As I was out for late afternoon ride between rain showers, I was contemplating things I like and those which I don't like, when it comes to bicycles.

I'll start the list and let's see where this goes.

I like: SRAM Chains for their quick connect link.
I Dislike: Shimano and Campagnolo Chains because they don't have this feature.

I like: Hard leather saddles, even a Brooks right out of the box, and thick Ideales.
I Dislike: Any saddle with gel! Oh do they hurt!

I like: The smell of Phil Wood green grease. I don't know why, but I do.
I Dislike: The look of white grease. It turns me off. Maybe it reminds me of snow.

Ok! Now it's your turn to add to the list.

I like..fluted seat posts, crank arms and crank spiders with milling, chainrings with extra "webbing", bar end shifters, "non aero" brake levers,flat QR skewers.

I dislike.. lugs that are too "plain jane", grey cable housing, small flange front hubs (im ok with them on the back though?!), internal cable routing, freewheels that are too quiet, anatomic bend handlebars, clear water bottles or water bottles that are bigger than 500ml, gum wall tires, half chromed forks (no beef with them if the stays are half chromed too though), brake hoods that arent black, white bar tape, 1980s saddles and 1980s handlebar stems.. well pretty much everything from the mid to late 1980s for that matter... I got a ton more, wow, way too many dislikes, I think im turning into a snob.

Like: Brifters, bar ends, dt shifters

Dislike: stem-mounted shifters--maybe it's a bike snob thang, but every time I see shifters on a stem--even on something otherwise very nice--I get this feeling of disappointment...like the universe has somehow let me down.

Dislike: Carbon.

I hate radial spoke lacing, because it puts too much stress on the hub flange.

I detest paired spokes and reduced spoke count wheels, because they are less reliable than traditional 32 to 40 spoke wheels, often not repairable, and require a heavier rim for strength -- weight right where you least want it! These are a major step backward, because basic physics and mechanical engineeering teaches us clearly that the way to increase a wheel's strength-to-weight ratio is to increase its spoke count.

I hate indexed front shifters, which preclude feathering of the cage position and which can make it hard to finesse a shift to prevent chain drop.

I hate screw-on freewheels, but I use them. I freely admit that the freehub/cassette system is significantly superior.

I hate almost all vintage brake pads, because they are unsafe. I like KoolStop salmons, because they actually work.

For myself personally, I hate single speed and fixed gear. I love having a good assortment of close-ratio gears from which to choose.

Like: tailwinds, 1 mile markers.

Dislike: chip-seal, freshly oiled roads (starting in my area now).

Like: Group rides, even more when we stop for food. Riding no handed and Schwinn paint colors.

Mildy amused with: Shimano Positron and FFS

Dislike: Solid nutted axles, crashing, crashing because I was riding without hands. Crashing. Cheapy twist grip shifters... I'm looking at you Huffy!

Like: Centerpull brakes. Forks with plenty of rake.

Dislike: Sticky brake hoods. Foam bar grips that decomposes to black dust. Plastic derailleurs and shifters.

I like getting brakes tuned just right.

I like the smell of the repair area in the back of an old bike shop. Could make a men's cologne out of that mix of oil, rubber, citrus, and raw steel. And yes, the Phil Wood grease adds a nice top note.

I like S&S Machine Couplers -- pieces of fine industrial jewelry.

I hate bikes with no lights at night.

I like - Downtube shifters, its where shift levers are supposed to be.
Dislike - Stem shifters, arrrg!

I like - Deep saturated pigmented metallic enamel paint finishes on round tubed frames.
Dislike - Winnebago swirlies on big fat ovalized, squared, swaged tubed frames.

I like - Silk tubulars.
I Dislike - CLINCHERS.

Boy, I don't know. This thread is already getting cranky and it just started.

I'm 50, so closing in on vintage myself, and my bikes are from '72-'92.
But if you gave me a new modern Pinarello Dogma, I'd be a happy man.

I like bikes.

I like stem shifters (there- I said it).

Not too crazy about downtube shifters. I had them on the only bike I owned for 20+ years and never really got used to them.

A couple comments on low spoke counts. The LBS I usually ride with had a set of high-bling, low spoke count Rolf wheels to demo. We compared the Rolf front wheel to the 36-spoke 1981 vintage Campy Record front wheel I had ridden on the group ride and found my wheel to be merely 50gm heavier than the Rolf. The shop owner spun my 27 year old wheel and said "that's so smooth it's insane!"

We had a minor collision at our ride last week. Two riders managed to become entangled and fell at a stop light. One rider's foot ended up through the other rider's low spoke count wheel and took minute or so of careful extraction in the intersection to avoid damage to the wheel. I couldn't help but think that that could not have happened with my 36-spoke wheels.

