Should I "Hoard" Mechanical High End Parts?
#26
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My thoughts are if you have a bike you love and want to die riding, then do what you need to do to reasonably ensure you can keep it going. Maybe even consider buying another one of the same bike as something you can take parts off as needed.
But if you're really more of a Luddite and just want to use tech that is becoming obsolete, that's of course fine. In that case, I might be more inclined to keep on eye on the availability of parts. When you start seeing something harder to locate, then buy what you think you might need. But that takes some effort and vigilance to stay on top of it.
But if you're really more of a Luddite and just want to use tech that is becoming obsolete, that's of course fine. In that case, I might be more inclined to keep on eye on the availability of parts. When you start seeing something harder to locate, then buy what you think you might need. But that takes some effort and vigilance to stay on top of it.
#27
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Hoarding spare parts is the gateway to N+1, so by all means, yes. It starts with buying one or two components as spares when they go on sale. Eventually, one ends up with a sufficient imbalance between components and bikes such that one can nearly assemble another bike but for a few missing components, so one buys those too and builds another bike. Lather, rinse, repeat.
#28
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I’m not sure if it is acceptable to furnish your own components at the LBS you use or not. It may be commonplace in the industry, I have no idea.
But it might be prudent to find out if the shop will install customer supplied components, especially ones that are no longer available.
John
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My name is Terry, and I'm a hoarder.
My main bike has Dura-Ace 10-speed (mechanical). I hoarded Dura-Ace chains and cassettes for as long as I could find them, but those are long gone. Now I am hoarding Ultegra chains and cassettes. I found some Dura-Ace OEM hoods for the levers at a local shop, so those are tucked away.
I don't bother with derailleurs, as they last forever. But if one of the levers goes bad, I am screwed.
If anyone tells you that obsolete group set components are easy to find as new old stock, they are shameful liars.
My main bike has Dura-Ace 10-speed (mechanical). I hoarded Dura-Ace chains and cassettes for as long as I could find them, but those are long gone. Now I am hoarding Ultegra chains and cassettes. I found some Dura-Ace OEM hoods for the levers at a local shop, so those are tucked away.
I don't bother with derailleurs, as they last forever. But if one of the levers goes bad, I am screwed.
If anyone tells you that obsolete group set components are easy to find as new old stock, they are shameful liars.
#30
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I hoarded an extra set of Di2 brake/shifters and disc calipers that I picked up for $199. These were the original disc 11-speed ones from 2014.
Eventually, I built up another bike around them.
Eventually, I built up another bike around them.
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Hoading is fun and justified when its small components.
Not so much fun when it's entire wheelsets, frames, forks.
I admit I do fix and resell bikes, but the truth is that anyone can hoard.
Not so much fun when it's entire wheelsets, frames, forks.
I admit I do fix and resell bikes, but the truth is that anyone can hoard.
#32
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Where is trekmogul ?
#33
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There are a few things that I have done at a shop that just does servicing, although they can source parts. They have no issue with installing parts that I have found elsewhere.
I’m not sure if it is acceptable to furnish your own components at the LBS you use or not. It may be commonplace in the industry, I have no idea.
But it might be prudent to find out if the shop will install customer supplied components, especially ones that are no longer available.
John
I’m not sure if it is acceptable to furnish your own components at the LBS you use or not. It may be commonplace in the industry, I have no idea.
But it might be prudent to find out if the shop will install customer supplied components, especially ones that are no longer available.
John
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#37
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I do have a single speed for ice, snow, and salt.
Last edited by storckm; 11-08-23 at 04:36 PM.
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#38
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The problem with the watch analogy is that the Swiss continued to sell their top mechanical watches as a more desirable product than the quartz watches they sold, whereas you don't see Shimano, Campagnolo, and SRAM doing so. Also, top of the line in watches = "what rich people wear", whereas top of the line in bikes = "what the pros ride".
Mind you, if Shimano starts offering a mechanical groupset ABOVE Dura Ace Di2, I'll have been proven wrong.
Mind you, if Shimano starts offering a mechanical groupset ABOVE Dura Ace Di2, I'll have been proven wrong.
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#39
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I think it is different for everyone.
I recently did a custom bike with ultega r8000. the last mechanical ultegra group.
