stepson 1's DJ bike.

I bought my first set in 2006 for peanuts (£329 for dual air U-Turn 454s) and even the most cynical Rockshox critic I knew was won over...plenty of travel, stiff, not nearly as heavy as they were reputed to be and any shortcomings in the damping department were easily upgraded away.

Plus a trained Chimpanzee can service them.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 4:42 pm
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Clutch rear mechs?


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 4:56 pm
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Maxle style front axles? Solid, secure, makes the fork stiffer and still an easy tool-less operation to remove the wheel. (Then Fox ruined it by introducing the 15mm version 👿 )


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 4:56 pm
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Northwind - Member

How about... LED mountain bike lights. Practical, affordable, durable, effective... Can't think of a single person going oh! If only I still had my HID!

Road lights for that matter, don't see many people using [b]DD-cell Everreadys[/b] any more.

Ah the days of being the envy of friends when you had two Everready DD cell lamps on the handlebars madly flapping away.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 4:59 pm
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Shimano DX pedals or DMR V8's or whatever the first platform pedals with pins in were

And before them, pedals.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 4:59 pm
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Wonder Lights FTW!
[img] [/img]
Not really!


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 5:01 pm
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+1 for old Pikes. I have some newer Sektors and they just dont feel right like the Pikes did.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 5:02 pm
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Aheadsets are a mixed blessing; Strong, simple, light and ideal when changing forks over but having your forks fall out and faffing with spacers when you want to adjust the stem up a wee bitty is a tad annoying.

QR wheel skewers were great on early rigid mtbs due to the frequency of pinch flatting.

Flashing LEDs becoming legal and therefore more widespread has brought significant benefits in battery life and making cyclists instantly recognisable as a group to other road users rather than just another steady light in a sea of vehicles.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 5:40 pm
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Pedals.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 5:44 pm
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The nut that holds the handlebars


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 5:52 pm
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Bearings?


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 5:58 pm
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The modern bushingless chain?


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 6:15 pm
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Onto page 3 and no mention of the original Z1 Bombers? Suspension that actually worked (even if it was a bit heavy)!


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 8:07 pm
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Air in tyres....the only time you hear folks whining about air in tyres is when there isnt any

Vee brakes were ok too iirc


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 8:12 pm
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Vee brakes were ok too iirc

They were an improvement in stopping but a backward step in terms of mud clearance. I can't recall any time in the 12 years I was running cantilevers that my wheels stopped turning because they were clogged with mud whereas I've had that experience many times with v brakes.


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 8:41 pm
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original z1 bomber

Yes - just thinking that! Think it was about 97ish....from elastomer Judy's to the Z1 was literally incredible


 
Posted : 22/10/2013 10:38 pm
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I was going to suggest that all the "universally welcomed" innovations happened to come from before the time of internet know-it-alls.

But I have to admit that modern LED lights fit the bill, so that theory's blown.


 
Posted : 23/10/2013 11:34 am
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They were an improvement in stopping but a backward step in terms of mud clearance. I can't recall any time in the 12 years I was running cantilevers that my wheels stopped turning because they were clogged with mud whereas I've had that experience many times with v brakes.

I doubt mud clearance is ever an issue for the 99.99% of people whose bikes have v-bakes though.


 
Posted : 23/10/2013 11:53 am
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Cartridge bearings for me.

A joy relative to the loose bearing numbers. Same for wheel bearings, headsets and anything else that contained the slippery spherical blighters.


 
Posted : 23/10/2013 12:14 pm
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