Components Future Proofing
 

HI,
Based on your experience, what parts/components would you stash now against future needs when they become unobtanium?

I just ordered a R8000 ultegra gruppo, rim brakes (the last mechanical ultegra group) for a future classic, maybe vintage build.

thinking ahead or overthinking depending on your definition :), with the idea this will be a 20+ year bike (looking at a custom steel build) I am thinking about stashing some dupilcate parts

I am thinking, brake hoods, the shifters, deraillers for sure.
I think chains, cassettes, brakes should be obtainable or swapable for other parts.
I am on the fence about crankset or just rings.

what would you stash?

of course with the discount on getting a group, just getting a full space set may be cheaper than a few of the big pieces

Honestly, I don't even know what I have stashed half of the time, I just know I will be reasonably set for a bike-ocalypse...

I think freewheels and square taper BB's are on the endangered list.

I (still) drive a SAAB, so this ain't my first rodeo - and it happens in my career too, as companies phase out the large-scale purification equipment my lab needs to make concentrated RNA samples for NMR experiments. Hek, I've practically got a PhD in parrying planned obsolescence!

I think it's critical to acquire skills and tools. They can't take those away from you! I learned to braze, weld, and machine things just about as the SAAB parts and lab stuff really got scarce, so I was able to somewhat seamlessly switch over to making it myself. This is probably what I'll do with bike stuff as well. I've already made a couple quill stems and a front derailleur, along with a smattering of cables and other odds and ends for antique tandems. My dream is to get a shop with all the necessary equipment (CNC mill, lathe, TIG) so I don't need to rely on my workplace for it. I also want space to setup some baths for chroming and anodization. What's next? A foundry, I guess! It would be cool to cast things, at least small stuff in aluminum or bronze.

I figure I should be able to stave off most planned obsolescence this way. As long as bearings remain available, I should be good to go. Making bearings is hard.

will come visit when I need parts :)

I am always on the lookout for inexpensive freewheels and derailleurs in neglected but restorable condition. Grease can be cleaned, rust can be removed, springs can be fabricated in a pinch, but I can't design an old Suntour mech. I also look for cassettes in 7-9 speeds, which are getting rare in certain tooth progressions. I like friction shifting, so I am a lot less worried about making up a compatible index system. I figure that if I want something modern, I can dive into whatever technology is prevalent at the time.

Threaded headsets and square taper bottom brackets are also on the "always browsing" list, but less so than the above.

To future proof that Ultegra group, hoods are a must. And when the shifters give up on you, have some Dura Ace 11speed bar ends ready. Shimano is good for support of the other bits.

Free wheels, 7speed indexing shifters and brifters, 27” tyres and tubes, seatpost binder bolts, apparently flat blades Roval spokes, headset cups...maybe square taper spindles?

Anything French or Swiss threaded.

Edit: wait, do you mean for groups made in 2020/21?

7 speed or less, friction, single speed. Already stashing. :)

I think trying to future-proof bikes that you haven't even built yet is the sign of an advanced condition. :innocent:

At worst, I'll be that guy selling useful stuff in 20 years. Right? Useful stuff? Yes?

[crickets chirping]

OH.....btw, Your "forever" bike needs DT shifter bosses.

Oh, yeah, hoods. I need to get set up for that as well. Urethane casting in silicone molds, or something along those lines. I have a nice vacuum pump, and I could weld up a vacuum chamber, if I only had more time or more money. I just haven't got much of either at the moment.

Or should I just make leather hoods? Equally difficult?

I resemble that remark (but finding 8000 ultegra is going to get more difficult fast :) )

It might be too late for lots of C&V brakesets, but,........ OEM brake lever hoods!
Proprietary wheel spokes..... Like the bladed ones on Rovals.
I guess I also better look for more Simplex Retrofriction shifters, before they get rare and too expensive.......