I did future proof by buying spares fir things like brake/shifter levers and derailers that could be hard to source in 10 to 15 years and are easy to break by dropping bike or simply falling over
I based this on a build a few years back and when I was amazed at how hard it was to find the specific 9 speed parts I wanted
I do think that in the future I could swap many parts out with niche products like Rene Herse, Velo Orange, Paul, Indgrid components, but some are harder than others
I recently did a custom bike with ultega r8000. the last mechanical ultegra group.
I did future proof by buying spares fir things like brake/shifter levers and derailers that could be hard to source in 10 to 15 years and are easy to break by dropping bike or simply falling over
I based this on a build a few years back and when I was amazed at how hard it was to find the specific 9 speed parts I wanted
I do think that in the future I could swap many parts out with niche products like Rene Herse, Velo Orange, Paul, Indgrid components, but some are harder than others
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(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Last edited by squirtdad; 11-09-23 at 05:53 PM.
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#40
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What are you talking about? Most people have enough room to store a tub of spares if they need them. Now if you are talking piles, I'd say no. Either way, it will still work out that you didn't keep that one part you needed.
#41
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Used to have so many miscellaneous parts in my parts bins that I could easily put two or three bicycles together with them. Not any more. Over the past few years my parts bins have gotten kinda skimpy...
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I can certainly see the point to buying brifters (STI levers for the squeamish) and derailleurs, but past that, I cannot see where parts should become hard to find. I am sure there will be firms buying up old Shimano patents or just making knock-offs of old parts when Shimano is full wireless electronic and riders wear halos with electrodes into their scalps for shifting and braking.
#43
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I can certainly see the point to buying brifters (STI levers for the squeamish) and derailleurs, but past that, I cannot see where parts should become hard to find. I am sure there will be firms buying up old Shimano patents or just making knock-offs of old parts when Shimano is full wireless electronic and riders wear halos with electrodes into their scalps for shifting and braking.
#44
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Not an original observation, but one I agree with:
Prior to the 1960s or so, watches were mechanical. Then electronic watches were introduced, and they were very expensive. That technology trickled down, and now if you want a cheap watch or a specific-use timing system it's electronic, but really nice watches are mechanical. Bike shifting technology is following the same curve, and is at the "starting to trickle down" phase. It may be hard to get mechanical shifting for a few years, and it will be more expensive when it does come back in style, but it will never be gone forever (from consumer bikes: it may be gone forever from pro racing).
Prior to the 1960s or so, watches were mechanical. Then electronic watches were introduced, and they were very expensive. That technology trickled down, and now if you want a cheap watch or a specific-use timing system it's electronic, but really nice watches are mechanical. Bike shifting technology is following the same curve, and is at the "starting to trickle down" phase. It may be hard to get mechanical shifting for a few years, and it will be more expensive when it does come back in style, but it will never be gone forever (from consumer bikes: it may be gone forever from pro racing).
Dgital cameras are probably a much better analogy here. Nobody is using mechanical cameras anymore other than C&V collectors.
#45
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Mechanical shifting will never come back in “style” as these are not fashion items like watches. Electronic shifting will certainly trickle down the product range and mechanical shifting will probably remain at the very bottom of the food chain. But there will always be a residual C&V demand for higher end period mechanical group sets.
Dgital cameras are probably a much better analogy here. Nobody is using mechanical cameras anymore other than C&V collectors.
Dgital cameras are probably a much better analogy here. Nobody is using mechanical cameras anymore other than C&V collectors.
#46
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I wouldn't say I'm hoarding, but I did buy replacement 6603 STI & Derailleurs on clearance for future replacements when 6700 came out.
#47
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These things will always exist if you prefer to use them. Just don’t expect them to make a mainstream comeback.
#48
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There is a fine, invisible line that separates hoarding from having a reasonable supply of harder to find older equipment. I am pretty sure I crossed it a few years ago!
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#49
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I know that the bikes that I have now will easily outlive me. Aside from maybe a couple chains. And I find it quite satisfying to see the accumulata going out the door to be stored somewhere else.
Earlier this year I flipped a small pile of vintage Campy parts for a bit over $1K. That has become my cigar fund.
Thanks, guys !
Earlier this year I flipped a small pile of vintage Campy parts for a bit over $1K. That has become my cigar fund.
Thanks, guys !
#50
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Only hord toilet paper. It’s the American way!
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