Pointless changes to bits

[Blue Hills]

Or "continuous improvement" as the marketing wonks would have it.

Two of mine, both from Topeak whose bits I generally rate.

1: Seat clip for the seatpack - previously had two decent sized bolts and solid as a rock. Then changed to a single small bolt - I think I ranted to @RoubaixCube about this on a ride once - he maybe thought me bonkers but sure enough a while later that single bolt fell out. I now scour ebay/consider murdering fellow cyclists for their aged but functional bits.

Then a few days ago I discovered another while building up a tourer.

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-mod...ItQZjDqcIwawYUKbtBwaAm_eEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I had bought two more of these things a while ago for future builds as I have a nice big steel water bottle which fits neatly into the cage on an older self-build. I need lots of water on tours.

They have only bleedin changed it so that the jaw opens a few mm less!

Why why o farking why?

Any others?

 

[Mike Ayling]

Or "continuous improvement" as the marketing wonks would have it.

Two of mine, both from Topeak whose bits I generally rate.

1: Seat clip for the seatpack - previously had two decent sized bolts and solid as a rock. Then changed to a single small bolt - I think I ranted to @RoubaixCube about this on a ride once - he maybe thought me bonkers but sure enough a while later that single bolt fell out. I now scour ebay/consider murdering fellow cyclists for their aged but functional bits.

Then a few days ago I discovered another while building up a tourer.

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-mod...ItQZjDqcIwawYUKbtBwaAm_eEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I had bought two more of these things a while ago for future builds as I have a nice big steel water bottle which fits neatly into the cage on an older self-build. I need lots of water on tours.

They have only bleedin changed it so that the jaw opens a few mm less!

Why why o farking why?

Any others?

We use very basic computers on our fleet.
Mary lost her head unit so we got a replacement which looked identical so I thought that it would fit in the existing mount and I would not have to instal the new fork sensor, loom and mount. No, although it slid into the old mount it was a poofteenth diferent in length and did not line up with the contacts in the old head unit.
I did not have to replace the magnet on the spokes!

Mike

 

[Tribansman]

Totally agree, it's infuriating. The most annoying for me is shoes (cycle specific and others) - the constant need to bring out new versions that never seem to fit as well, and a comfy fit can take a while to find and is so crucial. Exploit advances in technology by all means, but why not maintain the original dimensions and proportions?

I once bought x3 additional pairs of trainers that were super comfortable as I knew that by the time the originals had worn out, they'd have been discontinued

 

[Blue Hills]

I once bought x3 additional pairs of trainers that were super comfortable as I knew that by the time the originals had worn out, they'd have been discontinued

Reminded me.
I plead guilty to having 3 etrex20s - 2 bought secondhand at good prices. The maps of course get updated.
Suppose at least we can be thankful for ebay - I use it for old near mint bits on builds - often better than the new stuff.
By the by, on the bottle cage upthread, the wider opening one also has an allen key socket on the adjusting nob - a good feature in itself now gone.
The new version is the Modula II but I don't think Topeak has ever said what the new improved features of the 2 are, what was wrong with number 1.