Shoe sizes.

its a simple measurement thing. a 27.2mm seat post is very very close to 27.2mm. A 330ml can of beer, is 330ml… but shoes…. Aaaaggghhhh.

My feet are 305mm long, my foot is a foot,  but I am a euro size 48, 49 and 50… and 12, 12.5, 13 and 13.5 in UK sizing.

Tyre manufacturers can do it. Their 700c tyres fit on 700c rims. There are not any companies making a 29er tyre that works OK on a 27.5 rim, but a bit too tight on a 29er rim. it’s just a simple measurement and really should be standardised.

(have I invented elasticated tyre beads?)

Elastic lace keeps

A couple of pairs of shoes I own have these, I had no idea that’s what they’re for. Every day’s a school day…

Grease ports/nipples for pedals, hubs and linkages that don’t used sealed bearings.

I know a bit “old fashioned” but can make your kit go on almost forever by flushing out any contaminants and reducing the need to disassemble things.

Also replaceable chainrings, no idea why some of the modern single ring stuff means you have to buy a whole new crank when it’s worn out.

I’ve not seen a non-replaceable chainring on anything over about 150 quid (complete bke) since forever…

Also replaceable chainrings, no idea why some of the modern single ring stuff means you have to buy a whole new crank when it’s worn out

Would also think you’ve thrown out perfectly good cranks.

All my double/triple chainsets are still chugging along with 9 or 10 speed and had no need to upgrade.

I was mistaken, I’m not that familiar with the Shimano direct mount system I had assumed the bolts attached the chain ring to a crank arm mounted spider. So the spider and chainring are a single part on some models, rather than just the chain ring getting swapped out.

https://bicycles.stackexchange.com/questions/80664/shimano-slx-direct-mount-chainring-spider-bolts-are-they-available

Bottle cap covers

Surprised by this. When did it become a thing? Never had a bottle with a cap…not even seen any i can recall. I suppose it could be more hygienic but I can’t recall I’ve ever had the spout get so filthy that I’d not drink from it…the odd splatter of mud or dust but then i just spit the first mouthful as a ‘cleaning’ run (unless i thought that splatter was poop) but rare. Maybe it’s because my bottles are always in the frame…id agree if they were under downtube. Also use mudguards in winter slop so that again limits mud flying towards bottle

No 7, why did I not know this existed? off to buy!

Zips on MTB tops. Zips are ubiquitous on roady kit because it’s understood that you need a way to regulate your temperature on a ride where your effort level goes up and down. But MTB kit? Nah, none of that. Even the likes of Rapha and Assos seem to think that MTB kit should just be a bog standard short or long sleeve top with no way of adjusting the ventilation at all.

(I’m talking jerseys here rather than jackets – you know, jerseys that you wear when the weather is warm and you can start to overheat on a climb)

Decathlon do bottle cap covers for 99p

I’ve lost count of the times the phrase ‘nice touch’ is used to describe some absolutely basic functionality

See also “life hacks”.

I’ll +1 bleed valves on pumps. I only have one on my shock pump and only relatively recently noticed I was using it. Then I pumped my tyres up with the track pump and thought “I need….”

Zipped arm pit vents on all jackets

Zipped arm pit vents on all jackets

yes yes yes.

Consistent sizing. How can I be a medium in one brand and an extra large in another. The amount of stuff that must get sent back because garment manufacturers can’t agree on sizing must be phenomenal

Zips on MTB tops. Zips are ubiquitous on roady kit because it’s understood that you need a way to regulate your temperature on a ride where your effort level goes up and down. But MTB kit? Nah, none of that. Even the likes of Rapha and Assos seem to think that MTB kit should just be a bog standard short or long sleeve top with no way of adjusting the ventilation at all.

The solution is to stop buying flappy mtb jerseys. They also tend towards a zipped pocket or at the very least, usable rear pockets.
They also wick better and don’t catch on things as easily.

Detachable hood I’d pass, a simple velcro or buttoned strap to hold it though, absolutely.

Big “phone” pockets on bags. Ideally this would be padded, but no-one does that.

Goggle strap retainers on helmets and a visor/peak that lifts far enough to fit them underneath. Is another few degrees too much to ask?

And removable hood so everyone is happy!

That’s a good one. When I want a hood I really want it, but that’s only a handful of rides a year.

Which is also why it’s a terrible idea because the many of those rides will not start out as one of those rides.

Which is also why it’s a terrible idea because the many of those rides will not start out as one of those rides

Yeah sure but the removable hood can simply be removed and permanently live in a pocket of the jacket rather than launched into some corner of your house never to be seen again. But yeah take the point that stowable as Hannah suggested might be the better option.

So many right things. Especially when stuff can’t be made to a consistent size.
I have a Taymory tri top that is 3XL which is a boob tube. Meanwhile L or XL shirts from Endura that fit fine. As for shoes… why is it only Lake makes shoes that are tue to size ?

Defo a +1 about why 95% of jerseys dont have zips in mtb jerseys. Does my head in that next to no mtb jerseys have not at least got a 1/4 or 1/3 length zip at the front. That’s just an instant ‘no buy’ for me.

I’ve still got couple of very vintage Polaris jerseys that do have zips, which I still use. Otherwise its roadie jerseys or my favourite Sleepless/Endura one from 2011

Bottle lids, for those that have ‘never seen them’ Camelbak Dirt series bottles have them. Much easier than taking a swig of sheep poo and grit and spitting it out.

I just open and close the lid when the bottle is in the cage and then it’s still easy to drink on the move.

One thing I didn’t realise I’d miss is quick release hoses on bladders. Got myself a hip pack and the hose is fairly fiddly to pull out of the waist strap, so to empty the bladder and leave it open on the drainer to dry now involves pulling slack hose through the pack up to the nozzle. Covering the kitchen worktops from the ‘looks clean enough’ bag with sand/dirt whilst you sort the bladder is annoying.

(Can you get inline hose connectors?)

(Can you get inline hose connectors?)

Yes – used to use them to connect ‘personal hygiene’ fittings in my drysuit.

This from RS plus the male counterpart should do the job (though check the ID of the hose before ordering).

Can’t see the feature, but I hope it included frame protection tape – even if just in high-wear areas rather than full Invisiframe style.

AFAIK only Nukeproof make a point of adding it to their frames. Any other brands do it?