List of recent 'innovations' of the cycling industry

[Sweep]

I won't buy the environmental idea. That went long ago as far as cycling goes.

what does this even mean?

[jb]

What bad experiences have you had with tubeless?

Well, three times now I've nearly frozen to death watching different tubeless aficionados trying to repair a leak that their magic fluids wouldn't touch. And their worms refused to cooperate. I've struggled getting their tyres off to fit tubes and got covered in gunk.
I've seen them used to good effect on off-road tracks abroad where spiny things are more aggressive but I be never seen them worth the bother on a road bike.

[fatboy]

What bad experiences have you had with tubeless?

People boring on about how wonderful it is

I had a puncture the other week (a rare experience) and I was trying to listen for where the hole was and along came two mountain bikers who spent 5 minutes telling me why I should be using tubeless. What I really needed was some peace to fix my problem not why I needed to change my good wheels and tyres!

[Ugly]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Shimano 10mm pitch chain fiasco

[jb]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Shimano 10mm pitch chain fiasco

So what was the idea behind that? to allow them to claim slicker gear shifting whilst having teeth that wore out in half the time?

[Bmblbzzz]

That's a puzzling one. Innovation for innovation's sake? It was 1976 (according to Wikipedia) so not recent in any case.

1976: Shimano briefly made their own 10 pitch Dura-Ace track-specific system with 10 mm (3⁄8 in) (approximately) pitch from about 1976[13] to 1980[14]—called Shimano Dura-Ace 10 pitch. The Shimano 10 pitch system is incompatible with ANSI standard #40 (1/2") e.g. chains, sprockets and so on,[15][16] and was outlawed by the Japan Keirin Association, helping in its demise.[13]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_chain

[Brucey]

What bad experiences have you had with tubeless?

People boring on about how wonderful it is

I had a puncture the other week (a rare experience) and I was trying to listen for where the hole was and along came two mountain bikers who spent 5 minutes telling me why I should be using tubeless. What I really needed was some peace to fix my problem not why I needed to change my good wheels and tyres!

I'm not sure that even qualifies as moral support; maybe you can shut them up by reminding them of the messy business installing the things and the constant 'topping up' required. It reminds me of people who 'only carry a 5mm allen key because that is all they need' and who bother to stop and 'help' people; a thing that can happen is that they are revealed as being so smug they are in some danger of being punched in the face.

I usually stop and help people if they need it but then I'm also likely to be carrying more tools than I need for my bike alone.

cheers

[mattsccm]

Was responding to the idea that bikes should be cheap and also that they should be environmentally friendly. They are not espcially in many ways.

[Brucey]

Was responding to the idea that bikes should be cheap and also that they should be environmentally friendly. They are not espcially in many ways.

Bikes are cheaper now (in relative terms) than they have ever been before.

Not all bikes are equally friendly to the environment. However even the worst plastic horror with a transmission that lasts five minutes is better than pretty much anything with a motor in it.

cheers

[jb]

But why does everything have to have a long life? It can be fun to have something new and boring to have to hang on to something that won't wear out.
I won't buy the environmental idea. That went long ago as far as cycling goes.

Everything doesn't need a long life, it needs a life that is proportional to the cost of buying it. If sacrifices in durability have been made for unusual lightness then it should be clearly marked for 'event use only'.

[freeflow]

This is why I think tubeless tyres are pointless on road bikes. Last night at around 7:30pm. The tyre was a 35c Vittoria Hyper Voyager (my last pair <sob>). I've yet to check the tyre for equivalent damage.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Mine is bigger than yours
Well I reckon it's heavier anyway, but no 8 mm Allen key!
Didn't hurt when I tried to help someone with their crank bolt come loose.
But I had another go, a screwdriver and a six mil Allen key and I managed to tighten it up ha ha.
I keep meaning to buy one of those 6 to 8 mm thigumyjibs that go on the end of the six mil Allen key?
I don't need a whole set of got plenty of those, just a bit.

[Cyckelgalen]

Did anyone say eccentric bottom brackets? Not sure if it a "recent" innovation. I first came across one such BB on a Santos touring bike a few years ago.

From a touring perspective I really like detachable frames with S&S couplers to make air travel with your bike less awkward. Co-motion makes good sturdy steel touring frames with these couplers.

https://co-motion.com/pages/frame

[Brucey]

….I keep meaning to buy one of those 6 to 8 mm thigumyjibs that go on the end of the six mil Allen key?
I don't need a whole set of got plenty of those, just a bit.

If you have any kind of 8mm spanner, a short length of 8mm allen key is all you need.

cheers

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,

….I keep meaning to buy one of those 6 to 8 mm thigumyjibs that go on the end of the six mil Allen key?
I don't need a whole set of got plenty of those, just a bit.

If you have any kind of 8mm spanner, a short length of 8mm allen key is all you need.

cheers

Ha I never thought of that