What has improved in cycling?
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#27
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I'm glad I posted this because as redundant as it seemed, I'm actually surprised at some of the responses. It looks like lighting is the most popular answer which would have never been my guess but then I don't really ride at night, so not really applicable.
Electronics is very helpful and not sure if my Vetta computer would be included in that category since it's a few decades old but it did tell me distance, speed, total KM's etc...but I like tracking and sharing my ride with Strava.
Can't ever say I'll be a fan of lycra but I guess it beats a wool jersey. Despite all the advancements in technology, steel is still awesome to ride.
Electronics is very helpful and not sure if my Vetta computer would be included in that category since it's a few decades old but it did tell me distance, speed, total KM's etc...but I like tracking and sharing my ride with Strava.
Can't ever say I'll be a fan of lycra but I guess it beats a wool jersey. Despite all the advancements in technology, steel is still awesome to ride.
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The weed is so much better than 40 years ago. And legal.
My legs and lungs have not improved from 40 years ago.
I like computer navigation over paper maps/cue sheets.
I like the performance wools of today certainly over the wool/acrylic blends and maybe a touch more than a pure merino. Easier to clean. Hold shape nice.
More stuff/information is available through the internets.
Chicks/dudes definitely dig me more.
My legs and lungs have not improved from 40 years ago.
I like computer navigation over paper maps/cue sheets.
I like the performance wools of today certainly over the wool/acrylic blends and maybe a touch more than a pure merino. Easier to clean. Hold shape nice.
More stuff/information is available through the internets.
Chicks/dudes definitely dig me more.
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#29
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About 4 out of 5 are active members.The ones that aren't are friends of BF members.
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
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That's what Maynard Hershon, longtime Velonews contributor (fondly remembered by many for his "Off The Back" column), said when Grant Pedersen asked him the "biggest improvement in cycling?" question. Grant tried to get him to recant, offering to send him a pair of Kucharik Smartwool shorts, sure that he'd change his mind. Hershon replied, "I love you, Grant. Please don't send me any wool shorts."
#31
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>> Ditto on internet and Bike Forums. Would never have met any of these people:
Agree with gugie...but looking at the pictures, man, that's a pretty sketchy plus
Seriously, though, I was thinking about this a few weeks ago... back in the 80s, 20 years old and getting ready to ditch my motor scooter for a decent bicycle.. I'm checking out the bike shop window, and they've got this beautiful cyclocross bike sitting there, cantilever brakes etc.. I'm thinking this is so cool... but I don't have a clue what I'm looking at.... and nowhere to go to find out.
Today, ten minutes on google and you're up to speed on anything.
Plus, all the stuff I've learned on this forum in the last six months.. just fantastic.
In the aughties, I built a Hybrid into an IGH winter bike with studded tires... vertical dropouts, so I really had to get the cog combination right... internet all the way, I found a spreadsheet for that purpose... I would not have attempted it without the tech support from the online community. How did we live without this?
What's really better today, on a technical level: shifting and braking, even at the lower price points. I'm fine with 2x8 gears, no big hills to climb.
Don't care for brifters, have them on one bike, they work great but too big for my hands... I prefer bar-ends for simplicity.
I like indexing, but no big deal doing without.
My Schwalbe tires ride through glass once a week and no flat in years... that's definitely new..
ABSOLUTELY the lights, no question. Maybe not the most important but the biggest improvement.
Riding all winter long with a bottom bracket dynamo rubbing on the rear tire...making "light" from a little halogen bulb, ugh... I don't miss any of that.
cheers -mathias
Agree with gugie...but looking at the pictures, man, that's a pretty sketchy plus
Seriously, though, I was thinking about this a few weeks ago... back in the 80s, 20 years old and getting ready to ditch my motor scooter for a decent bicycle.. I'm checking out the bike shop window, and they've got this beautiful cyclocross bike sitting there, cantilever brakes etc.. I'm thinking this is so cool... but I don't have a clue what I'm looking at.... and nowhere to go to find out.
