gthomson

Just a fun post for a Friday and don't flame me for talking about the difference between C&V bikes and new bikes but wanted to post the things I am thankful for in new bike technology:

• Soft, padded grip tape - how did we ride back in the day with slippery, shiny non absorbent bar tape?
• Brifters - gotta admit, they are way more convenient than using down tube shifters.

What are your you thankful for with new bike technology?

obrentharris 

I shall not flog this horse.

But I am grateful for the proliferation in the last thirty years of small bakeries along my usual cycling routes.

Brent

SJX426 

Drive train improvements. Benefited both Index and friction shifting.
GPS - if you are into that thang!
The internet to find bike stuff and people!

sheddle

Brakes, brakes, and brakes.

Dolanarc1

Coming from a person that has raced and ridden a bike for 47yrs. The answer is like : Everything, from equipment, to clothing, training methods, nutrition, the lot.

Riveting

GPS bike computers, wireless power meters, cell phones (camera, music, weather alerts, and texting your whereabouts to your SO, and in one tiny form factor), wireless earbuds, USB rechargeable bar and tail LED lights, and small portable USB battery packs and 3 different USB cord types (mini, micro, and USB-C) to recharge it all on the 6+ hour long distance stuff.

So...technically nothing to do with the "bike" at all, but I wouldn't/couldn't ride without it all. How did cyclists get along without all this stuff 15+ years ago, those were very dark times indeed (both literally and figuratively).

Swampthing 

The only improvement that is really obvious to me on a daily basis is LED lights.
I have cheap rechargeables on every bike and bag. Even the bikes with dynamos.
eventually I’ll probably even retrofit my old dynamo lights with LED bulbs.
Tires seem nicer too. At least there is more variety.

embankmentlb

Spd pedals / shoes and the iPhone are the greatest advancements to the bicycle in the last 30 years.
Been back and forth with the latest and greatest gear. By choice almost all my bikes have shiny tape and down tube sifters.

sced

I heartily second spd pedals + MTB shoes one can walk around in, and maybe puncture resistant belted tires

John E

#1 by far: lighting
#2: brake pads, specifically KoolStop
#3: helmets
#4: glueless patches that actually work
#5: low-compression, low-friction cable housings
#6: freehub/cassettes, at least for high cog counts
#7: (going back to the last 1960s): slant planograph rear derailleur geometry

Velo Mule

I'll just add master links for derailleur chains.

55tele

SPD system
Thru axles
disk brakes
Brifters

tiger1964 

This x1000

If it wasn't for the internet and particularly BF, my bikes would probably be nearly unrideable.

noglider 

New handlebar shapes are nice even though I haven't used them much yet.

Clipless pedals, yup. SPD may be Shimano's best invention in my view.

Tires!Some feel new brakes are better, but since I have big and strong hands, they don't make much difference to me. I can always squeeze harder when I need to. For others, the new brakes are a very big improvement, and bringing good braking to others is truly a gain.

Speaking of handlebar tape, I recently put on Brooks Cambium rubber tape. It got bad reviews but I think it's fantastic, and it promises to be durable and reusable.

How much of an improvement are the new saddles? For me, barely at all, as I still ride leather saddles. I do like my Cambium C17 but it's hardly a revolution.

And use them or not, aluminum and carbon fiber and titanium frames do offer some advantages that were previously unavailable.

More gears in the drivetrain is another improvement that doesn't bring a benefit to everyone but to many. You can maintain your cadence or your power output or your speed or any combination. Or you can change them at will. If you use this right, you can increase your average speed.

Electronics improves at a faster rate than anything else, but all these computers are helpful but don't seem revolutionary to me. But the improvements in lighting are enormous. How about those super bright lights for trail riding. You can turn night into day. That opens up a kind of cycling that was just not available before we had the lights. But back to the computers, maybe they are a revolution for some, because you can compare your times, tally your miles, and learn what others are doing. So maybe they are a big deal.

bikingshearer 

I agree with some of the things already mentioned: SPDs; brifters; brakes; clinchers. All better than pedals/cleats/straps, shifters, brakes/brake levers and clinchers BITD. Also, +1 on Bike Forums (especially C&V) and the fun and information it has given us.

But let's not forget eBay and CraigsList. For all the problems and headaches they have birthed, they have expended by orders of magnitude the ability to track down, buy or sell used bike stuff. Four of my five current rider frames and at least two frames currently in mothballs were eBay deals purchases or, in one case, trading an eBay purchase for it. I can't begin to list how many parts came from eBay. These marketplaces revolutionized things, at least for C&V folks.

As usual, my opinion is worth exactly what you are paying for it.

bikemig 

One word: lycra.

dddd

If I look at my regularly-used C&V bikes, what I tend to always do is to use modern chain with either Uniglide or Suntour freewheels.
The modern chain arrived as a seemingly two-step progression, first with the bushingless, narrow Sedisport chain, followed by the more-advanced, more-flexible UG Narrow chain (whose dimensions prevail to this day). These chains are lighter, and their flexibility reduces friction, allows greater cross-chain angle and operates quietly on clean, scant lubrication while lasting many thousands of miles.
The improved shifting over traditional drivetrain parts is a blessing.

Then there are the clipless pedals I always use, the plastic-lined cable paths, the better tires, and better bar tape and saddle options.

Though I tend to dislike very narrow handlebars, the old frames, forks, and most components work great imo, with a very wide range of frameset flex characteristics, sizing and geometry.
(I'm a lighter rider, so never have concerns of excess frame flex)

jon c. 

I'm also in the camp that believes lighting is clearly the most significant improvement.

My helmet would probably provide better protection that the leather one I wore in the 70s, but hopefully I won't find out.

Otherwise, I don't avail myself of much of the modern tech. I've tried modern shifters, I prefer the feel of downtube.

Dfrost 

Really good, light and supple tires in wider sizes.
Increased focus on room to run those tires.
Small, powerful lights with great run times, and they don’t require a water bottle cage for the battery pack.
Access to @gugie’s skills with a torch. You’ll probably get a bunch of great stories as a bonus.
Great friendships, both in-person and virtual, thanks to BF C&V. Missing lots of the former connections this year. Certainly hope that changes in 2021.

Germany_chris

Everything is better

jiangshi

SRLSY?

From bottom up:

tires, tubes. rims, spokes, hubs, cranksets, bottom brackets., freewheels/freehubs, tubing, cables, seatposts, seats, handlebars, handlebar tape, bike computers, clothing, shoes, helmets, air.


n.b. : not a complete list

thinktubes 

Nitrogen-filled tyres

gugie 

Ditto on internet and Bike Forums. Would never have met any of these people:

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Come for the bikes, stay for the people.

Trakhak

That's what Maynard Hershon, longtime Velonews contributor (fondly remembered by many for his "Off The Back" column), said when Grant Pedersen asked him the "biggest improvement in cycling?" question. Grant tried to get him to recant, offering to send him a pair of Kucharik Smartwool shorts, sure that he'd change his mind. Hershon replied, "I love you, Grant. Please don't send me any wool shorts."

gugie 

fify