I like: The wind in my hair

I dislike: the wind in my ears

I dislike safety brake levers.
I dislike riding in the rain.
I dislike riders who try to make group rides into races.

I like chrome forks.
I like 60's and 70's Paramounts, Internationals, and PX-10s.
I like the feeling when you get the shift "just right".

+1

Not into: Hetchins style lugs, even Nervex. Internal cable routing on steel top tubes.

Fetishes: Reynolds stickers, worn and faded cotton bartape w/o shellac, contrasting panels on seat-and downtube.

Like: overhauling hubs and getting the cones adjusted juuuuuuust right so the wheel spins "insanely smooth" (thanks JohnDThompson). With Phil Wood green grease, of course.

...and on the wrong side of the road!

Dislike:
1. Huret Allvit rear derailers
2. Department store bikes of any vintage, any brand
3. Finding out the stem or seatpost are stuck on the bike I just bought
4. Downtube, friction shifters
5. Aluminum bikes with aluminum forks (does not include Cannondales with head shock)
I like:
1. Riding with a group, especially if I'm strong enough to Pull that group
2. Riding solo through the woods with my MTB
3. Finding a good mid or high level bike at a garage sale for $25 or less.
4. Brake/Shifters (brifters) (any brand)
5. Fox Forks
6. A road that was paved one week ago.

Dislike thin chains, they wear out at least 3 times faster then the old wide chains.
Dislike not being able to get small parts to fix components.
Dislike threadless headsets.
Dislike bike frames going for the lightest frame possible only to have short frame life expectancy. Dislike drivers who just have to treat cyclists like their gnats in their way.
Dislike working on new bikes, older bikes were much easier.
Dislike all this black carbon component crap, I like shiney stuff like chrome or polished aluminum.
Dislike bikes without lugs.
Dislike all this cycling stuff coming out of China.
Dislike snow because I hate the trainer.
I like the smell of burning rubber off my tires, dislike that my bike can't do that!

Here's a few:

Likes:

-functional bikes. give me lights, racks, dyno's, fenders, panniers, 3 bottle holders, spoke holders, and all that stuff that help you be a self sufficient , human powered machine who can go anywhere in the world given the time.

- group rides that are more about seeing new stuff and shooting that poop than proving who has the biggest calves. If food can be incorporated into the ride somehow then we've done something right. The longer the ride, the better. Rain? Ok. I always used to say to my friends who would complain that it might rain or snow or whatever whenever we had plans outside - "sometimes when you go outside, it rains"

- I like racing bikes and bikes built for purposes other than touring or hauling things too, but the rider still should be more interested in getting a good beer or meal during or after the ride than how much his bike weighs.

- chrome and shiny things. Paint is cool too and at some point I've craved a bike of almost every color.

- i like career bike mechanics who are not either a snob, or socially inept. I'm my experience it's hard to find one who isnt one or the other. The ones that arent get my business.

- horizontal top tubes. duh

- learning new things about bikes.

- pushing myself physically and surprising myself with what I'm able to accomplish

Dislikes:

- octalink. Why do you exist? Please stop.

- eating too much or too fast while riding in 100 degree heat and barfing it up in the middle of nowhere with no food backup and 60 more miles to ride. Don't ask me how I know.

- cyclists who look down upon other cyclists because they're different than themselves.

- closed minded people in general, and know it alls. I've got no time for either.

- dt shifters and pedals with toe clips, even though I own both. Sorry guys but some vintage things are only cool until you try something new.

- I hate truing wheels, mainly because I'm not very good at it yet.

thats it for now.

Like: Smokin' roadies in full team gear on my own garage special bike (like the Discover Channel jersey is going to make the hills any easier)
Dislike: rough pavement w/ a headwind

I didn't read them all but just a couple personally popped to mind:

I like: Toe-clips that "work" smooth in and out. Ornate decorations on bikes (particularly the frame and crank) for art's sake. A bike that makes me forget I'm on a machine and let's me think I'm flying, if only momentarily. Other cyclists that take the time to wave, say hi, or yell out nice bike as they go by.

I dislike: Paint that makes me think of graffiti and early 90's mountain bikes. Plastic pedals. Decals that come off. Running out of water when I don't want to stop.

I like (so far): My Brooks
I like: Riding in the rain
I like: Riding on fresh/smoothe asphalt
I like: French styled bikes
I like: Touring bikes
I like: Lined brake cables
I like: "4th hand" brake tools (They are incredible!)
I like: Bicycles
I like: Riding bicycles

I HATE!: People (If I consider you a person that's different)
I dislike: Crashing
I dislike: CHEAP bicycles
I dislike: A lot more than I care to mention

-Gene-