Bike Innovations you don't need

[Kestevan]

It's easy really.....

Any technology developed before you were 20 is old fashioned and obsolete.

Any technology developed after you are 40 is unnecessary, and overcomplicated.

 

[Slick]

Not all.

 

[mjr]

Now, let me see ... Indexed gears. What a waste of time. Brifters - stupid word, stupid bodge, what was wrong with down tube shifters? And don't get me started on those bloody stupid fancy QR hubs. I mean what's the point? Freehubs, threadless headsets, more than 5 gears at the back ...

I resemble that remark!

Never had tired hands at the end of a ride. But I can understand why racers want the ability to change gears without taking their hands far from the brakes.

 

[xzenonuk]

shimano biopace..... had one on my trusty 80's bike and i do not miss it

 

[HLaB]

I was going to say indicators but I suppose they were only an innovation the first time the last zillion time have just been a rehash so I'm not sure they count

 

[Blue Hills]

I've never used it either. But many cyclists, including an increasing number on Cycle Chat do and report positively so they must feel it gives an advantage. e.

Cyclops did say LEISURE cyclists. Ie, in truth, if truth be told, the vast majority of us.

 

[Cycleops]

Cyclops did say LEISURE cyclists. Ie, in truth, if truth be told, the vast majority of us.

I can understand it in the competitive world where every fraction of a second has to be taken advantage of but if you’re just out with your local CC trying to catch up with fit Fred it does seem rather pointless.

 

[Blue Hills]

Yes, agree totally. Pretty much anything, for even the tiniest advantage, makes sense in the competitive world.

If car drivers would only start fitting formula 1 bits to their cars en masse, oh how entertaining the roads would be

Tho the highways agency might have to add pit stops to roads.

 

[Siclo]

If car drivers would only start fitting formula 1 bits to their cars en masse, oh how entertaining the roads would be
.

What? Like turbo's, dual speed gearboxes, aerodynamics, active suspension, electronic engine mapping.


 

[SuperHans123]

Drop handelbars

 

[jefmcg]

Cyclops did say LEISURE cyclists. Ie, in truth, if truth be told, the vast majority of us.

Well, I remember a few years ago (when Di2 was pretty rare noticing it on a bike at the start of a 600k audax. Spoke to the rider - late 60s, I'd guess , who had arthritis in his hands and without it wouldn't be able to ride such distances.

On the flip side, on the 2013 LEL, there was a rider who didn't bother to recharge the battery before the start, and ran out of juice!

 

[Blue Hills]

Yes of course there are special applications for everything.

 

[Tim Hall]

Tho the highways agency might have to add pit stops to roads.

That must be where they got the idea for smart motorways, with their refuge lay bys. I fancy pulling in to one of them and getting a 10 second tyre change.

 

[bpsmith]

That must be where they got the idea for smart motorways, with their refuge lay bys. I fancy pulling in to one of them and getting a 10 second tyre change.

Then driving off with someone else picking up the tab too. Sounds bliss compared to spending hours in ATS whilst the only guy they have in decides who is next.

 

[mustang1]

For leisure cyclists Di2 has got to be The biggest con perpetrated by so called cycling innovators as a whole and Shimano in particular.

I think it's the other way round: it's the leisure cyclists who need e-gears and the pro teams should use mechanical. Why? Because pro cyclists have their bikes adjusted for them whereas leisure cyclists need to pay a mechanic. That reminds me, must place an order for one...