Been away for about 5 years...what have I missed??
 

I've been away from cycling completely for about 5 years. I was a regular on this forum and this is my first post since 2016. After watching my beloved road bike sitting the corner of the garage for years just wasting away I decided to give it another go. Dropped it off at the local shop today for a complete overhaul and am looking to get back in the saddle. One thing I have noticed is that cyclocross disk brakes are all the rage now instead of rim brakes. What else have I missed?

Bars and tires are wider now.

Through axles.

-25mm is a small road tire.
- disc brakes start 20 page threads
-allez omi-opi

Well, there was a contentious presidential election, then there was a pandemic, followed by another
contentious presidential election. Also there was some civil strife, and an insurrection in Washington DC. But most of us continued to ride through it all. There. You’re up to speed. Welcome back.

Dan

They make special bikes just for gravel roads.

Right. But everyone will tell you there’s no actual GRAVEL in their area, so it’s a question as to how much one really NEEDS a gravel bike. ;)

Tubeless tires are becoming a thing on road bikes.

nobody knows why.

I noticed the tubeless thing also...

Not sure what that is.

Actually, I have been riding but possibly in some sheltered location. Where the heck did gravel bikes come from? My road bike has done a few rides of about 15 or so miles on forest service roads. I did break a spoke on one of those rides but released the brakes on that wheel and climbed a 2500 foot pass on pavement the next day. Was very cautious coming back down with only the one brake!!! And then I did get a "dedicated" mt bike which saw mostly pavement but the occasional interesting off road adventures like a week in Moab with no shocks. Those were the days.

Quick release is over. It has seen its day. And until I got a new bike about three months ago, I never knew from through axles. No skewer. A cylinder that goes through on fork (front) and has threads that screw into the opposite fork. Same idea for the rear.

Kansas.

Oh, do you use bear spray to fight off Toto?

5 years of assplosion jokes.

It's still not cool to cross-post.

Cross post

Cheez bought a new road bike.

BEST THING is that your old bike will still do!!!!

Welcome back... Take it slow...

And drivers pay less attention...

What's that cost? Like $300?
smh.

28 mm are like the norm now

Been away for about 5 years...what have I missed??

The average age of forum participants increased from 65 years to 70 years.

Press fit bottom brackets are slowly going away and 27.2 seatposts are coming back to the normal. Most road bikes have discs but I predict rim brakes may come back to some extent like the 27.2's if the pro racers become more outspoken like Chris Froome is. The industry is still trying to push road tubeless but they don't seem to be winning the fight.

Handlebar bags are now cool.

So you're telling me if I stay on here I won't age? That's a great deal.

We've finally concluded the discussion on what the best chain lube is. The answer can be found by search "Best Chain Lube"