MtB Innovations You Secretly Wish Didn't Die

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by herzalot, Mar 22, 2021.


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  1. herzalot

    herzalot iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Laguna Beach
    Name:
    Chris
    Current Bike:
    2020 Revel Rail,Yeti SB 130 LR
    I enjoyed the following and secretly wish we still used them:

    Bar ends. Yes they look funny now, and they would be horribly dangerous on today's wide bars, but damn I loved them for climbing. Pulling towards my hips was much better than pulling up.

    Rapid Rise derailleur (Top Normal). OK first off, when do you want the lightest, quickest shifting - when you are dumping a gear to climb something or when you are going to a harder gear? Climbing, of course. The trigger released the cable which moved a gear EASIER, not a gear harder. Plus BOTH hands did the same thing - triggers made it easier to pedal, thumbs made it harder to pedal - front and rear derailleur. And finally, when you broke a cable, you could still ride up a hill to get home because the default position was the easiest gear, not the hardest.

    Whatchu got?
     
  2. Sasquatch9billion

    Sasquatch9billion iMTB Rockstah

    Name:
    trinidad j. mendez
    I'd totally forgotten about these. I think I had them on my '99 GT outpost and thought they were super cutting edge.

    I Still love my old '09 Pike that could crank between 90mm and 150mm.
     
  3. Obsidian

    Obsidian iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Costa Mesa
    Name:
    Obsidian
    Current Bike:
    27.5 Intense Tracer
    I wish 29's would die. :geek: :laugh:
     
    ausace, Danmtchl, Mikie and 3 others like this.
  4. Cyclotourist

    Cyclotourist iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Redlands
    Name:
    David
    Current Bike:
    Don't fence me in!
    Grant/Rivendell is threatening to come out with a RR rear 'railer.
    Scroll down: https://www.rivbike.com/blogs/grant-petersens-blog/late-march-2 -
     
    Danmtchl and Mikie like this.
  5. Maderas84

    Maderas84 Member

    Location:
    Fluent in French & sarcasm.
    Name:
    Andres
    Current Bike:
    Ibis, Pivot & Santa Cruz
    Heh, you know they’re going to get larger?! Not too long from now you’re going to hear some kid say “Yo, yoo gotz dem new fire 36” rims?”
     
    Danmtchl, Mikie, herzalot and 3 others like this.
  6. Lost Kiwi

    Lost Kiwi Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Portola Hills
    Name:
    Simon
    Current Bike:
    YT Izzo
    Suntour XC pro grease guard.... hub, bb, pedal bearings feeling a little rough? Just stuff the gun in the port give it a couple of squeezes and bobs your auntie.

    Others that I can think of:
    • Onza HO pedals - no mechanical parts
    • Zoom brahma bars - integrated bar ends
    • Bell/Reebok pump helmets - so comfy
    • Thumbshifters - indexing out, who cares!
     
    Faust29, Danmtchl, Mikie and 4 others like this.
  7. bvader

    bvader iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    HB
    Name:
    Mr. Brown
    Micro / half shift on the front derailleur....oh yeah we ain't got those no more...
     
    Faust29, Danmtchl, Mikie and 2 others like this.
  8. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

    Location:
    Orange
    Name:
    J
    Current Bike:
    SC Chameleon SS, SC Hightower
    1. External cup headsets.

    Yes, a lot of bikes still come with them......but they are a dying breed. IS/ZS/Integrated headsets are all the rage. Yet they seem to be a lot more tempermental. My old King NoThreadset was install and forget. Now I find myself having to actually service the HS from time to time.


    2. Rock Shox Dual Air

    I know the current Solo Air is so much easier to set up, but having the ability to fine tune the +/- air spring via independent schrader valves was so nice.
     
    Grassblade23, ausace, Faust29 and 9 others like this.
  9. mountaingirl sara

    mountaingirl sara iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    So Cal
    Name:
    Sara
    Current Bike:
    Ibis Ripley
    Is #1 to hold a beer (or preferred beverage)?


    JK ;)
     
    herzalot, Faust29, Danmtchl and 5 others like this.
  10. mike

    mike iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Western US
    Name:
    Mike O
    Current Bike:
    HT, FS
    External cups and high unit loads...Sounds like happy hour. : )

    Thankfully Ergon hasn’t turned away from bar ends. I’ve owned two models that include them. Mandatory gear for multi-day for me. Varying wrist rotation gives relief, and you can’t beat that awesome handle for lifting a loaded bike off the ground.
     
    Grassblade23, scan, herzalot and 4 others like this.
  11. dssgaffler

    dssgaffler Member

    Location:
    IE
    Name:
    Never will sellout
    Current Bike:
    Intense + Revel + Transition
    Optical gear display on the shifter. I never thought I would miss it that much, but I think we all have found ourselves looking down at the cassette sometimes to see what gear we are in.
     
