What needs changing on bikes?

[biggs682]

A built in audible device to warn others that there's a cyclist approaching apart from the squeaky chain and incorrectly adjusted derailleur.

Oh and a way so that a bike can communicate with animals in fields to save the rider doing terrible animal noises as he passes fields with livestock in 😂😂

 

[All uphill]

A built in audible device to warn others that there's a cyclist approaching apart from the squeaky chain and incorrectly adjusted derailleur.

Oh and a way so that a bike can communicate with animals in fields to save the rider doing terrible animal noises as he passes fields with livestock in 😂😂

I'm glad I'm not the only person to do that!

Still my cow, sheep and horse impressions are better than my singing.

 

[Alex321]

A fairing wouldn't help much on climbs like this...

View attachment 730174

Every climb has a corresponding downhill, and it would help on those

 

[Alex321]

A built in audible device to warn others that there's a cyclist approaching apart from the squeaky chain and incorrectly adjusted derailleur.

Something such as a bell you mean?

 

[biggs682]

Something such as a bell you mean?

I suppose a pr of cow bells could work

 

[Dogtrousers]

I think a new headset design could come in handy. Old threaded headsets with expanding wedge stems are nice because they give you lots of up/down adjustability. But they could be a fiddle to adjust the bearings, servicing/regreasing them was always a swear-fest, they could get stuck, and the engineers on here mutter about "brinnelling" and stuff. I've never experienced that - they always worked fine for me - but I'm not an engineer so what do I know.

Threadless A-headsets satisfy the engineers more - because "brinnelling" blah blah and it's pretty easy to adjust the preload on the bearings, but they have the massive drawback that once you've cut the steerer tube to length you can't un-cut it.

Can't someone invent a headset that's easily adjustable up and down, easy to maintain and doesn't make engineers go on and on about brinnelling? And preferably isn't as ugly as sin.

 

[wiggydiggy]

Active variable geometry stems. The faster you go, the lower your bike tucks you in.

Hydraulic drivetrains.

Propeller drive.

It will not surprise us I'm sure to learn thats already been tried, by the French of course

Peugeot Propeller Bicycle-1920

 

[fossyant]

13 speed wireless Di2 is around the corner. Sell both your kidneys, you obviously need it.

 

[Dogtrousers]

13 speed wireless Di2 is around the corner. Sell both your kidneys, you obviously need it.

13? That's unlucky. I'll wait for 14 speed.

 

[ColinJ]

Every climb has a corresponding downhill, and it would help on those

The shallower descents, yes. The important thing on steeper descents is to slow down enough rather than to speed up. I have hit 90 km/hr freewheeling without a fairing. That is about as fast as I dare go!

 

[MichaelW2]

According to the late Mike Burrows, the only 'new' invention for bikes was the clipless pedal in it's various forms.
Everything else, he reckoned had already been done, but lacked either the suitable materials and / or the techno knowhow to make it work properly.
Was he right - ?

The clipless pedal was invented by Charles Hanson in 1895. It allowed the rider to twist the shoe to lock and unlock and had rotational float.

LED lighting and Kevlar tyres have been game changers for everyday cyclists.

I think a new headset design could come in handy. Old threaded headsets with expanding wedge stems are nice because they give you lots of up/down adjustability. But they could be a fiddle to adjust the bearings, servicing/regreasing them was always a swear-fest, they could get stuck, and the engineers on here mutter about "brinnelling" and stuff. I've never experienced that - they always worked fine for me - but I'm not an engineer so what do I know.

Threadless A-headsets satisfy the engineers more - because "brinnelling" blah blah and it's pretty easy to adjust the preload on the bearings, but they have the massive drawback that once you've cut the steerer tube to length you can't un-cut it.

Can't someone invent a headset that's easily adjustable up and down, easy to maintain and doesn't make engineers go on and on about brinnelling? And preferably isn't as ugly as sin.

My Dahon Cadenza has a threadless headset that compresses a sleeve, not the stem. The stem goes over the sleeve and can be adjusted for height and removed for packing.

 

[PedallingNowhereSlowly]

Affordable utility and commuting bikes that actually stand up to all-weather daily use and will do a few thousand miles without a service.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

As a toothpaste it would taste terrible!

I presume there would be a different applicator for use as butt cream, toothpaste and chain lube?????

although I have heard there is probably a web site that doesn;t see the point

probably

 

[Alex321]

The shallower descents, yes. The important thing on steeper descents is to slow down enough rather than to speed up. I have hit 90 km/hr freewheeling without a fairing. That is about as fast as I dare go!

Very true. I have never reached that sort of speed, and even on a wide clear straight road, I'm not sure I would be happy to. The fastest I have reached is about 43mph (68kph).

But yes, on most downhills other than pretty shallow ones, you really don't need anything to increase your speed.

 

[presta]

Is that on non-e bikes too?

I've definitely seen an ABS system for bikes, and I don't recall it being on an e-bike, but it might have been possibly.