[Closed] New tech, will I get left behind? Am I alone?

Christmas owl gives 1/10.

[img] [/img]

Oh, has this been done? I'm not on here so much these days.

I never troll though, I understand it's an easy answer for you.

Disc brake on a road bike upgrade alert

Discs are lethal. Don't upgrade.

Tapered steerers are great - my Pikes feel stiffer than the 1-1/8th 40mm stanchioned Totems that I had.

I don't think it makes economic sense to keep buying 'new old stock/vintage' parts to keep an old bike running, unless you're trying to keep it looking correct for it's age (e.g. retro).

Sometimes it's actually cheaper to buy new versions of things. For example, now that 10, 11 and even 12spd is normal, 9 speed parts are sometimes cheaper than 8 speed parts, and that's both 2nd hand and new.

I have many bikes, ranging from 23 years old to 3 months old. Newer stuff is much better, and I don't begrudge paying for it.

Haha - love the Christmas Owl !!

just been sat trawling through the big internet shops, looking for a new 3x9 set up for the wife's tourer.
things are rare, so upgrading may soon be the only option.

[img] [/img]

Lol at the comedians

Is this forum just about buying the latest now?

1x11 xt £340
3 x 9 slx £215

old stuff wins and works better too.

I with you, man. Kind of...

I stopped upgrading in about 2013 and built up a few 10spd bikes (straight steerer, 26" and 700c hybrid disc) just as 11spd was being adopted/rumoured, can't remember which. Because it had been around for a bit the prices had dropped significantly enough for me to purchase duplicate parts as future spares, avoiding the usual high end components becoming obsolete scenario.

I was almost tempted to build up an electronic bike but I feel inclined to wait for a hoverboard instead...

I'm on old gear and wheel sizes

just been sat trawling through the big internet shops, looking for a new 3x9 set up for the wife's tourer.
things are rare, so upgrading may soon be the only option.

I built a 3x9 tourer last year - XT with dura ace bar end shifters. I'd struggle do it now though as chainset and front mech discontinued.

Seems I've taken offence at 650b and Boost hubs. OTOH I managed to reverse a downgrade this year and get back to a proper 20mm front axle.

My mtb is 3/2*8 (tried 9) or singlespeed, qr hubs, 1 1/8 steerers; my road bikes are 8 or 9 speed, qr, cable disc brakes on one.

I have no desire to upgrade drivetrains, I have all the gears I need and they last, cheap to replace, they index reliably.

[img] [/img]

Currently running a fork with a 20mm axle and 26inch wheels. Makes me laugh that in the time I have had it front hub widths have gone from 110 to 100 and back to 110 again.

I do love my 11 speed though, front mechs never seem to work when I want them to so I am happy to be rid

I was talking to Ton about this yesterday & we both agreed that the marketing people in the cycle industry are absolute geniuses.

I have a 3x9 2006 Anthem. I really can't justify upgrading to something newer, because I don't ride it very often these days, and to be honest, it works fine.
All my road bikes are 9 speed, because that was what was available when I originally bought them, and there's no compelling reason for me to upgrade everything to 10 or 11.
I'm no luddite (got my first disc braked road bike in 2003) but I don't feel compelled to upgrade stuff unless there's a genuine advantage or it just becomes too difficult to get parts.
I think 8 speed is a wee bit too retro for me, though!

nosedive - Member

Makes me laugh that in the time I have had it front hub widths have gone from 110 to 100 and back to 110 again.

I swear to god they did that just to annoy me.

It's all exactly like this:

Selling us the heavier, less stiff 15mm axle format over 20mm was brushing our tongues. Making 26 inch wheels obsolete for no reason, then 2 years later making all the new 650b wheels and forks obsolete with Boost, is the ear trimmer.

I knew you would understand Ken.

8 speed ain't so bad...