    H2oChick, bvader, scan and 10 others like this.
  12. fos'l

    fos'l Well-Known Member

    Name:
    Bob
    Current Bike:
    2005 Santa Cruz Superlight
    "Normal" 68 mm bottom brackets.
     
    bvader, ausace, herzalot and 5 others like this.
  13. RIGID

    RIGID Member

    Location:
    The older I get, the faster I was...
    Name:
    bandman
    -HG Freehubs- dying but not dead.
    -Bike Shop Bro Deals
    -Jenson Coupon Codes
     
  14. da big hills

    da big hills iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    pearl harbor
    Name:
    cagey
    Current Bike:
    enduro 29
    Triple chain rings. No top end anymore. Now days I coast what I used to peddle. Dam I miss them big 42's
     
  15. da big hills

    da big hills iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    pearl harbor
    Name:
    cagey
    Current Bike:
    enduro 29
    I find the rough trails take all the bubbles out. It is about the only way I tolerate a flat. I would put a couple brewskis in my backpack and head out to the high county near Camp Nelson. The first day is the worst, you gain the most elevation and you are not used to the load. My companions would laugh at me. But when you take that first lunch on that first snow patch, pisst and watch um weep. The extra pounds was well worth it.
    Happy satisfaction trails
     
  16. mountaingirl sara

    mountaingirl sara iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    So Cal
    Name:
    Sara
    Current Bike:
    Ibis Ripley
    Well earned is the best!
    I’m not a huge beer fan, BUT a cold one (or half of one :whistling:) does taste pretty good after a hard ride/ workday, etc :thumbsup:
     
  17. Runs with Scissors

    Runs with Scissors iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    West Anaheim
    Name:
    Mark Whitaker
    Current Bike:
    Giant XTC with pedals

    Bubba J approves!!
    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQFVO-Tj5dCrhfgJ_QxPwlE2j6fe73w_T9FPw&usqp=CAU.jpg
     
  18. Voodoo Tom

    Voodoo Tom MTB Addict

    Location:
    Castaic
    Name:
    Tom Kokkinakis
    Current Bike:
    Mango one, black one, Ti one
    Watching NASCAR and drinking beer...:confused:
     
  19. Runs with Scissors

    Runs with Scissors iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    West Anaheim
    Name:
    Mark Whitaker
    Current Bike:
    Giant XTC with pedals
    Oh look!!! They're makin' a left turn!!!!
     
  20. UPSed

    UPSed iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Simi Valley
    Name:
    Ed
    Current Bike:
    Niner Jet 9 RDO
    Yeah, didn't happen.
     
  21. Voodoo Tom

    Voodoo Tom MTB Addict

    Location:
    Castaic
    Name:
    Tom Kokkinakis
    Current Bike:
    Mango one, black one, Ti one
    And anothah left turn huh huh...
    I’ve seen several shows in person and Jeff Dunham is pretty darn good.:thumbsup:
     
  22. herzalot

    herzalot iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Laguna Beach
    Name:
    Chris
    Current Bike:
    2020 Revel Rail,Yeti SB 130 LR
    Like times 1000! I so used that! And on the XTR it was unobtrusive.
     
    bvader, Danmtchl, scan and 3 others like this.
  23. jimbowho

    jimbowho Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Podunk KS
    Name:
    james jim jimmy
    Current Bike:
    GT sensor
    I had 1x10 on my GT I-Drive. Went into squeeky-wheel and said (out loud) I want 3x10 SLX and grip shift. Should have seen the looks I got, and the place got quiet.. 20-30-40 Oh ya baby, bring it. And, I'd put on my Rock-shok suspension seat post but I got used to a dropper. Dangit!
     
  24. SS Barby

    SS Barby Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Palmdale, CA
    Name:
    Barby
    Current Bike:
    Ibis Ripley LS/ Esker Hayduke
    A rear derailleur from Rivendall might be interesting. They take pride in their workmanship and you would think their derailleur would be a quality product
     
    Cyclotourist and Danmtchl like this.
  25. SS Barby

    SS Barby Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Palmdale, CA
    Name:
    Barby
    Current Bike:
    Ibis Ripley LS/ Esker Hayduke
    I too have a External Chris King headset on my Niner SS, it has lasted since the bike was new in 2012. No issues and I have swapped out the fork from rigid to suspension numerous times and swapped the crown race with a screwdriver and no issues.
     
  26. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

    Location:
    Orange
    Name:
    J
    Current Bike:
    SC Chameleon SS, SC Hightower

    I had a King that I got used in 2003....I had it til 2011. It was probably on 9 different frames. I would most likely still have it, but standards changed.
     
    Faust29, Danimal, herzalot and 3 others like this.
  27. Danmtchl

    Danmtchl iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Bakersfield
    Name:
    Dan
    Current Bike:
    2020 Trek Fuel EX 9.7
    I wish SRAM still made the old style gripshift shifter that had the solid shift feeling. I really don’t like new style bearing ones.
     
    Faust29, Danimal, herzalot and 3 others like this.
  28. ausace

    ausace Newbie with Hope!

    Location:
    appalachia
    Name:
    mike
    Current Bike:
    anthemn
    Tubes , straight air, and not too tight beads when changing tires.
     
  29. ausace

    ausace Newbie with Hope!

    Location:
    appalachia
    Name:
    mike
    Current Bike:
    anthemn
    If you drop your elbows you can still pull back. put your hands on the imaginary bar ends and just twist your wrists.
     
    bvader, Danimal, herzalot and 2 others like this.
  30. herzalot

    herzalot iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Laguna Beach
    Name:
    Chris
    Current Bike:
    2020 Revel Rail,Yeti SB 130 LR
    I understand that, but it's not the same. Don't worry, I won't put bar ends on my 790mm x 35mm rise bars!

    And thanks for joining the forum! Welcome!!!
     


As a former Amazon Associate I continue to get screwed trying to stay qualified as an Amazon Affiliate. So I quit!


Want to donate to imtbtrails?