Today, ten minutes on google and you're up to speed on anything.
Plus, all the stuff I've learned on this forum in the last six months.. just fantastic.
In the aughties, I built a Hybrid into an IGH winter bike with studded tires... vertical dropouts, so I really had to get the cog combination right... internet all the way, I found a spreadsheet for that purpose... I would not have attempted it without the tech support from the online community. How did we live without this?
What's really better today, on a technical level: shifting and braking, even at the lower price points. I'm fine with 2x8 gears, no big hills to climb.
Don't care for brifters, have them on one bike, they work great but too big for my hands... I prefer bar-ends for simplicity.
I like indexing, but no big deal doing without.
My Schwalbe tires ride through glass once a week and no flat in years... that's definitely new..
ABSOLUTELY the lights, no question. Maybe not the most important but the biggest improvement.
Riding all winter long with a bottom bracket dynamo rubbing on the rear tire...making "light" from a little halogen bulb, ugh... I don't miss any of that.
cheers -mathias
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The beer is generally better.
I am a converted “lighting” guy. To be seen, mostly.
Pedal systems.
Chain and drivetrain reliability.
Sort and shallow bars. Like me.
Saddles. The old ones didn’t work for me.
Internet as a hard drive. “Seek and ye shall find;” a world market to participate in, on an individual scale.
I am a converted “lighting” guy. To be seen, mostly.
Pedal systems.
Chain and drivetrain reliability.
Sort and shallow bars. Like me.
Saddles. The old ones didn’t work for me.
Internet as a hard drive. “Seek and ye shall find;” a world market to participate in, on an individual scale.
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#37
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LED lighting, tires, GPS, fabrics, large insulated water bottles, and helmets. I like riding vintage bikes, but these modern accessories go with me.
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#39
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I'm glad I posted this because as redundant as it seemed, I'm actually surprised at some of the responses. It looks like lighting is the most popular answer which would have never been my guess but then I don't really ride at night, so not really applicable.
Electronics is very helpful and not sure if my Vetta computer would be included in that category since it's a few decades old but it did tell me distance, speed, total KM's etc...but I like tracking and sharing my ride with Strava.
Can't ever say I'll be a fan of lycra but I guess it beats a wool jersey. Despite all the advancements in technology, steel is still awesome to ride.
Electronics is very helpful and not sure if my Vetta computer would be included in that category since it's a few decades old but it did tell me distance, speed, total KM's etc...but I like tracking and sharing my ride with Strava.
Can't ever say I'll be a fan of lycra but I guess it beats a wool jersey. Despite all the advancements in technology, steel is still awesome to ride.
The thing I most like about modern stuff are battery lights and batteries. Now you can get a light that lights up the road and the battery lasts a fairly long time and is rechargeable.
Cheers
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#40
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#41
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I quite like Brifters, modern tires/wheels, and dual pivot caliper brakes.
I can't quite get into disc brakes on road bikes, I'm not opposed to them, but I don't own any currently and have no plans to own any.
I can't quite get into disc brakes on road bikes, I'm not opposed to them, but I don't own any currently and have no plans to own any.
#42
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In my opinion, the modern cell phone is without question the best advance in cycling. I can deal with old tech otherwise, but instant communication/information is priceless.
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Way to many Deaths (Bike riders) caused by Cell Phone use in Autos
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#45
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That's what Maynard Hershon, longtime Velonews contributor (fondly remembered by many for his "Off The Back" column), said when Grant Pedersen asked him the "biggest improvement in cycling?" question. Grant tried to get him to recant, offering to send him a pair of Kucharik Smartwool shorts, sure that he'd change his mind. Hershon replied, "I love you, Grant. Please don't send me any wool shorts."
#46
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On the other hand, it increases the temptation to ride without any way to fix flats and tick off the one guy you know with a pickup truck...
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I did that once when it was raining and the trip proved harder than I expected. She said no!
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“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
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#50
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1. Phone/camera/GPS
2. Bright LED lights
3. Socks