Technical Progress in Road Bikes

[cougie uk]

Can't remember when I first used brifters but I definitely had some Look clipless pedals in the early 80s

I think STI shifters had come out by the late 80s as well.

 

[Alex321]

Bikes are much better

1993 would have down tube shifters clipped pedals quill stem, 32h wheels steel frames

From 2003
We have sti, SPD/look, aheadset, 16/24h aero rims, carbon frames etc.

Chalk and cheese

Still like my retro steel bikes though on a warm summers evening...

STI shifters were introduced in 1990.

As were SPD pedals - Look had been around for several years before that. And they certainly weren't all steel frames by then either, though Carbon frames weren't generally available.

 

[wafter]

Will there eventually be no alternative to high end wingdings like electronic shifting. I doubt it.

105 may ultimately be electronic only but that's only a branding thing. Want a cable groupset? - today's Tiagra is probably pretty much yesterterday's 105. If there's demand and money to be made then the product will be made available by someone. Say Shimano say they are going all electronic, no more manual gears at all - then other manufacturers would laugh their socks off and hoover up the lower end of the market.

Sure, eventually, some things will definitely drop out of use - like friction shifters have. But in that case it may have been because demand for them disappeared. But cable actuated gears are going to be here for quite some time because there will be a profit to be made from selling them.

Maybe I'm wrong and being complacent.

A valid point re. outright availability, however I'd wager that it's likely not going to be as black and white as that. Higher-end groupsets are rapidly becoming electronic-only; shutting out those of us who want to remain mechanical from some features / quality levels that we might otherwise have wanted.

This is why I object to the "electronification" of 105 so much. Previously Di2 was an option on the two highest-end, arguably poorest-value groupsets - which were shamelessly targetted at those who wanted the most advanced tech regardless of cost. Conversely 105 has historically offered 95% of the functionality of the tiers above at a far lower price and slight mass penalty. In doing so this provided the value-centric / budget-conscious buyer an obvious, very capable solution.

If the current trend continues I can see Shimano eventually offering no products that appeal to those who want a higher-end mech groupset - it'll either be low-end mech or high-end electronic. You can see the same happening with the demise of rim brakes, and in the dim-and-distant past the shift from downtube shifters to STIs. Personally I like both discs and STIs, but feel that Di2 is a step too far since it heralds the need for an external power supply and propriatory, integrated electronics to allow an otherwise intrinsically self-contained, simple mechanical system to function..

 

[Dogtrousers]

A valid point re. outright availability, however I'd wager that it's likely not going to be as black and white as that. Higher-end groupsets are rapidly becoming electronic-only; shutting out those of us who want to remain mechanical from some features / quality levels that we might otherwise have wanted.

This is why I object to the "electronification" of 105 so much. Previously Di2 was an option on the two highest-end, arguably poorest-value groupsets - which were shamelessly targetted at those who wanted the most advanced tech regardless of cost. Conversely 105 has historically offered 95% of the functionality of the tiers above at a far lower price and slight mass penalty. In doing so this provided the value-centric / budget-conscious buyer an obvious, very capable solution.

If the current trend continues I can see Shimano eventually offering no products that appeal to those who want a higher-end mech groupset - it'll either be low-end mech or high-end electronic. You can see the same happening with the demise of rim brakes, and in the dim-and-distant past the shift from downtube shifters to STIs. Personally I like both discs and STIs, but feel that Di2 is a step too far since it heralds the need for an external power supply and propriatory, integrated electronics to allow an otherwise intrinsically self-contained, simple mechanical system to function..

I see where you're going and I don't entirely disagree. But I do think (hope) that quality mechanical shifting will be available for the foreseeable. It just won't called 105. So people who want a mechanical groupset called 105 will be out of luck. Shimano are hoping that the lure of the 105 brand name will pull some people up a price bracket.

