integrated headsets...
just kidding, actually the integrated shift/brake lever

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https://www.kickstarter.com/...bike-for-the-new-era

Aluminium rims

Lycra shorts / synthetic chamois

clipless pedals

Bell V1 pro helmet, followed by giro helmets

indexed shifting

decent lights

Here are mine (in no particular order or importance):

1) Cassettes. Yes, this totally ruins my image as a retro grouch (as I am really not one), but the ability to change gears without tearing up the threads on your freewheel hub and the ability to change gears often makes life pretty easy. If you tear up the threads on the cassette body, you just replace the body.

2) Dual pivot brakes. These things make life easy as it makes you safer and able to stop quicker. I do think, however, that only the front brake needs the dual pivot, as the rear can use less stopping power for almost every rider.

3) Wheel quick releases. This is what Tulio Campagnolo built an entire cycling component empire on, and we take these things for granted today. Wheel changes take seconds rather than minutes with no additional tools.

4) Synthetic cycling shoe soles. These gems allow several things to take place: decreased wear on the sole from walking, the ability to change cleats, better power transfer. The old wood-soled Detto Pietro shoes would simply not allow this.

5) Clipless pedals. Yes, this has been mentioned, but deserves mention once again for obvious reasons of safety and efficiency.

6) Velcro and ratchet mechanisms for tightening cycling shoes. This oft-overlooked item deserves mention because the shoelace is quite dangerous to cyclist in general, and allows the shoe to be as tight as comfortable for safety and power transfer.

7) Aerobars. Yes, this was mentioned, but I have found that the aerobar is the single most important component to a cyclist achieving speed and comfort in a timed event.

8) Advent of alternative materials for components, forks and frames. This has allowed lighter, stronger, and better materials suited for components for safety and speed. Imagine if we still had steel or wooden rims? Imagine how the building methods would have stagnated for frames if there were only steel available? Imagine if we still only had steel forks available? What about an aluminium disc wheel? The advent of alternative materials have allowed the traditional materials to get better and to get the proper material for the application.

9) Braze-on frame components. Yes, they're bolted, glued, and welded on, but imagine if we only had water bottles strapped on with hose straps? What about frame mounts for shifters? What about cable guides? Many of these things are not applicable anymore (like pump pegs and downtube shift bosses), but the others could make the bike a lot harder to live with, needing to continually tighten things like our shifter bands and water bottle on the frame, besides having to worry about another point of corrosion from scratched paint.

10) Sealed bearings. Okay, now that we have no doubt that I AM NOT A RETRO GROUCH; let's see, what we have netted? More time in the saddle, less time in the mechanic's stand, less worry about maintenance. A set of perfectly-adjusted balls and cones can't be beat, but Joe Average can't maintain the bike, and would get discouraged and quit. What do we want?

1) Grab-On's foam handlebar tape.

2) Cannondale's Velcro water bottle and cage

3) gel pad (or sheepskin!) seatcovers

I'm trying to make good on my promise to lighten up and be more like the gopher.

 
>my generation has not yet and will not "invent" anything that
>will alter humanity on the scale that my grandfather had seen
>(Airtravel, telephones, TV, Radio, Moon Walks, Atomic power)

You're giving quite a lot of credit to a previous generation there. From telephone to moonwalk is a 93-year span (or longer if you're talking michael jackson moonwalk and not neil armstrong moonwalk).

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This message pre-salted for your convenience.

Ok, I've done the good. The bad and the ugly takes a bit more thinking about, since much has been forgotten, since none now live who remember it.

- neon clothing

- animal print cycling clothing (oh yeah, thats still around. see cipollini)

- biopace (previously mentioned, but worth a second mention due to the extent that it bamboozled everyone)

- cast magnesium frames

- those tether cable belt contraptions used by the Italian TTT national (olympic?) team one year.

- drillium

- Trek's dominance of the industry

- Pot belge, EPO, etc.

Okay okay...I can come clean now...it has taken me years...I hope you will not think less of me for admitting this.....



Well...here it goes......



>>>gasp!<<<



I had matching Lycra shorts, Shirts, Helmet Cover, and Seat Cover....and would change my seat and helmet cover to match my outfit....I even had a matching Uni Disk wheel that I would put over my Matrix ISO-CII rim....I am so ashamed of my self....



There...I am clean now...I have admitted it....

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What if the Hokey Pokey is what it is all about?

Well, the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem....

"Drillium"...LOL....that is a good one. I knew a moron who drilled out his seat stays...LOL...LOL...LOL....



I have seen damn near everything drilled....



And what ever happened to the ultimate bragging modification...the "SRP Titanium Bolt Kit" that everyone just had to have...

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What if the Hokey Pokey is what it is all about?

Best --

- Clipless pedals

- STI (and ergopower) shifting/braking

- Dual pivot brakes

- Modern helmets

Isn't everything else really still the same, just lighter in some cases?

Worst --

- Team kit worn by civilians

- Titanium frames

- Carbon cranksets

Drillium. Hmmm. I have seen the ultimate "new" drillium on this website: http://weightweenies.starbike.com/

Okay, they don't drill the bejeezus out of thingas these days, but they carbonise, aluminiumise, and put ti bolts everywhere they can think of.

By the way- drillium can be done responsibly, just nobody practised restraint, that's all.

Drillium is like crack...you cant do it just once.

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What if the Hokey Pokey is what it is all about?