The only answer is to stubbornly hang onto stuff to stop them being rewarded for such blatant ****ery. I was going to buy a new bike 2 years ago until I saw an article about Boost then I decided not to

It's a shame some stuff disappears. Got to admit, I like the 11 speed on my good road bike. Very slick. But for a good workhorse, or even most of my other bikes I would happily run decent quality 8 speed kit. More dependable, and less faff when you break a chain. There's lots to be said for keeping things simple. It's what can be marketed and sold though. Not much of a selling point if they're trying to sell you less gears for more money... Unless it's a niche market.

ton - Member
1x11 xt £340
3 x 9 slx £215

old stuff wins and works better too.

Deore 3x10 for £200 if you pick your options
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-deore-10sp-drivetrain-groupset-builder/rp-prod136649
XT 3x10 is out of stock but about £250

Why would you buy a new 3x9 when it's hardly available whereas 10sp is about the same price and will be well supported going forward? The 3x10 will also give you a bigger range which sounds perfect for the tourer.

I'm by no means chasing all the new tech but by 2 current MTB's are both 1x with droppers & tapered steerers, I got my first "new" frame in 04 came in a box etc. built it with a mix of old and new bits, from then most stuff was transferred some second hand some got new and basically evolved my bikes, came to the stage nearly everything was old, tired and heavy. New build on a frame and 10sp arrived (nearly 4 years ago - back then there was no good reason to buy 9sp as 10 was really well priced) tapered as that was what the frame was etc.

Point being there comes a point where buying old for the sake of it gets silly.

mikewsmith.........cheers for the link

2 sets of 3 x 10 groupsets ordered. 1 for the wife and 1 for my tourer for when it wears out.
oh, and both with 40t trex hope expanders.........bargaintastic

Just try to use stuff that is not over engineered (its a bicycle at the end of the day) repairable and long-lasting e.g. chris king stuff and square taper bbs etc which doesn't always mean cheap in the first instance but often works out that way.

[img] [/img]

Where else can you get a bb with a 10 year warranty.

Biggest problem is if you leave it too long and then something breaks, it's hard to find a decent replacement new.

Wheel size in particular. 26 stuff is getting hard to stick with now. Depending how fussy you are. Any old crap yes, but the stuff you actually want just isn't in that size any more.

And then if you go 650b the hub sizes are different and more than one of them. Go 11 speed and freehubs have different standards now.

All getting confusing.

Was trying to stick with 26 but got tempted by a 650b and idea is to keep the 26s also, but then bits break on the 650b and I can't just swap stuff over from other bikes.

Road bikes though, still seems to be roughly same stuff? Except for disc brakes and electronic gears and they're still very much optional. Loads of new technology, but doesn't seem to be replacing the old as much as on MTB, just complements it.

I've come up with a set of rules that describe our reactions to technologies:
1. Anything that is in the world when you’re born is normal and ordinary and is just a natural part of the way the world works.
2. Anything that's invented between when you’re fifteen and thirty-five is new and exciting and revolutionary and you can probably get a career in it.
3. Anything invented after you're thirty-five is against the natural order of things.

The late great Douglas Adams.

Wheel size in particular. 26 stuff is getting hard to stick with now. Depending how fussy you are. Any old crap yes, but the stuff you actually want just isn't in that size any more.

And then if you go 650b the hub sizes are different and more than one of them. Go 11 speed and freehubs have different standards now.

Stepping off the band waggon is easy. Just replace parts as they wear out then buy a good quality second hand bike when parts seem too obsolete.

I still run 1x9 and 2 x9 with no problem getting parts but I d
Am not bothered what group set I buy.

I don't doubt that lots of the tweaks are improvements but I'm not playing the game of marginal gains.

Deadkenny has nailed the upgrade problem. Splintering of standards is making bikes like cars.

Im with you and the brick. all my bikes are straight steerer. All are 26" wheelsThe only one with dérailleurs is 2x9. all bar one are IS discs. No disc brake adaptors cos the post mount fork runs a 160mm disc. all my brakes re 10+ year old hopes and I have a stock of spares to last me until I stop riding. nO dropper posts. bikes are either QR or 20mm front axle. all QR rear. It means everything is interchangeable between bikes. got a bunch of spare wheels as well and a couple of spare forks

Its great. I get most parts from the second hand market for much cheapness. Best buy was a one year old fork listed at £800 for £240. completely unworn - looked like it had hardly been used

Just thought I would have a quick look on CRC. 65 different 26" rims. 17 9 spd cassettes including XT level not just cheapies

You'll see tapered 650b & 29er forks with that level of discount quite easily.