As for brakes, I can see rim brakes getting muscled out. My bike has rim brakes so how will this affect me? Well, I think my brake calipers will probably last until the sun explodes, so it's a question of whether there will be a continued supply of rims with brake tracks, brake pads and cables for me. I'm not panicking just yet.

Nothing against discs btw. If I was buying a bike now I'd probably go for disc brakes. But I'm not, and I probably won't be until my current bike gets nicked or the frame breaks.

 

[presta]

Will there eventually be no alternative to high end wingdings like electronic shifting. I doubt it.

105 may ultimately be electronic only but that's only a branding thing. Want a cable groupset? - today's Tiagra is probably pretty much yesterterday's 105. If there's demand and money to be made then the product will be made available by someone. Say Shimano say they are going all electronic, no more manual gears at all - then other manufacturers would laugh their socks off and hoover up the lower end of the market.

Sure, eventually, some things will definitely drop out of use - like friction shifters have. But in that case it may have been because demand for them disappeared. But cable actuated gears are going to be here for quite some time because there will be a profit to be made from selling them.

Maybe I'm wrong and being complacent.

If enough people follow a new fashion, the old one either goes obsolete because there isn't a big enough market to make them economical any more, or they become an expensive minority product only available in a few specialist shops, or they get relegated to the low quality, cheap & cheerful end of the market.

Try finding a good quality pump of the kind with the hose in the handle that fits between pump pegs these days.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I love my friction shifters, far better than the Sti they replaced.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Unfashionable things do stay available if there's enough demand for them. Look at Brooks saddles. Unfashionable and uncomfortable!

 

[fossyant]

Bikes are much better

1993 would have down tube shifters clipped pedals quill stem, 32h wheels steel frames

From 2003
We have sti, SPD/look, aheadset, 16/24h aero rims, carbon frames etc.

Chalk and cheese

Still like my retro steel bikes though on a warm summers evening...

Looks were in by then and STI. I stuck with SIS downtube shifters as they are ace. Clickety click. Neither steel bikes were cheap ones though.

 

[iluvmybike]

Is tubeless new? I'm sure my friend has a bike in his garage from the 70/80's which has tubeless tyres from new, granted they had to be glued on but still nonetheless tubeless

You are talking about 'tubs' or 'tubular' tyres- the inner tube is sewn into them and then the tyres glue onto the rims - primarily used by racers. Tubeless technology means there is no inner tube - similar to car tyre whereby they have to be a sealed fit onto the rim. Puncture protection is then provided by liquid sealant inserted into the tyre which automatically seals any holes due to thorns, glass etc

 

[cougie uk]

I love my friction shifters, far better than the Sti they replaced.

Really ? I much prefer being able to change gear and still hold onto the bars. I don't see any benefits of down tube shifters.

 

[Cycleops]

You still can hold onto the bars Cougie, just with one hand though

 

[Jameshow]

Looks were in by then and STI. I stuck with SIS downtube shifters as they are ace. Clickety click. Neither steel bikes were cheap ones though.

I googled 1993 groupset and down tube levers were speced?!🤔🤔🤔

Durace perhaps but job blogs 105 maybe not??

 

[cougie uk]

You still can hold onto the bars Cougie, just with one hand though

With THESE potholes though !

:-)

 

[cougie uk]

I googled 1993 groupset and down tube levers were speced?!🤔🤔🤔

Durace perhaps but job blogs 105 maybe not??

I dont think 105 had STI for a few years. Pretty sure I had a DA groupset with STI in the early 90s I think ? Lovely kit - never let me down.

 

[cyberknight]

Bikes are much better

1993 would have down tube shifters clipped pedals quill stem, 32h wheels steel frames

From 2003
We have sti, SPD/look, aheadset, 16/24h aero rims, carbon frames etc.

Chalk and cheese

Still like my retro steel bikes though on a warm summers evening...

Look pedals 1985/86 as Bernard tapie used them to sweeten the deal to Hainault and lemond for la vie Claire in fact lemond was promised a profit share of American sales which he never saw a dime of