Cycling UK Forum

There have been lots of things, tyres being constantly improved, but number one item for me are power links.
Having a chain snap a long way from home is never nice.
Clipless pedals is a close second.

reohn2 wrote:You need a briefcase

do you mean a lucas toura?

(thanks to greybeard for the picture )

2010. ?[/b]

WOW Hubbers i didn't know those exsisted!
I spent all of my four years riding to and from secondary school (20miles a day) with a briefcase strapped over the top tube of my Carlton

- Being able to go back to single speed and enjoy the benefits thanks to better lighter components and spd pedals.

- Marathon winter (studded) tyres that enabled me to cycle in the last ice age where I otherwise would have to walk a 3-4 hours commute to work and at worse, otherwise end up in hospital again due to a fall!

- Ultegra derailer with down tube levers ( I know, strange but they have never failed or needed adjustment in the last 2.5 years, as good as a hub gear but lighter)

- A 650b conversion and 42mm Grand bois Hetre tyres used along the process on a road bike which enabled me to use this bike both on/off road and still be fast/light as ever.

reohn2 wrote:WOW Hubbers i didn't know those exsisted!
I spent all of my four years riding to and from secondary school (20miles a day) with a briefcase strapped over the top tube of my Carlton

Did you not have a Pletscher type cast alloy rack like I did, with which your 'mates' delighted in pulling the sprung clip back all the way and letting it snap back when your back was turned (thus breaking it in the end)?

Another thing they delighted in was stealing your pump and letting your tyres down, so another innovation might be the stash-able mini pump, but they were all rather rubbish until the Topeak Morph came along: we have a Mini Morph which my wife used to pump up a 26x2" MTB tyre to a good pressure quite easily the other day.

niggle wrote:

reohn2 wrote:WOW Hubbers i didn't know those exsisted!
I spent all of my four years riding to and from secondary school (20miles a day) with a briefcase strapped over the top tube of my Carlton

Did you not have a Pletscher type cast alloy rack like I did, with which your 'mates' delighted in pulling the sprung clip back all the way and letting it snap back when your back was turned (thus breaking it in the end)?

No I didn't,when not carrying the b/case,I had saddle bag for carrying "stuff" in,I never did like the look of them.Much later I had a rear rack and was very pleased to see the back of the S/bag in favour of a much more practicle rack pack.

Another thing they delighted in was stealing your pump and letting your tyres down, so another innovation might be the stash-able mini pump, but they were all rather rubbish until the Topeak Morph came along: we have a Mini Morph which my wife used to pump up a 26x2" MTB tyre to a good pressure quite easily the other day.

I used to carry my pumrp and tools in the Briefcase, as if you got it nicked it didn't come back.
Thanks for the heads up on the Mini Morph pump, I'm looking for something similar and my experience (though limited) of mini pumps hasn't been positive upto present.

The single item that made the most impact on my enjoyment of cycling was a track pump with pressure gauge. Until receiving this present I had loads of punctures, found it hard to ride fast or long and hated every bump inthe road - all because I wasn't pumped up to a good pressure. As soon as I pumped up the tyres life was fine and I've gone on to enjoy years of happy cycling. Without it I would probably have given up and started driving everywhere!

Buying the correct clothing(lycra etc) and look pedals instead of straps, riding became so much easier then .

I don't know what I was thinking of. Underpants with a chamois insert have had the greatest impact, of course. Mount Borah in America make them and I have four pairs!

From the early 80's to date in this order:

SPD/clip pedals
...a long gap before -
STI/ERGO levers and close ratio 9/10-speed gears
LED rear lights
Very lightweight & bright front lights with Lithium-Ion batteries and 300+ lumens
B&M Son 20 front dynohub with discernible drag and very bright front and rear lights

Track Pump
SON hub and Solidlights
TIME MTB Clipless Pedals
Drop bars
Messenger bag or Carradice bag
Fixed gear
Tektro drop brakes that work V-brakes (not the dia compe though)
...
Possibly Schwalbe Kojaks, though it's too early to say whether it's love or infatuation.

1. Lights in general, front and to a lesser extent, the tail lights, I was actually told one night by a constable I needed such. Nothing like those first rides at night, my first pair were rechargeable and heavy.

2. What got me back cycling for the first time since I was a kid was a freebie women's bike which I moved up from but it will always be fondly remembered.

3. If pumps get noted, I'll say H2O

1) Without a doubt recumbent bikes ! After years of saddle pain, despite trying many different saddles, seat heights, shorts, creams etc when I bought my first recumbent there was the answer I've hardly ridden an upright since !

2) The others: LED front lights, SPDs, GoreTex, more puncture resistant tyres.

Interesting thread - lots of good points. Came home from holiday recently and have borrowed a friend's 1980-ish Raleigh Pulsar for my new commute. This bike is I think original but well maintained and with excellent modern tyres. Most obvious deficit immediately apparent on a test ride was trying to stop with the feeble spindly Weinmann sidepull brakes fitted with basic Fibrax brake blocks. Replacing blocks (and cables) has made a difference but modern dual pivots, cantis and V Brakes are so much better.