Which is the greatest bicycle innovation in the last thirty years?

[youngoldbloke]

The almost universal use of allen head bolts, or socket head screws, on bike components.

 

[User169]

[QUOTE 2748632, member: 259"]The Scottoiler! [/quote]

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Another improvement are tyres.

What did you use before tyres then?

 

[Haitch]

CycleChat!

 

[400bhp]

The Hipster.

 

[400bhp]

The Nobber - invented prior to 1980 in the form of rather uncouth wording. Innovated and updated in c.2012 by a Mr Noodles Noodley of CycleChat.

 

[snorri]

The Rohloff hub.
All the gears you need without derailleur systems that require constant cleaning and tweaking and replacement of worn parts.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Cannondale started selling their bicycle trailer, "The Bugger" in the mid-70's, IIRC.

bugger and kids, probably two words you wouldn't want to type in to google together

 

[RichK]

I stopped cycling around 1986 & started again around 2006. The most noticable differences for me are decent LED lights & indexed shifting.

 

[Longshot]

On the other hand some things where we've gone backwards...

• Fugly bikes with sloping top tubes (just wrong), plastered in stickers to make them look like advertising hoardings.

Well, someone has to say it...

Nope, can't agree with that. The sloping top tubes look way better. IMO. YMMV. ETC.

 

[Dave 123]

Head cams. Now you can go looking for trouble AND have the evidence!

 

[BSRU]

Head cams. Now you can go looking for trouble AND have the evidence!

Wrong, it is so the whole world can see you making a tit of yourself .

 

[400bhp]

[QUOTE 2749562, member: 30090"]Recumbents becoming more mainstream, we are the Lords of cycling. Ergonomically sound, works with the mechanics of the human body rather then against, you can draft uprights but they cannot draft you - what's not to like?[/quote]

Recumbents.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Light weight bikes,gear shifters on the handlebars, kevlar tyres,powerful lights,high vis/reflective clothing,helmets.

 

[Cyclopathic]

The most noticeable improvement has been sti shifters on the brakes. Between an old fashioned racer from the 80s and something from this century has got to be these for me.