Mountain Biking - What is your favorite component on your bike?

Just bought some new cranks last week. I ended up getting some Shimano Saints for my bike. I really like the way they feel and how they look. That got me wondering as to what I thought was the coolest component on my bike.

What is the one thing you look at when you admire another rider's bike?

I'm guessing most would say the fork, since there are so many different types and so much adjustability nowadays.

I've always looked at the drivetrain, specifically the cranks and pedals. Don't know why?

I remember when Race Face first introduced their Turbine LP's and Johnny T started using them. I wanted a set soooooo badly.

I've got a soft spot in my heart for Profile Racing chromoly cranks due to my old BMX days, and the fact they're made about 45 mins. away.

That and hubs. I love holding a wheel and spinning it in my hands.

I like frames ;) lol I also look at their forks to I dont know why I guess my eyes just get atracted to them.

My fork. The oil feels like I am landing on a cloud.

my ATAC carbon pedals look like stealth fighter jets , so Id say them but I like the whole bike

Forks and rear derailleurs. Not sure why, but those always attract my eye first. Oh ya, and seats.

To me there is just something about an X.0 rear derailleur and X.0 trigger shifters. However, no matter how sexy they are they aren't worth the money (to me) over the X.9. :(

I always loved my xt cranks. Love the lightness, and the look.

I have no favorite. My bikes are tools that enable me to get to great places and have fun.

I've never been a gear-obsessed measurbator, like so many folks apparently are.

With Specialized bikes, the frame.

I dig my dual control levers

a LOT

They look great and shift flawlessly. They feel like buttah

For me it's the whole bike. It's my first FS bike and I'm loving it. I'm pretty happy with all the components on it for now. I'm sure I'll get the bug to upgrade sooner or later.

i love my saint cranks.

i generally notice a frame, fork, and cranks/pedals, in that order.

the first thing i look at someone's bike is there rims and frame

I'm partial to the whole package. To me no component stands alone. But if forced through torture to pick one, I would say wheels. It amazes me that something seemingly so fragile and light can take the punishment they take. But then it comes back to the whole bike. I am just fascinated by the fact that we have successfully developed a conveyance that efficiently moves us from place to place that needs no fuel, oil or hay and weighs in at below 20% of my body weight.

I'd have to say I notice the frame then, forks, rims, and pedals. Don't know why...just the way I am!

I like peoples brake levers and how the brake feels, on my bike my favourite bit is probably the wheels, i also like the crankset.

I like my fork, but that's only until I get rid of this crap frame.

If it's not clicking, then the frame will be my favorite.

i love wheels. i'm not drawn to them. I'm probably drawn to the frame. but without wheels, you couldn't ride

I like the look of my bikes as a complete unit, not one part sticks out.

I'm liking the whole thing. It's the first really nice bike I've ever had...my last bike was a Murray 20incher with the banna seat.

My ringle titanium seat post clamp quick release that I have had since about '92. It used to be 3d violet, but I stripped it to bare aluminum years ago.

The component I like best on my bike is my Speed Dial Ti levers. Not only are they well made, highly functional, easily adjustable, and downright cool-looking, I also got a great deal on them.

Ss

My favorite component on my bike is me. Reliable, variable power, sophisticated, good looking. What else does a bike need?
If I really need to have a favorite part on my bike I would say it's my cool MTB Velociraptor tires on my vintage Fisher rigid bike. They let it tackle fast rocky single track in the desert like never before.

I like my schweety kickstand.

This is a ridiculous thread.

Well I just dropped $250+ on my Race Face Crank, BB and bash guard so that kinda has me :D right now.

I"ve been very pleased with my used $100 RockShox Duke XC fork. But I have to say so far my favorite upgrade is the BB7 front brake. Something about good stopping power gets me all giddy inside...:p

For me it's my pink Chris King headset and matching hubs. I bought these specifically because of the tie in to breast cancer awareness. I know people notice them and if people ask, "Why pink?", I tell them.

I have no favorite. My bikes are tools that enable me to get to great places and have fun.

I've never been a gear-obsessed measurbator, like so many folks apparently are.

you can dig your gear and still use it as tool, tool.

For me it's my pink Chris King headset and matching hubs. I bought these specifically because of the tie in to breast cancer awareness. I know people notice them and if people ask, "Why pink?", I tell them.

Yeah, plus Chris King donates $1 for each pink hub and headset purchased.

For me it's my pink Chris King headset and matching hubs. I bought these specifically because of the tie in to breast cancer awareness. I know people notice them and if people ask, "Why pink?", I tell them.

My wife is doing the 3-Day walk in October down here in Tampa.

I'd love to get a set of wheels and a headset to support the cause. I sent an e-mail to CK and asked if they were going to do another campaigne. They replied they were considering it, but had no definatel plans. If and when they do, I'll invest in a set of hubs.

My wife is doing the 3-Day walk in October down here in Tampa.

I'd love to get a set of wheels and a headset to support the cause. I sent an e-mail to CK and asked if they were going to do another campaigne. They replied they were considering it, but had no definatel plans. If and when they do, I'll invest in a set of hubs.