There's a happy medium between early adopter who throws cash at everything, and Luddite.

As regards 8 speed vs 9 speed, experience of our hire fleet is that 9 speed actually lasts a lot longer. We've only replaced a handful of cassettes this year. Previous years (running 8 speed) most bikes would be on their second or third cassette by the end of the season.

jonnyboi - Member
You'll see tapered 650b & 29er forks with that level of discount quite easily.

mikewsmith - Member 
Not checking everything but all the new Mk3 Stans rims come in a nice 26 flavour

Some are still making 26 but in lower supply so retailers have less stock of 26.

Tyres are another example. Been struggling to find ones I want in 26 that are in stock.

Feehubs the issue is more that you have to decide on a standard and then are locked in to those cassettes. More of an issue with sram freehubs. Used to be you could shop around and pick Shimano or SRAM, whatever was a good deal at the time, but now you are restricted.

Some are still making 26 but in lower supply so retailers have less stock of 26.

Tyres are another example. Been struggling to find ones I want in 26 that are in stock.

I'm running old gear because it all still works. When the drivetrain wears out ist will be much cheaper to replace it with 9sp than 10 or 11. You don't need to shop around for bargains. Its all cheap enough anyway
forks/ brakes should last indefinitely and drivetrains last me many thousands of miles given I am a meticulous servicer of kit

This still works just fine. Now with all new XT 9 speed, $200Au including rings, cogs, chain & all cables & outers.
The last set lasted 9 years, so won't need changing again until 2025.
[URL= http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g341/kiwijohn42/01D7BE5C-53EC-4BF3-8D4E-F9C9498EE249_zpsotfwswvq.jp g" target="_blank">http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g341/kiwijohn42/01D7BE5C-53EC-4BF3-8D4E-F9C9498EE249_zpsotfwswvq.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
The Yeti was over $300 for a 10sp Sunrace cassette, AB ring & sram chain.

I've recently changed from a 26", 3x9, straight steeerer, 2008 S-Works Enduro to a 2016, 650b, tapered steerer, 1x11 Capra.

The geometry is nicer, but that could be the case when you change any bike. I don't notice any difference with the wheel size and the 35mm Lyriks don't feel any stiffer than the old 36mm X-Fusion Vengeance.

I steadfastly refused to lose 3x gearing previously, as I used the full range - I've now adopted 1x and for the most, I like it. I did fit a 9-44t cassette though for my weedy legs. Pro's - less bar clutter, less gear selection to think about, no dogy fron shifting, not dropped a chain (which I did quite often with a 3x). Con's - lost the top end gearing (low end is almost the same) and the chainline is gash - pedal backwards in 1st gear and the chain throws itself down the cassette

I've ditched 26" - I prefer 29ers.

I've ditched 2/3x - I prefer 1x.

Gone with tapered steerers - hard to find good straight forks.

Got a dropper - suits my riding.

When my 10 speed kit is worn I'll consider 11 speed if the price is right.

Some advances are worth having. I'm avoiding the hub standards for as long as possible.

Probably like many riders I am somewhere between the 2 extremes but budget mostly forced me toward the older stuff.

26" fs (second hand) and ht (new budget frame, mostly second hand parts). Some pretty new parts fitted though and the for sale forum on here is a God send.

The whole 650b "thing" still irritates but I've decided to moan about Trump and Farage more these days! 😀

Long germ I can see me getting a second ht 29er as it would suite my riding more I think. Then sticking with that.

26 inch wheeled 1 geared straight steerer with qr forks here, and I love it, the other bike is same but 9 speed with a triple up front.

