Greatest cycling invention of the last 25 years?

[chriswoody]

It isn't so much about speed, as about the fact you don't need to move your hands away from the bars.

When changing to higher (harder) gears, that isn't much of an isue, but when you need to change down because the hill has got a bit harder than you anticipated, that is much trickier. You can even change gear while standing on the pedals with brifters. You might be able to do that with a down tube shifter, but I don't think I could.

Alongside that, when i started gravel biking in the heathland and forests of my local area I used my old Dawes Galaxy initially, which has bar end shifters. I found gear changing, as surfaces frequently changed, was a horrible and dangerous experience.

When I purchased my Kona it had SRAM brifters and it was a revelation, suddenly my hands stayed in the same place on the bars as I was changing gears and I had full control of the bike. As a consequence I changed gear much more frequently and was able to maintain momentum and pace. Brifters for me and my riding style were a literal game changer, fast, precise gear changing all whilst maintaining full control of the bike on tricky surfaces.

 

[Fredo76]

So, everybody's missed it, imo. The greatest cycling invention of the last 25 years are seats with great big holes in them.

Patented in 2012/13:

BICYCLE SADDLE​

Publication number: 20130313870
Abstract: There is provided a bicycle saddle (1) with two identical portions (2, 3) arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the saddle, the portions being mutually separated, at the upper part by a substantially dove-tail-shaped inlet (4) and mutually connected by a depression (11), after which a channel-shaped-hole (5) open from top to bottom is provided. The inlet (4), the depression (11), and the channel (5) are arranged at the median longitudinal axis of the saddle. Due to the configuration, the user using the saddle during cycling does not feel the pressure of the structures on the floor of the perineum, does not feel the temporary prostatic congestion and it does not bruise the coxal bone.
Filed: February 7, 2012
Publication date: November 28, 2013
Applicant: SELLE SMP S.A.S. DI MAURIZIO SCHIAVON
Inventor: Francesco Riondato

 

[EckyH]

Four more: compressionless brake cable housings, polished brake cables, Mini V brakes and TPU tubes.

E.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

MTBers had been playing with it for a while.

Indeed. I have been running tubeless since 2006.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

but when you need to change down because the hill has got a bit harder than you anticipated, that is much trickier.

Do you use friction shifters. If not, when was the last time you used them?

 

[Dogtrousers]

By the way I'm not on a mission to argue that friction shifters are equivalent to or better than brifters. I do find brifters a bit easier to use. Just a bit that's all.

I still think that most cyclists would be perfectly happy if the advances if the past 50 years were taken away. They'd moan and whinge for a bit because of change. But then they'd realise things weren't so bad after all. Lights excepted.

 

[Jameshow]

Btw I have a hi mod focus izalco 2012 with c24 wheels which is great up the hills.

I also have a Raleigh special product delivery 531c which also has dura ace wheels the funny ones with spikes to the rim edge...

Both are lovely rides but a mear 30 yrs apart.

A bit like a lotus elan and a mx5 or z4.

Both drive well but different generations.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Not even mentioned, far and away the best is lights: LEDs and lithium batteries. It's not even close.

GPS can be very useful.

The rest is mere frippery.

Good point about the lights. I recall riding an old "racing bike" in the mid '80s, and when riding at night, my light ran on 2 D size batteries (non-rechargeable), was very bulky, very heavy, and emitted b#gger-all light.

 

[Profpointy]

I believe you can even get bikes where you can freewheel down hills. Technology is amazing.

My old bike does that but the newer one doesn't

 

[Profpointy]

If you extend the timescale a bit, here's a few of the things I value.

Decent low gearing: My first proper bike was a 10 speed (ie 5x2) and event when I upgraded it to 15 speed it was still hard work uphills. My next bike had 27 speeds and I could get up anything even when tired

Brakes that actually work, even in the wet. Combination of alloy rims, better brake pads, and whether canti or modern side pulls, they are much much better.

Decent pannier racks that don't wobble

And as others have said, lights that actually work. The old Ever Ready lights were utterly unreliable quite apart from being dim and the battery consumption of incandescent bulbs.

 

[Profpointy]

So, everybody's missed it, imo. The greatest cycling invention of the last 25 years are seats with great big holes in them.

Patented in 2012/13:

BICYCLE SADDLE​

Publication number: 20130313870
Abstract: There is provided a bicycle saddle (1) with two identical portions (2, 3) arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the saddle, the portions being mutually separated, at the upper part by a substantially dove-tail-shaped inlet (4) and mutually connected by a depression (11), after which a channel-shaped-hole (5) open from top to bottom is provided. The inlet (4), the depression (11), and the channel (5) are arranged at the median longitudinal axis of the saddle. Due to the configuration, the user using the saddle during cycling does not feel the pressure of the structures on the floor of the perineum, does not feel the temporary prostatic congestion and it does not bruise the coxal bone.
Filed: February 7, 2012
Publication date: November 28, 2013
Applicant: SELLE SMP S.A.S. DI MAURIZIO SCHIAVON
Inventor: Francesco Riondato

I'm not sure my Brooks team pro can be bettered to be honest

 

[HMS_Dave]

You mean, there are bikes with more than 3 gears!? My elephant bike must be a equivalent to a 1950s Chevy pick up. Heavy, slow, practical and driven by a fat man.

 

[Alex321]

Do you use friction shifters. If not, when was the last time you used them?

About 45 years ago.

 

[Dogtrousers]

.Decent pannier racks that don't wobble

Now you're taking me back the bike rack of my teenage years. Attached to the seat stays using a metal plate secured (almost ) with a wingnut and had two legs secured by the wheel nuts. Had a big spring with which you could try unsuccessfully to hold loads. Wobbled like hell.

I replaced it with a Karrimor rack circa 1979 that was brilliant but probably cost as much as the rest of the bike and which I still have in my garage.

 

[brommieinkorea]

Good point about the lights. I recall riding an old "racing bike" in the mid '80s, and when riding at night, my light ran on 2 D size batteries (non-rechargeable), was very bulky, very heavy, and emitted b#gger-all light.

I had one of those lights by Cateye. They used the same bulb in the headlight as the taillight. The tail light won an award for brightness etc, the head light just s##ked.