It's a yearly thing but there is still inventory out there from last year. I bought my headset during the middle of last year's campaign. I bought my hubs this year and the 2006 campaign hasn't started yet but my wheelbuilder happened to have a set of hubs.

In my mind the donation isn't the big deal. The big deal is the awareness part of it. How else can breast cancer be discussed on a mountain bike forum? Better yet when you have the pink kit and are on the trails.

I sent an email to CK recommending the offer the Shimano cassette lock ring in pink. I'd buy it.

We have a local team that's primary goal is promoting breast cancer awareness. The shop that the team rides out of gives the riders everything at cost then charges an extra 10% or 15% and donates that money to charity. It is a great way to raise some money and really helps with awareness at the races when everyone constantly wants to know why all the riders have pink helmets and a pink stripe around the arm of their camo jerseys.

I would guess they have at least 20 riders from all over the state.

My XT rear derailleur. Not for any bling factor, but for the fact that it's performance has been flawless. Not one adjustment, even for cable stretch.

Second would be my Cane Creek Solos headset. Light years better than the WTB that came with my bike. Super slick operation.

Second would be my Cane Creek Solos headset. Light years better than the WTB that came with my bike. Super slick operation.

I feel the same way about my Chris King headset, but it's not anything I notice on a bike.

When I was starting out, I wondered why the heck anyone would spend over $100 for a headset. I finally bought one and now I know. I'll probably never use anything but a CK.

Yeah, plus Chris King donates $1 for each pink hub and headset purchased.

For the cost of his parts a $1 is nothing so I have to say he is a cheap bastard....:rolleyes:

Does vaseline come with his products???

For the cost of his parts a $1 is nothing so I have to say he is a cheap bastard....:rolleyes:

Does vaseline come with his products???

By that same argument I could have simply kept my old headset and sent $100+ to a charity. The difference is that by having these pink parts available, breast cancer awareness has made it into cycling, these forums, the trails, etc.

I agree that he could have sent more, but in this case the monetary contribution is secondary to the effect the parts have on awareness.

$1.00 per part doesn't sound like a lot, but remember, they sell their parts to wholesalers who then mark them up, so even though $1.00 is only 1% of each headset cost to you, it's significantly more to Chris King.

I'm guessing with CK's overhead costs of manufacturing, packaging, advertising...etc., they probobly make less than $10.00 from each headset. So $1.00 is more like a 10% contribution.

I don't remember the exact numbers, but I remeber reading they donated a significant amount to the Foundation.

If someone knows or can find the exact amount, I'd like to know.

$1.00 per part doesn't sound like a lot, but remember, they sell their parts to wholesalers who then mark them up, so even though $1.00 is only 1% of each headset cost to you, it's significantly more to Chris King.

I'm guessing with CK's overhead costs of manufacturing, packaging, advertising...etc., they probobly make less than $10.00 from each headset. So $1.00 is more like a 10% contribution.

I don't remember the exact numbers, but I remeber reading they donated a significant amount to the Foundation.

If someone knows or can find the exact amount, I'd like to know.

In doing a google, I just noticed that Competitive Cyclist (http://www.competitivecyclist.com) has the 2006 pink components out. Looks like you can get your hands on some shortly.

Found a link, last year they donated $10,000 (http://bikeportland.org/2006/02/15/king-cycle-group-releases-pretty-and-strong-results/) not counting the amount that was matched or exceeded by various vendors.

Some shops also made donations. WebCyclery is also donating 30 dollars for every "Pretty and Strong" headset and hubset that they sell. At least they were doing that during the CK promo.

I'm a sucker for Hope disc brakes. When you see those calipers bristling with all those gold caps and you know there's a piston behind each one of 'em. Whew - - takes my breath away.

My ringle titanium seat post clamp quick release that I have had since about '92. It used to be 3d violet, but I stripped it to bare aluminum years ago.

What did you use to strip the titanium off of the titanium and then turn it into aluminum?:D

What did you use to strip the titanium off of the titanium and then turn it into aluminum?:D

I was wondering the same thing myself. Wish I could there was something that would strip aluminum off, revealing titanium below.

If you're still interested in the pink king headset cambriabike sells it.

https://www.aspirevelotech.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/HS_Pink.jpg

http://www.cambriabike.com/shopexd.asp?id=27463

I have no favorite. My bikes are tools that enable me to get to great places and have fun.

I've never been a gear-obsessed measurbator, like so many folks apparently are.


I like to Measurebate over a sexy pair of wheels, personally.

Red Hope XC & rear Disc, XC717/XM719s, DT comps..... *Spaff*

frame, forks, rims and handlebars in that order, but seats and the sram derailleurs are teh hawtness

I like big racks :D

I like my Grimeca's, you don't really see them anywhere else and they work awesome. I also love my SRAM X.0 trigger, and my E.13 SRS as well

I like my Grimeca's, you don't really see them anywhere else and they work awesome. THOSE are the other ones I drool over - big reservoirs, pistons, pistons, pistons!

I like my helmet. Havent broken it yet, unlike its short lived predecessors :)

On my bike i like my rims and tires.

My favorite parts on my bikes are the frames. Love my cannondale frame, and my new (03 frame, but never used) kona frame is growing on me a lot.