The Component Everyone Hates (Except You)
08-25-20, 09:07 AM
#26
Bicycle Repairman
Thumb shifters - especially black Suntour XC Pro. Simple, lightweight, and so pretty...
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08-25-20, 09:12 AM
#27
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Toeclips and slotted cleats.
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08-25-20, 09:16 AM
#28
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Older tire sizes. Let's start with 26" x 1-3/8" These were fairly common in the 70's mostly on three speed bikes, there were some derailleur bikes that used this size too. The size is still far from dead. There are lots of good tires out there and although rim choices are not as good as other sizes, the Sun CR18 is an excellent rim that is available in different hole number and finishes. I think it might even be available with and without an eyelet. Not only is this a good replacement for existing 26" x 1-3/8" bikes, it is also suitable for 27" bikes. 1 - 3/8" or 35mm is a good all around width for a tire, which is why it became so popular in the first place for bikes that were intended to be ridden comfortably and not needing to look like you were ready for the Tour de France. 26" x 1 - 1/2" tires are available, but there are limited choices in this size.
Then there is 27" tires. These were the performance tires from the 60's to the mid 80's. There are good tires available. I see lots of advice to change wheels to 700C to gain access to better tires. As far as I am concerned there is no problem with 27" tires. If the bike came with them, stick with them.
Then there is 27" tires. These were the performance tires from the 60's to the mid 80's. There are good tires available. I see lots of advice to change wheels to 700C to gain access to better tires. As far as I am concerned there is no problem with 27" tires. If the bike came with them, stick with them.
Last edited by Velo Mule; 08-25-20 at 12:43 PM.
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08-25-20, 10:25 AM
#29
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08-25-20, 10:38 AM
#30
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I'd mention the Atlus M310 but I think people secretly like that one. Slap it on a beater commuter and never worry about it again.
Concor saddles. I work better with a convex shape, what can I say.
Concor saddles. I work better with a convex shape, what can I say.
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08-25-20, 10:45 AM
#31
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Oh yeah, Campagnolo shifters. Maybe I'd change my mind if I used Simplex ones and not Suntour ratchet shifters, but I've never once went "dang, I wish moving these shift levers was easier" with the classic Campy downtubes.
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08-25-20, 01:23 PM
#32
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Don't worry, I'm still using toe clips on half my bikes so those Avocet shoes you sold me still get regular action! They offer enough "float" combined with lateral stability on most pedals to work fine with my loose joints.
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Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
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08-25-20, 01:36 PM
#33
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Might be cool with the right setup, but these actually won't index properly on a 7s shifter and cassette because of the thicker 2-3 position spacer intended to make the shifting toward smallest sprockets more robust as the cables age and contaminate, and as the return spring perhaps loses it's authority over the matter.
But the Rapid Rise system post-dated any higher-end 7s bikes, so there's that. Personally I haven't given it such a thorough test myself.
But the Rapid Rise system post-dated any higher-end 7s bikes, so there's that. Personally I haven't given it such a thorough test myself.
08-25-20, 01:59 PM
#34
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Might be cool with the right setup, but these actually won't index properly on a 7s shifter and cassette because of the thicker 2-3 position spacer intended to make the shifting toward smallest sprockets more robust as the cables age and contaminate, and as the return spring perhaps loses it's authority over the matter.
But the Rapid Rise system post-dated any higher-end 7s bikes, so there's that. Personally I haven't given it such a thorough test myself.
What REALLY sucked from that same era were the Dual-Control mtb levers, Oh man, WHAT were they thinking (and did anybody test-ride these things first?)?
Heh, now I'm waiting in anticipation of some "weirdo" to admit that they like them! All I remember is that the last time I serviced any such bikes that the lower little lever had gone missing, now it sucked even worse (though could still be shifted in both directions).
But the Rapid Rise system post-dated any higher-end 7s bikes, so there's that. Personally I haven't given it such a thorough test myself.
What REALLY sucked from that same era were the Dual-Control mtb levers, Oh man, WHAT were they thinking (and did anybody test-ride these things first?)?
Heh, now I'm waiting in anticipation of some "weirdo" to admit that they like them! All I remember is that the last time I serviced any such bikes that the lower little lever had gone missing, now it sucked even worse (though could still be shifted in both directions).
08-25-20, 02:39 PM
#35
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08-25-20, 02:57 PM
#36
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Might be cool with the right setup, but these actually won't index properly on a 7s shifter and cassette because of the thicker 2-3 position spacer intended to make the shifting toward smallest sprockets more robust as the cables age and contaminate, and as the return spring perhaps loses it's authority over the matter.
But the Rapid Rise system post-dated any higher-end 7s bikes, so there's that. Personally I haven't given it such a thorough test myself.
What REALLY sucked from that same era were the Dual-Control mtb levers, Oh man, WHAT were they thinking (and did anybody test-ride these things first?)?
Heh, now I'm waiting in anticipation of some "weirdo" to admit that they like them! All I remember is that the last time I serviced any such bikes that the lower little lever had gone missing, now it sucked even worse (though could still be shifted in both directions).
But the Rapid Rise system post-dated any higher-end 7s bikes, so there's that. Personally I haven't given it such a thorough test myself.