My bikes are 2012 26-ers 3x9 run with big ring replaced by a bash guard. Both have straight steerer forks although one has a tapered to straight adapter, these forks are 10 years old. Will buy some Slants before they stop making them. Have no interest in less gears and would not (could not) give up lowest gear or loss of range. As I have posted before all the standard changes have meant I have spent less money. My bikes aren't worn out (my milage has been really low these last two years), I have spares and an as new Dialled PA frame and a new xt 3x9 full groupset and have been bidding on old Souls and looking for a Bandit frame too.

At no time have I ever felt a need to [s]upgrade[/s] needlessly change stuff

I have a 29", tapered steerer, boost and stealth dropper routed 1x11 full suss but my most recent purchase was a 26" 1 1/8th hard tail with 3x9 and qr all round. My favourite however is a fully rigid, 1" steerer, 3x7, 26" equipped with Suntour Microdrive gears. I'm confused.

The 9 speed lasting better than 8 speed is an interesting observation. Is it because the 8 speed stuff now available is really poor, but half decent 9 speed can still be got ?

Northwind - Member
Seems I've taken offence at 650b and Boost hubs. OTOH I managed to reverse a downgrade this year and get back to a proper 20mm front axle.

I remember asking if I should go with a normal weight QR/9mm/15mm/20mm hub or save a bit of weight and go for the lighter QR/15mm only one. A certain someone said go with the lighter as would be unlikely i would go 20mm...I had some Reba solo airs with 15mm axle so went with the lighter hub, having given away my older dual air Reba RL QR forks. I have now ended up picking up a set of nice dual air black box forks so I can get the tune-ability of the dual air back and guess what axle they have....fortunately I have a spare brand new fully convertible front hub as I ended up going Pro2's on my other bike.

I have 20mm on my 26" too (Rev RLT-Ti/blackbox/carbon jobbies) and it's so much better than 15mm.

I can't say I'm that fussed by new stuff really. All our stuff is 26" and 20mm/QR because that's what we bought years ago and it still works entirely adequately so there's no need to jump on the upgrade bus.

I refuse to drink the 650B Kool-Aid though, that's so much balls it's unbelievable. 29ers, yes, I can see how they'd be more useful in certain situations, but 650B can get [i]right[/i] in the sea.

2013 Soul here, one of the last 26 ones. Would quite like to change it next year, but to what and how much ! Also have a 650b Anthem SX, so would likely get another Soul type bike for winter and mud. Given that my current one is worth not very much I will probably just keep riding it till I can't get parts. I have a new spare Reba already, so that bit is covered 😀

I don't think I've ever "upgraded" as such. But I do like to change my bike from time to time, so I run with whatever it has already fitted. When stuff wears out it just gets replaced like for like. Currently both my bikes are 29er's which I do like, my newer one is 1x11 which is fine but I do prefer the 2x10 on my other bike, not so much that I'd change it though.
I suppose if all I wanted was a functional bike I'd be like the Op, but I get bored well before anything I've had gets obsolete.

Just test my latest upgrade - 26" rigid forks, suspension forks just don't survive daily commutes and no maintenance. It's a bit trigger's broom but f&!@ it.
[img] [/img]

[quote=flap_jack ]The 9 speed lasting better than 8 speed is an interesting observation. Is it because the 8 speed stuff now available is really poor, but half decent 9 speed can still be got ?
Dunno. The bikes we buy each year are around the same price point.

I'm not claiming it's any sort of scientific study, but the bikes are all maintained to the same standards and are ridden on a variety of terrains, in a variety of weathers by a variety of folk.

some people love new tech, some people don't. Some folk love to see what effect (if any) a new design or bit of whatever will change their ride or how they ride, or how fast they can go, or if it will let them ride longer without something breaking.

personally I honestly genuinely can't see the difference between 8 or 9, 10 or 11 speed cassettes, it's just a number. It doesn't ever stop the sun coming up, or the smell of fresh ferns or how mud makes your rear wheel slide of an off camber section on that downhill corner that always makes you hold your breath.

Go ride, no matter how or on what; whether it's a 20 year old steel Kona, or a fantastic plastic "price of a car" SC Bronson.