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What do you think is the biggest gimmick in bike equipment? - Page 16

post #226 of 335
12/7/09 at 9:03am

Re: What do you think is the biggest gimmick in bike equipment?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Crankyfeet View Post
What do you think is the most over-hyped, excess costing, part of a bike that really doesn't give you much benefit?
Internet cycling forums.
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post #227 of 335
12/8/09 at 12:14am

Re: What do you think is the biggest gimmick in bike equipment?

Suspension forks on city/commuting/"lifestyle" bikes. The rare times I ever actually pass anyone on the way to work, he/she is always riding a bike with a suspension fork.
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post #228 of 335
12/10/09 at 9:55pm

Re: What do you think is the biggest gimmick in bike equipment?

insulating bottles preventing drinks from freezing up, good idea! but wouldnt antifreeze work just as well? ;P

how cold is the drink in an insulated bottle after 3hrs in the sun? would you consider it a cold drink? or just not so warm? i have never needed my drink to be cold when cycling... surprised to hear of this need. ya learn something new every day eh? ;-)
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post #229 of 335
12/11/09 at 6:25pm

Re: What do you think is the biggest gimmick in bike equipment?

im with you on insulated bottles. that and the ones that have the tube that goes down the middle to freeze. sounds great on paper, doesnt really work

Ceramic bearings are my all time favorite gimmick, though. They are used for high rpm applications...like thousands of rpm's. nothing you will ever reach on a bike, even if your bike has a corvette engine somehow integrated into the drivetrain haha.

CF parts are right up there with ceramics for me. you take a product that in raw form costs less than aluminum, shape it into a bike, and charge 10g for it. I love the guys that "just dropped 100grams from their bike by spending 300 on cf parts.
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post #230 of 335
12/12/09 at 2:30am

Re: What do you think is the biggest gimmick in bike equipment?

Quote:
Originally Posted by 531Aussie View Post
Carbon saddle rails

So long, Alliante

......and titanium rails, for that matter. John Kennedy busted his ti rails, but I suppose he is a big dude.

Just what you need: you're out the front of the pack, about to win the biggest race of your life, then your saddle rails bust! At least you cut 90g off the weight of the bike
I'd say for the most part Selle Italia Ti rails are solid(never heard of one busting), plus Ti gives some shock absorption value. I had a SDG comp saddle w/Ti rails bust on me(back in 1999), but they weren't quality rails(durable saddles otherwise).
Yes, Hollow steel(stainless if possible) is the best overall.
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post #231 of 335
12/12/09 at 3:43am

Re: What do you think is the biggest gimmick in bike equipment?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter@vecchios View Post

What's really dumb is a 53/39 and 11-23, what we see on many bikesouttaboxes. What is the product guy thinkin'??
Hey, those are my favorite gear ratios
Also ride a 54/42, with 12-23 cassette.

I suppose those are not "normal" gearing ratios for most people.
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post #232 of 335
12/12/09 at 11:57pm

Re: What do you think is the biggest gimmick in bike equipment?

The aforementioned ceramic bearings.
Carbon cages.
Faux carbon anything.

SRAM XX.
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post #233 of 335
12/13/09 at 2:29pm

Re: What do you think is the biggest gimmick in bike equipment?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Flyeater View Post
People who have ultra light bikes but ultra heavy bodies.
remember 1hg on a bike is like 1kg body weight...

so an ultralight bike (9kg) on a 90kg bloke is the same as a 11kg bike for a 70kg wimp...


/E
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post #234 of 335
12/14/09 at 7:15am

Re: What do you think is the biggest gimmick in bike equipment?

The art-factor. Art is something you desire and pay for and it is indeed beautiful.

The biggest gimmick is selling art as a functional need.
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post #235 of 335
12/16/09 at 10:23pm

Re: What do you think is the biggest gimmick in bike equipment?

I confess to not having read through all 16 pages, so hopefully this is not a dupe...

All the comments about ceramic bearings reminded me of seeing a little blurb in Bicycling Magazine a couple of years ago, about ceramic-bearing derailleur pulleys. Yes, the two little pulleys (with half teeth) in every rear derailleur. These ceramic-bearing versions were supposed to reduce drag ever so slightly, and at only $160 or so a set, who wouldn't want them???
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post #236 of 335
12/23/09 at 7:51am

Re: What do you think is the biggest gimmick in bike equipment?

Maybe not a gimmick, but an ultralight stem seems like something want to stay away from. That would really suck to have your handlebars detach on a fast decent.
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post #237 of 335
12/23/09 at 9:32am

Re: What do you think is the biggest gimmick in bike equipment?

Quote:
Originally Posted by cutecub00 View Post
Maybe not a gimmick, but an ultralight stem seems like something want to stay away from. That would really suck to have your handlebars detach on a fast decent.
carbon stems are a gimmick.
as are carbon bottle cages,
But if you like them then go for it, its your money.
The only carbon you'll find on my bike are my easton forks and time pedals which are an excellent use of carbon fibre.
But the biggest gimmick of all is the 11 speed cassette. It has no real function when 9 speed is sufficient.
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post #238 of 335
12/23/09 at 10:46am

Re: What do you think is the biggest gimmick in bike equipment?

Quote:
Originally Posted by migelon View Post
carbon stems are a gimmick.
as are carbon bottle cages,
But if you like them then go for it, its your money.
The only carbon you'll find on my bike are my easton forks and time pedals which are an excellent use of carbon fibre.
But the biggest gimmick of all is the 11 speed cassette. It has no real function when 9 speed is sufficient.
8s was 'sufficient' as well. 9s is overkill. I have a very useful 7s FREEWHEEL. Very sufficient for my riding. C'mon, there are cars that now have 7s transmissions!!!
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post #239 of 335
12/23/09 at 11:19am

Re: What do you think is the biggest gimmick in bike equipment?

Ceramic bearings, specially the crank ones, maybe the hubs will be a little more useful and all small carbon or titanium pieces!
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post #240 of 335
12/27/09 at 4:32am

Re: What do you think is the biggest gimmick in bike equipment?

I forgot to add this one, since it is a new standardization in the road cycling industry:

1 1/8" headtubes on frames.

I get the reason why the industry went that way; however for the folks out there with perfectly good frames it can be a pain to then find a good 1" fork(carbon, etc). It seems as though the only carbon fork makers currently making 1" is Reynolds... and I think Eason EC90 makes one. To find new is tough; so the only other option is ebay. I'm surprised another carbon fork maker hasn't stepped up to the plate to produce a nice 1" carbon fork(LOOK, etc). There definitly is a market to be had there!

1" headtubes/ forks were perfectly fine for over 100 years of hard road cycling.
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