What REALLY sucked from that same era were the Dual-Control mtb levers, Oh man, WHAT were they thinking (and did anybody test-ride these things first?)?
Heh, now I'm waiting in anticipation of some "weirdo" to admit that they like them! All I remember is that the last time I serviced any such bikes that the lower little lever had gone missing, now it sucked even worse (though could still be shifted in both directions).
I like them on my mountain bikes because I can dump the cassette quicker, if I have to, with the trigger than thumbing down. Running 7 and 8 speed cassettes spaced as 8 with 8 speed shifters. Just finished adding a 40t to one bike 13-40 with a Road Link. However, I would be hesitant to hard shift into the 40t.
I’ve not had an issue with them. I understand the initial XTR952 did not work well. I’ve setup Deore 580, XT 760, and XTR 960. The 760’s are the best of the bunch for me.
I don’t use the dual control shifters, just normal triggers.
Most people really hate them with a passion, but that’s fine as I can find them pretty easily even now.
John
08-25-20, 04:18 PM
#37
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DD
08-25-20, 04:20 PM
#38
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DD
08-25-20, 05:30 PM
#39
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Hear, hear!!
These things have one of the worst designs of all time. I'm picturing a couple of Campy engineers brainstorming over lunch -- "A two bolt adjustment would allow you to perfectly fine tune the saddle level." "Yes, but wouldn't it be ugly?" "Hmmm.... What if we put the bolts on top of the post so they were completely hidden inside the saddle?" Then a few months later when the first production run completed.... "What if we manufactured a new wrench with a dog leg in it so that you could tighten the bolts after installing the saddle?" Not one of their better inventions.
I've got them on eight bikes, plus two or three more in the parts pile.
These things have one of the worst designs of all time. I'm picturing a couple of Campy engineers brainstorming over lunch -- "A two bolt adjustment would allow you to perfectly fine tune the saddle level." "Yes, but wouldn't it be ugly?" "Hmmm.... What if we put the bolts on top of the post so they were completely hidden inside the saddle?" Then a few months later when the first production run completed.... "What if we manufactured a new wrench with a dog leg in it so that you could tighten the bolts after installing the saddle?" Not one of their better inventions.
I've got them on eight bikes, plus two or three more in the parts pile.
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08-25-20, 05:50 PM
#40
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I think you've got the design review meeting right... plus a lot of gesticulating and wine. My biggest beef is that, having made the decision to sacrifice function on the altar of aesthetics, (a very Campagnolo thing to do, and one which I often admire,) the actual seatpost looks boring. To my eye, it's nowhere near pretty enough to justify how much of a pain it is to work with.
--Shannon
--Shannon
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08-25-20, 06:01 PM
#41
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Friction Thumb shifters...... brilliant for the right appliction townie type bike or replacing twistgrip shifters
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08-25-20, 07:38 PM
#42
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Quill stems. Makes adjusting the bar height so simple. No torque wrench required, No headset to even think about, No spacers to chase. You can ride a slammed stem today and raise it 2-3" tomorrow. Change the bar height out on the road. (Yeah, you might have to "convince" the stem to loosen with a rock to the Allen key but those rocks are usually not hard to find.) You have to really work at over-tightening and doing any harm and too loose (unless absurdly so) doesn't matter Plus they look so much cleaner than any threadless stem.
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08-25-20, 07:50 PM
#43
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Rhode Gear brake lever mount mirror
Top normal fd. Suntour Spirt in particular
Top normal fd. Suntour Spirt in particular
08-25-20, 08:16 PM
#44
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Spoke reflectors (on non-vintage urban/utility bikes only)
08-25-20, 08:58 PM
#45
Lurker
My SunTour Power Ratchet stem shifters.
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08-26-20, 02:49 AM
#46
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23mm tires.
52/42 or 53/39 standard road gearing (130/135/144mm BCDs).
Suntour Superbe Tech rear derailleurs.
Aluminum forks.
..
...
....
.....Quill stem conversions.
/ducks
52/42 or 53/39 standard road gearing (130/135/144mm BCDs).
Suntour Superbe Tech rear derailleurs.
Aluminum forks.
..
...
....
.....Quill stem conversions.
/ducks
Last edited by RiddleOfSteel; 08-26-20 at 02:56 AM.
08-26-20, 03:18 AM
#47
Senior Member
Another RapidRise lover here. My 952 XTR works flawlessly, as do my LX and XT versions. It makes more sense to me and is just as intuitive as regular derailleurs, but I too use them with regular trigger shifters. They don’t work so well with thumb shifters, however...
08-26-20, 06:16 AM
#48
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Drum brakes.
I love how low-maintenance they are and they can look downright elegant. For anyone complaining about stopping power; try them with modern compressionless brake housing and see how much of a difference it makes.
And in proper sizes (90mm) they are one of the most maintenance free options after fixed gear and single speed coaster brakes. Well beyond disc brakes.
I love how low-maintenance they are and they can look downright elegant. For anyone complaining about stopping power; try them with modern compressionless brake housing and see how much of a difference it makes.
And in proper sizes (90mm) they are one of the most maintenance free options after fixed gear and single speed coaster brakes. Well beyond disc brakes.
08-26-20, 10:20 AM
#50
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