Universal standards we are grateful for in cycling.

We all know that headsets, bottom bracket standards, hub spacing, propriety parts and the like are the bane of our (well at least my) lives.

So lets list some things we are grateful are all the same on all bikes.

Pedal thread sizes.
left hand and right hand threads in the pedals.
mech bolt thread sizes (onto the hanger).

What other things have become a standard that we are thankful for?

Bar diameter (at least the bit where grips, shifters and brakes go)

Valve types (OK there’s really two to choose from for tubes but it would be a huge pain if there were loads of differing standards. Although most shocks use the same type don’t they?).

Round wheels. Square ones are shite.

^That.

Hex drive cap head metric machine screws, M4 & M5 bolts in normalspeak.

Do actually see Woods type valves too in continental Europe, but since every pump pretty much swings all 3 ways, it’s hardly an incompatibility.

Brake and gear cables are pretty much universal too.

Round wheels

(Edit: Damn! I’m am unoriginal too!)

The fact that chains/cassettes/dérailleurs are largely cross compatible between brands, given the plethora of standards (plethora is the collective noun for standards, isn’t it) elsewhere is nothing short of a miracle.

Rim diameter* – because that led to standard sized forks and frames that all put the axles in the same place, leading to wheels being interchangeable on frames, and same for tyres on wheels.

* slightly less so now 700c and 650b have joyfully arrived in MTB land.

The fact that chains/cassettes/dérailleurs are largely cross compatible between brands, given the plethora of standards (plethora is the collective noun for standards, isn’t it) elsewhere is nothing short of a miracle.

So not true.

Only 3 different hub-cassette formats worth worrying about, plus a general requirement to match rear mech and its shifter, and the right chain for the number of sprockets on the back.
edit: and matching rear mech with cassette size (more of an issue with road bikes), and total teeth capacity (more of an issue with MTBs).

richpips – Member

So not true.

Realise it’s not true in all cases, but I can buy a SRAM 9sp cassette, a KMC chain, and a Shimano derailleur and they’ll all play together just fine.

I think I’ve done better tan the madman above talking about interchangeable wheels in a world of 26″/27/5″/29″/700c/120mm/130mm/135mm/142mm/150mm/157mm/QR/9mm/10mm/12mm/X12

Pedal thread sizes.

nope, BMX pedals are bigger

mech bolt thread sizes (onto the hanger).

nope, new syntace/shimano standard.

I’d stick my neck out and say saddle rails (SDG/Kore I-beam, old skool seat-pins and selle italia whatsitcalled asside).

thisisnotaspoon – Member

I’d stick my neck out and say saddle rails (SDG/Kore I-beam, old skool seat-pins and selle italia whatsitcalled asside).

Racking my brain to think of somethign that’s actually universal – headset bolt?

nope, BMX pedals are bigger smaller

ftfy

somethign that’s actually universal

As eluded to above, shifter, grip and brake clamp diameter.

I find having two wheels as standard to be quite reassuring

I always feel a bit disappointed that pneumatic tyres are universal.
I’d love to see solid tyre nichemongers talking about how they make the trails come alive.

Having the seat on the back end. It was rubbish when bikes used to have them at the front.

chainring bolt diameter?

MidlandTrailquestsGraham – Member
I always feel a bit disappointed that pneumatic tyres are universal.
I’d love to see solid tyre nichemongers talking about how they make the trails come alive.

Always wondered if you could do some sort of reverse d30 thing for tyres – something that’s generally firm, but goes soft when there’s an impact.

Cotter pins are the worst thing I’ve ever had to endure, I seem to have spent most of my childhood replacing them.

The newer cotterless crank designs in which ever flavour are so much better!

These used to be a universal standard on all my bikes ,and someone has left one in my pigeon hole today 🙂

There are very few ‘standards’ in cycling.

These are the only ones I can think of:

Bottle cage bolts

The distance between the holes in the frame that said bottle cage bolts go into
(although there is a bit of ‘play’ in most cages!)

The diameter of the water bottle itself

The diameter of the handlebar’s grip and lever attachment area

Chain pitch for derailleur systems

I reckon these ‘standards’ are the most widespread and longest lasting. No-one has successfully tinkered with them in almost 100 years.

Std threaded BB shells – not universal but should be. I’m happy to say I’ve not yet specified anything but a BSA BB on any frame I’ve been associated with )

As eluded to above, shifter, grip and brake clamp diameter.

I thought I’d seen some “woman specific” small diameter bars.

700c.

all my bikes are 700c.

I think bottle cage mounts might be the winner?

What about modern sized shock springs (i.e. excluding old narrower ones)?

I thought I’d seen some “woman specific” small diameter bars.

Titec IIRC?

And road bikes are different anyway.

Maybe wrong, but I think bar end plugs are universal* though?

chainring bolt diameter?

Spiderless cranks? And cheep ones are riveted.

Chain pitch for derailleur systems

There’s a very dead 1″ (or is it 2″, for 2 links?) standard. And belt drive?

*may require percussive instalation.

chainring bolt diameter?

Try telling that the M960 set I can’t use because I can’t afford new rings.

Bugger.

Think he meant the diameter of the bolts, not the BCD?

Aren’t there aero drinking bottles that need a special cage? It really might just be the drinking bottle cage bolts that are the only true universal standard

Crud catchers? Front ones anyway, the clamps on the rear ones aren’t wide enough for me ISPs
.

Brake and gear cables are pretty much universal too

Leaving aside hydraulic and electric systems, road and MTB brake cables are different.
.
.
Oooh!!! I’ve got it! Inner tube patches!
(except for tubs and tubeless obviously)

I find having two wheels as standard to be quite reassuring

Check thread title – I spend most of my riding time on something similar to this:

The bit of metal that goes on the end of brake/gear cables? It’s proper name escapes me…

Air. All my tyres take air.

Racking my brain to think of somethign that’s actually universal – headset bolt?

Nope, my rigid has a special top-cap with an integral nut, which threads onto a screws onto a bolt thats about 15mm across inside the steerer. One of these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/FSA-Compressor-Carbon-steerer-spare/dp/B0038ZTHDA

I think we need a standard definition of universal standards.
For me it’s a single standard for all components (e.g. bottle cage bolts), as compared to where you have competing standards (e.g. 44mm and 1 1/8″ head tubes). It’s not about single products or proprietary parts that aren’t standard (e.g. riveted chainrings).

I am thinking against things like FSA **** retarded 386 bolt pattern where I had to file the cranks and laser cut some steel plate to get some normal 104 chainrings to fit.

Brake and gear cables are pretty much universal too

Leaving aside hydraulic and electric systems, road and MTB brake cables are different.

But half the inner brake cables come with both ends attached, and you chop off the bit you don’t need.