Cassettes that start with 13 or 14 and include a 16 tooth cog, or better yet, 16 & 18. Not everyone wants or needs a mountain bike cassette.

What’s the difference between future proofing and hoarding? Asking for a friend.

I think future proofing is having replacements for known future specific use

Hoarding is having all the take offs from previous bikes, just in case a frankenbike build is needed during the zombie apocolypse. Including, but not limited to suntour vx deraillers, power shifters, diacompe brakes, torpado ofmega crank (with cracked spider), multiple freewheels, some random cassettes, baskets, numerous lights, cyclometer or two, lots of tubes, couple of cheapy cable kits, various handle bars and stems, .......and the list goes on.

or so my friend says

Except for the Ofmega crank, I read that list saying silently to myself, "Check, check, check , check..."

My approach is to buy enough bikes so that even if I ride a lot, I don't ride any one bike all that much, so the parts on each one last a long time.

I divide bike components into 3 categories.

Groups 1: These items need periodic replacing, so new parts will probably be available for a long time in some form. They also have a generic look, so a new item won't look out of place on a 1960's-80's bike:
chains & freewheels
brake shoes & pads
toe clips & straps
tires, spokes, rims
cables & housing
BB's & headsets

Group 2: These items have a distinctive style, but tend to last a long time, so you don't need to worry too much about replacements:
frames
cranks
stems
brakes & levers
saddles & seatposts
shifters

Group 3: These items have a distinctive style, so you don't want generic replacements. They are also more prone to breaking or wearing out, so these are the parts I would stock up on first:
derailleurs
pedals
chainrings
hubs
alloy handlebars

In practice, I end up with a little of everything. One problem I have is that when I start accumulating too many spares, it seems like a shame to have them sitting around unused, so I'll put together another complete bike. Then it seems like the stock of spares is dangerously low, so it's time to replenish the stock...

I've already hoarded a bunch of 6-speed freewheels - everything from straight block 13-18s to 14-34. ALL of my road/touring bikes have 6-speed freewheels!

SunTour rear derailleurs Vx, VxS, VGT-Luxe, several generations of Cyclone/Cyclone GT... Several front derailleurs (some triple capable)... spare SunTour barcons (even though my Fuji's have been working flawlessly for 45+ years)...

Everything I'll need to keep my C&V friction-shift Lugged Steel rides going for the rest of my life for sure.

At least as long as there are quality 27" tires available from Pasela!

I think I did my hoarding about 20 years ago.
I'm thinking mostly of the time when Brooks was expected to go out of business, so I managed to stash away a few B.17's, a couple of Pro's, and a titanium Swift. I haven't regretted it, but I am glad that they didn't just disappear.

As far as strategies... I think sticking to "standard" parts is helpful, as well as parts that are long-lived. Stuff like gum hoods for Weinmann and Campy Record brake levers... common as can be, and pretty popular.
In the worst case, if you buy too much, it will be relatively easier to unload any excess stock when selling Campy Record/NR/SR stuff than the Stronglight 93 cranks (as lovely as they are).

Another strategy... get parts from your friends when they unload their old stuff. :)
I've got a box of SunTour cogs from a buddy, which I greatly appreciate!

Steve in Peoria

I’m not future proofing stuff that really doesn’t fail. The components, and frames, on all my CV bikes will outlast me. I’m sure I will always be able to find tires tubes, and chains to fit.
Tim

Sram Rival22 shifters and Force22 / Rival22 WiFli rear derailleurs.

They've stopped production for 11 speed mechanical already, and, after a recent crash I found out that it can be really difficult to source what I need even now, also getting more and more expensive.

Not bothered about the rest, 11 speed cassettes, chains, hubs etc will be available for a long time and I can always swap these with Shimano even Campag or other 11 speed compatible stuff, without any real issues.

Already using front Shimano derailleurs with Sram levers, they seem to work way better and smoother than Sram front derailleurs. Obviously 11 speed stuff, older components I have no idea, not worth going there for me.