PurpleFrog
Kona Fan
I think I still judge bike tech by the standards of the cromoly-and-thumbshifter era. I'm not impressed by trigger shifters, v-brakes, or the carbon fibre forks and chainstays on my Specialized Sirrus, but I will admit that some things are better, and some are easy to fit to a 20 year old bike:
- Zefal Lock N'Ride skewers - these clever bastards are quick release skewers for your wheels and saddle that only work when the bike is upside down. So if you lock the bike properly you can't come back and find your seat and wheels missing. Brilliant. They're probably good because Rivendell recommend them for keeping their customers' Brooks saddles on. I'm picking some up asap.
- Pink Kool Stop pads, because they gave rim brakes almost the performance of discs in the wet.
- Cheap high power LED lights like Fenix, especially ones with a strobe.
- Truflo Evolution pump. A mini floor pump that clamps to your frame - faster than a lot of big floor pumps.
- Fast slicks. Really fast slicks made out of the same rubber used for racing tyres - at least the tougher training versions. I hear that Rubinos and Fatboys are the absolutely fastest rolling?
- Nexus IGH rear hub. OK, this does alter the character of a bike designed for derailer, but I loved my Raleigh Commando and its 3-speed Sturmey Archer hub dearly. I still miss that bike!
- Disc brakes. But like the IGH I worry that they add too much thief bait to a bike that I'd want to leave locked on a the street.
I'm still looking for a recommendation for a really good dual purpose tyre though - something good on road and ok on softground.
- Zefal Lock N'Ride skewers - these clever bastards are quick release skewers for your wheels and saddle that only work when the bike is upside down. So if you lock the bike properly you can't come back and find your seat and wheels missing. Brilliant. They're probably good because Rivendell recommend them for keeping their customers' Brooks saddles on. I'm picking some up asap.
- Pink Kool Stop pads, because they gave rim brakes almost the performance of discs in the wet.
- Cheap high power LED lights like Fenix, especially ones with a strobe.
- Truflo Evolution pump. A mini floor pump that clamps to your frame - faster than a lot of big floor pumps.
- Fast slicks. Really fast slicks made out of the same rubber used for racing tyres - at least the tougher training versions. I hear that Rubinos and Fatboys are the absolutely fastest rolling?
- Nexus IGH rear hub. OK, this does alter the character of a bike designed for derailer, but I loved my Raleigh Commando and its 3-speed Sturmey Archer hub dearly. I still miss that bike!
- Disc brakes. But like the IGH I worry that they add too much thief bait to a bike that I'd want to leave locked on a the street.
I'm still looking for a recommendation for a really good dual purpose tyre though - something good on road and ok on softground.