Originally posted by hayneda
Balderdash.
There have been no bike geometry or design innovations of much consequence in the past 50 years--save mtn bikes of course. Certainly superior quality metals and tube sets are available; and TIG welding has allowed the introduction of low skill, mass manufacturing of bike frames (as well as aluminum and Ti frames). Nevertheless, a good butted and lugged steel frame from the 80's will be a pound or so heavier, but will ride just fine for anything other than very high performance racing.
Dave
who likes dropping young snot-nosed titanium racer types while riding his old, lugged steel fixed gear bike
I guess Sti or ergo power shifts don't rank up there with design innovation then.
Your comment on Tig welding allowing low skill manufacturing is very funny indeed. Have you ever tried to Tig weld 2 thin walled tubes together? I guess not. If done by hand, it requires more skill than brazing does which is why it's actually better to have a machine do it.
In fact Silver soldering is considered a low skill job in industry these days.
I suppose high strength adhesives are also not a technical breakthrough,
Nor carbon fibre frames (essentially reinforced Tupperware)
No the fact that 6Al 4V titanium can be manufactured into tubes.
Hollowtech cranks?? Theres a manufacturing breakthrough!
10 speed cassettes is another.
Of course the biggest breakthrough of all is improvements in rider training through use of HRM's. Ohhhhhhh getting too techno for you
Perhaps all these advancements as you call it is just fashion. Buthey if fashion makes me ride faster, I'm there at opening time.