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Following on from the dropper post thread... If you could only have three bits of new tech since MTBs of the early 90s (so you already have the basics: pneumatic tyres, derailleurs, index gears, etc) what could you live without and what makes the top 3. Not quite sure where geometry fits in but for this game long, low and slack are 3 things. I think for me it would be suspension forks, disk brakes and dropper post, but I've probably forgotten something. I'd be happy enough on tubed, 26" tyres, I like 1x and my GPS but it's not top 3. "The internet" might get an honourable mention
Disk brakes
29inch wheels (finally a bike.that looks like it was made to fit me)
Tubeless
Hydraulic disc brakes
Power meter
Carbon frame/fork/post/bars
Disc brakes, fat or plus tyres and wide handlebars (780+) are my essentials.
I can, and do, happily live without droppers, suspension, and tubeless tyres (I'm a tyre swapper)
Discs
QR wheels (including easy off bolt throughs)
Bar/brake lever mounted shifting
Droppers
1x
Tubeless
Edit - Proper light, thin, concave pedals mated with stealth sole could also be a contender.
Disc brakes
Bigger wheels
Suspension fork
Big wheels.
Decent geometry.
Better reliability.
My top 3 on my xc bike:
1x drivetrain
29 inch wheels
GPS
On the trail bikes:
1x drivetrain
Dropper post
Adjustable suspension
three bits of new tech since MTBs of the early 90s … what could you live without
Given that my bike is from the 90s, clearly everything 😂
If you were to push me for for the three things that have evolved since then to make the biggest difference to me, it’d be disc brakes, tyres and flat pedals.
Tapered steerer
Boost
Press fit BBs
Pedals should be in there somewhere. SPDs or otherwise.
Probably SPDs, Discs, Suspension for me.
ht2
tubeless
Lots of stuff was already there - SPD (1990), qr wheels (1930s?)...
For me: suspension, disc brakes and probably wider tyres or tubeless.
Tubeless
1x
Dropper Seatpost
Hydraulics,
Di2 (for road/gravel - not bothered on the MTB)
29ers.
In this order for me:
- 1x
- Disc brakes
- Wider / sticky tyres
One of my bikes doesn’t have a dropper and I don’t die. Likewise, one of my bikes has tubes and I’m still alive 😉
1x though... on rapid transitions from down to up, is ace. No chain suck, no dropped chains and one less mech to align.
Decent suspension
Decent geometry
AXS
Thinking about it a bit more, the advancement in full suspension bikes since the 90s is brilliant, the idea that a FS bike could climb better than my 2003 Soul did was preposterous back then....
1. Geometry
I've been riding mtb since the 90's and at 6'2" I've just got my first bike that actually fits me
2. Dropper post
That rare thing. A new product that is a genuine innovation and changed riding for the better. Wouldn't be without one.
3. Good tyres
I vividly remember the first time I went from generic, plasticky, knobbly tyres to a pair of super tacky High Rollers and it blew my tiny mind. It's the only time I've ever fitted a new product to a bike and immediately went much, much faster than ever before.
Suspension (even though I was a stubborn late adopter to FS at least).
1x (been running this since around 2000 anyway).
Dropper post.
Disk brakes would also be close to being the third...
Dropper
Tubeless
Discs
Cartridge bearing hubs.
2 piece cranks.
Suspension that works without a lockout.
Pedal Innovation flats
Disc brakes
Tubeless
Though axle front wheels - 20mm is my preference but 15mm is still 100000x as good as QR
Cartridge bearing hubs
Cartridge bearing BBs
Hydraulic brakes
Geometry
Massive dinner plate sized rear cogs
29er
Discs
Better tyres
Kashima coatings
Press-fit BBs
35mm diameter bar clamps
Hydraulic disk brakes
Tubeless tyres
Dropper seat post
Good tyres - tyre tech has made huge leads in the last 15 or 20 years.
Disk brakes - another huge leap, so much better than canti’s.
Modern gears - be that 1x or not, I remember spending far to much time tweaking gears in those days, much more reliable and loads better shifting now.
1. Suspension that works and designs that take advantage of it.
2. Decent tyres with tread patterns that actually grip and have a decent width
3. Drivetrain components that work, have decent sealing and last.
Hydraulic discs, front suspension and GPS
It’s great finding new routes on all the different apps out there and being able to download them in a couple of seconds to your GPS. Faffing around with maps, constantly stopping and starting, and getting lost / backtracking used to be so frustrating So maybe my three are all equal first place.
Electric motor
Dropper post
Smart watch
I spy a few people trying to make it kick off in here haha.
1. Dropper
2. Good suspension
3. Hydraulic disc brakes
My first mountain bike in 1986 was rigid as is my current one. Ignoring changes in dimensions and angles the three things I'd say make the biggest difference to enjoying riding it are
Index gearing
Disc Brakes
Tubeless tyres for the low pressure rather than punctures.
I'm sure a huge part of the difference is down to changes in geometry and plus tyres but they are more part of a continual development rather than the introduction of a whole new way something works.
I've never had a dropper post so that might well be fighting for a place if I had tried one but given it's all wheels on the ground xc riding for me then it's debatable. I should also point out that all three of the above had been around for years by the time I got round to using them so were all well developed and working very well.