When we interview athletes we often ask them what piece of their bike they value most. The query allows them to chat about how and where they ride, and how their favorite bikes make that riding better. Most often their answers vary between a few components, including disc brakes, tubeless tires, dropper posts, coil shocks, and occasionally handlebar widths, and for good reason. Several of those innovations, coupled with continuing leaps in frame and suspension technology, have significantly improved the way we all get to enjoy our bikes.
We want to know which components you treasure the most. If all but one of the bits that are bolted to your frame were relegated back to 1990 technology, which modern piece would you keep?
23 Comments
Jun 10, 2019
I've been riding since early 90s and I've had some of my fondest memories on my 92 rigid stumpy.
Nov 16, 2019
Jun 9, 2019
Jun 9, 2019
Jun 11, 2019
best technological advances ranked:
1. disc brakes
2. tubeless and wide, grippy tires
3. suspension forks
@ me
Jun 9, 2019
Jun 13, 2019
Jun 9, 2019
1. 1x drivetrains are so much better than the old 2x-3x setups and 1x got even better when the 1x12 wide range 500% drivetrains came out. A 600% 1x drivetrain would be nirvana.
2. Wider tires and rims improved perfomance immensely. Before Plus we were all riding 2.2-2.4in tires on inner width i20-23mm rims. Now, we're riding 2.4-2.8 tires on i30-35 rims. The original Plus 3.0 tires on i45 rims was just too much wheel but 2.8 tires on i35 rims can be amazing. I would like to see all Trailbikes come with i33 rims and have frame/fork clearance for up to 2.8 tires. With that setup, you could use reasonably use any tire from 2.3 to 2.8.
3. In terms of geometry the Enduro craze has changed Mountainbikes for the best. Modern geometry has given us bikes that not only descend well but also climb well. I think that even XC bikes benefit from progressive geometry. Something like a 66.5 degree headtube angle and a 76 degree seattube angle seems to be the Trailbike geometry sweet spot.
Just a few short years ago, Mountainbikes were sketchy, twitchy, descended poorly, and required a skilled pilot. Now, even a beginner can ride confidently on technical trails. It's hard to fall off of the modern Trailbike!
Jul 23, 2019
Jun 11, 2019
Jun 11, 2019
Of course after saying all that, I'll probably buy fat and gravel bikes next year and will swear off suspension forever. Gotta love all the new variety.
Jun 10, 2019
Jun 10, 2019
Vapidoscar, I am not the editor but the writer, and maybe our editor will share some thoughts as well.
I would have to choose tubeless tires first. As someone mentioned above, without good traction, the rest isn't worth much. I think a dropper post and disc brakes are tied for my second pick, followed by wide handlebars, suspension forks, and 1x drivetrains. A lot of these components work far better together than on their own, but if I had to choose only one it would be modern tubeless tire tech and tread.
Fortunately, it's hard to find a new bike that doesn't have all of these elements surrounding fantastic geometry and kinematics numbers that make it all more fun!
Oct 8, 2019
Jun 11, 2019
1. A frame that fits
2. Good gripping tires and the proper wheels for the terrain
3. Smooth shifting high performance drive train
4. Good brakes
5. A good suspension fork
6. A good fitting saddle
Everything else is fluff
Jun 9, 2019
I remember riding fully rigid coaster brake bikes down some sketchy lines back in the day, and what it was like to upgrade to center-pull. Then upgrading to side-pull. When those rims got wet, and your pads were smoked because you couldn't afford new ones every few weeks, and we were hucking to flat on wet leaves in thick brush because trails didn't exist, and we were trying to impress each other because we were idiots, and the trees were much harder back then, even though we cut our bars down to 300mm to clear them,...well disc brakes are the shizz.
Jun 11, 2019
If I get a second choice it is wide handle bars so I can pilot my bike where I want it to go.
I think if you had to get rid of most of the modern tech/components a rigid plus or fat bike with wide handle bars allow you to ride most anything. Yes slower but with modern geometry they do it all.
My opinion. I am not veteran some of you are but if I had to choose just one wide tires.
Jun 10, 2019
Jun 9, 2019
Nov 10, 2019
Jun 9, 2019
Jul 23, 2019
Jun 9, 2019