What do you think is the biggest gimmick in bike equipment?
- Thread starter Crankyfeet
- Start date
Adam-from-SLO said:
Good luck with Physics. I think it's a blast.
You're right about that.
Ah but feet/shoes are one of those special things like saddles and chamois. If a $300-400 shoe is the one that gives comfort, then that's the right shoe. Besides, you can just about wear 'em forever.
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? ;-)
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? ;-)
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.
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.
531Aussie said: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.
Peter@vecchios said:
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.
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???
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???
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.
http://doctorhermann.com/
http://doctorhermann.com/
carbon stems are a gimmick.cutecub00 said:
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.
migelon said:
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!!!
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.
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.
