Living through different times

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Hi folks, I don’t know if it’s just me or others feel the same way. Just to give you the context the other day I was watching videos on YouTube about bike servicing and came across one which was specifically dedicated towards the types of greases to be used on different components! It was almost 45 minute duration video whereby the presenter explained the difference between greases and their application! It left me wondering why everything has become so complicated? What happened to the simple things in life? While I am not averse to advancement in technology and myself own bike with Di2 as well as bikes with mechanical group set and I know soon we will have wireless brakes too. But seriously do we actually now need to know and own half a million different types of greases out there just to maintain bikes??

Two greases at the most is all that is necessary. A heavy high pressure grease for the head set, and the crank set. And then, and only maybe, a some what lighter grease for the wheel bearings. And that may not be necessary on newer bikes that have sealed bearing on the wheels.
 

presta

Legendary Member
My point was that manufacturers take a different view of these things. IIRC an American car manufacturer happily declined to recall their cars when a potentially fatal issue came up, because they calculated the cost would be greater that that of compensating for any resulting deaths.
Ford Pinto. The fuel tanks kept rupturing in rear end shunts, and incinerating the occupants.
Bicycles today are saddled (sorry) with all sorts of ‘new & improved’ parts that become un-replaceable due to proprietary fittings. Watched a video last night of a Trek being serviced. Its ‘suspension’ system inside the head tube was a failure (later dropped) but could not be omitted nor replaced with an alternative. Don’t like it? Buy another bike.
There's someone over on the CTC forum who's just had to fork out £500 for a new gearbox on an 18 month old Fazua e-bike.
The bicycle was such a great invention: one of the most efficient modes of transport ever invented. The problem is that over the last several decades, "innovators" have been slowly turning them into motor vehicles.
The bicycle was a mature technology decades ago, so the only way for the marketing men to push product is by keeping inventing new gimmicks.
why does the woman of a standard couple always ride on the back
Is it this forum where I saw a thread from someone wanting advice on how to get his wife out on the tandem more often?
I was tempted to suggest cutting out the sprouts and baked beans.
 

gzoom

Veteran
"Living through different times"

or, in other terms, getting old innit?

As I officially approach my late 40s I have to say I'm loving the way the bike world is changing. This week I've taken delivery of my 3rd eBike since COVID, the literally just released Vado 3 :smile:.

I'm definitely developing a brand loyalty to Specialized, maybe it's the fact the App looks very similar to the one I have for the car?

The numbers are totally mad though, 100NM+ of torque - so more than some cars, 810w peak power - so about 1BHP, and 840wh battery.

It's the first bike I've owned with suspension, but I also have yet to own a bike with electric shifting and funny enough was thinking about when wireless braking would appear on a bike......So I know what features I'll be looking out for when shopping for my 4th eBike in another 18 months or so!!

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OP
OP
Katana

Katana

Well-Known Member
Ford Pinto. The fuel tanks kept rupturing in rear end shunts, and incinerating the occupants.

There's someone over on the CTC forum who's just had to fork out £500 for a new gearbox on an 18 month old Fazua e-bike.

The bicycle was a mature technology decades ago, so the only way for the marketing men to push product is by keeping inventing new gimmicks.

Is it this forum where I saw a thread from someone wanting advice on how to get his wife out on the tandem more often?
I was tempted to suggest cutting out the sprouts and baked beans.

😂
 
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