What old cycling technology etc would you like to see return?

[battered]

If the weather was that shite, then why did you go for a ride in the first place? I don't look out of the window, wait until it's really pissing down, then choose that moment to go out for a stroll!

Have you been to Ventoux? The weather in the valley was fine. The summit's 2000m, so 2 x Ben Nevis. The summit's another world. In addition, we had to get over or round to get to the next night's accommodation of the tour so there was little choice.

 

[Juan Kog]

My Dura Ace DT indexed shifters are 30 years old.

I couldn't afford Dura ace 30 years ago. My D/T levers are only 7 speed shimano 600 tricolor and 8 speed 105.

 

[goldcoastjon]

I'd like to see the return of the classic *FRENCH* component makers like MAFAC, Stronglight, Simplex, Ideale (recently reincarnated, come to think of it), Tressostar, etc.

(If nothing else, for the old-look/old-style SL chain rings for SL 99s and 93 cranksets, MAFAC brake parts, etc.)

And yes, I *already* know I'm crazy for wanting this... ;-)

 

[Smokin Joe]

Polished aluminium chainsets, brakes and gears.

Black should be banned.

 

[MichaelW2]

Downtube friction levers are more difficult to use in the sense that a violin is more difficult to play than a Stylophone.
I commuted on DT friction levers for many years and could shift in an instant with no delay. I could shift front and rear simultaneously with one hand.
The one drawback was an unwillingness to shift when going fast down twisty roads.
Nowadays I use indexed thumb shifter on Alfine hub gears. I have used Campagnolo and Shimano indexed drop bar levers. The Campy had a much better micro indexed front mech system. There was always a bit of a delay and a remote feeling but fully loaded downhill was safer. As a touring backup I carried a Suntour micro-indexed rear DT lever that could shift any system.

 

[MichaelW2]

Drillium.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Wheel nuts.

They never went away on basic machines.

 

[MichaelW2]

Ever ready bike lights.

No can we move that one to the Jokes section. Any lighting system between carbide and LED is POS.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2MTxg6zC9o

 

[postman]

Those mile counter things with the little window.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Ever ready bike lights.

No can we move that one to the Jokes section. Any lighting system between carbide and LED is POS.

My old Miller sidewall dynamo lights were fine, as long as you were moving. The headlight bulb brightness also acted as a crude form of speedometer.

 

[Juan Kog]

Wheel nuts.

They never went away on basic machines.

Oi !!! I don’t consider my Surly Steamroller ( with track nuts) a basic machine. .

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Those speedometer style bike computers with the big analogue displays

 

[scoobs]

Raleigh Chopper or cow horn handle bars 🤣

 

[GilesM]

Proper shaped handle bars Cinelli 65 or 66 depending on your own preference (65 was always my choice), much more beautiful than badly shaped narrow ones of today, especially the aero ones more of the pros are starting to use.

Maximum 28 tooth rear sprockets, the big ones just look so bad, especially on a road bike.

 

[Oldhippy]

Old thinking that a cycle is perfectly good transport and not just a three grand toy for the weekend that needs loads of expensive clothing to use.