Take two steps back?
December 27th, 2006 by Tim GrahlA topic that has been coming up in several conversations I’ve had lately is the idea of taking some steps back in technology for the sake of longevity. For instance, sacrifices in the durability of cogs, chains, etc has been made in changing the standard from 7-speed to 9-speed. Shimano XTR is the top of the line stuff… but it’s not built to ride everyday. You start logging long, regular singletrack miles and you’re going to start replacing parts pretty quick on this “high quality” stuff. Constantly pushing for lighter components has taken it’s impact on the long term durability of the parts.
So the question arises… is there a market for a company to take a couple steps back? Combine some of the new technology in the areas of strength with older ideas and produce some parts that aren’t the lightest or sleekest, but will last forever. Start producing high quality 21-speed drivetrains that you could feasibility put an extremely long warranty on. Build up a bike that weighs 35+ pounds but can get beat to hell and back and keep rolling.
Is this something companies are missing? If so, what components would you design?
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These are exactly the type of components I’ve been searching for. I am not, nor will I ever be a racer, and I beat the living hell out of my bike so a stronger, longer lived component set is the right ticket for me. I’d love to see something like this come to market.
Most of my bikes (road & MTB) use high quality 12, 14 and 21 speed drive components, weigh 22 to 28 pounds and have steel frames. They were originally built in the 1980s and early 1990s. Parts (NOS & used) can still be found.
10 speed sucks!
we…
the new meaning of 10spd sucks
the old meaning….
well
there are Schwinn Varsity Bikes all over the US still working fine
the notion of a disposable drive train is obnoxious
the sub 7 hundred dollar bike should have 18 or 21 speeds
a thicker more heavy duty drive train
it is absurd for a consumer to have to spend money replacing a drive train every year or so
sure it may work for the racer with a shop deal
but for your average joe
well
it is counter to the notion of the bike being an affordable option
the bike industry needs a wake up call
they need to get out of the board room and out onto the bike
they need to get out onto the streets
and get a feel for the people
they have no clue
sounds good on paper, almost frugle for anyone to implement. For a company to make a product that will last say, 2x or 3x as long, they’re going to have to charge as such since you’re not going to go out and buy their product every say 6 months. Companies try to find a balance (whether it be shoes/cars/bikes) of product life and profits. How much are you seeing this long wearing system selling for?
what i have seen be a big factor in component life is maintenance. Keeping your bike properly lubed and replacing parts before they get completely worn saves you tons of money. I race my bike(s), and ride them and I don’t find the component life to be too short and I generally use XT/XTR/DA/Ultegra (all 9spd).
Strengthening one part means you have to strengthen all parts of the system. If you come out with a new super burly chainring that never wears out, you’re going to have to get a cogset, deraileur/pulleys , and a chain that performs to the same caliper or it will become worn even faster.
I long for the days of a simple 6 or 7 speed drive trains. You had a better opportunity to use more of your gears than you now do with 9 speeds. As more cogs are crammed onto freehubs, thinner materials have to be used to fit them into the standard 135mm dropout spacing or increase the dish on the wheels. One has to ask, when will it stop and settle down. There does not have to be the ever changing progression for bigger, better and lighter. Hell, the average rider who wants nice equipment can’t afford the lighter stuff now. I has gotten way out of hand.
My road bike has seven rear cogs, my mountain 9. I find that I’m in the middle of the rear cogset most of the time, rarely using the upper or lower extreme. I seem to shift much less on my road bike than on my mountain bike. I don’t know that its subconcious, but the 7 rear cogs seems like more than enough.
On a side note, how is that ATF lube working out?
Thanks everybody for the feedback. This subject originally came up when Guitar Ted and I had a chance to chat with Gary Fisher for awhile. Me and GTed kept kicking it around from time to time and then when doing an interview with Bicycle Bob Gregorio a couple days ago, taking two steps back was another topic of discussion.
So we are in the midst of looking around for some good parts that fit this description to see if we can put together a Blue Collar project of some sort… I’ll keep everyone informed.
Personally I beleive that 9 speed drive trains are overkill,my last bike had 7 and that was plenty.As far as durability goes, I run mostly XT and some LX on my bikes,I comute all year long,here in Alaska that means alot of snow,ice and all around crappy conditions.In the summer a do alot of trail riding. My parts all hold up great.For most people the componets available today are better than we have ever had available.The bikes I had when I was a teen (I’m 44), never performed with the precesion of todays bikes.(and I had some nice ones).I personally beleive (because I have seen it first hand), that many people expect mountain bikes to take way more abuse than they were ever intended.We can’t have it all, everyone seems to want lightweight parts that they can thrash that are cheap to boot ! Look, if you want a bicycle to take some of the abuse that some people that I have seen and read about in these forums, I think you need to sell your bike and get into motocross.
Some related rambling….
I hate having to learn first hand the actual cost of bike products. The MSRP on what’s considered your average parts these days is indeed crazy. After doing the service on my one year old wonder fork and ending up with an oil leak, I think I’m done playing that game.
Sometimes I think of the irony that as an in shape 160lb. guy I’ve somehow convinced myself that I NEED more light and pricey components to ride than I did when I started out at 235lbs and just blithely threw myself on the mercy of whatever rocky track I could find on my $600 Trek 930.
motorcross would be sweet…
but
I would still be slow and lack any finesse or beauty when it comes to technique
and the issue of illegal trails
well
that would take things to another level
10 speed is just too light weight
will wear down too fast
and be more prone to break in a situation where a chain may be at risk of breaking
it has become a joke like those razors
MAXI-BLADE
maybe there needs to be a link of a different color
when that link fades or wears the user knows when it is time to change the chain
so that the cassette can go through a number of chains
rather than having to guess will the new chain work with the old cassette
something to dumb it down for the more dim people out there
WITH A REVOLUTIONARY 17 BLADES!
FOR THAT MAXI-SHAVE!
The height of flimsy absurdity are so called “alloy” chainrings. These this wear like butter. Conversely, it’s becoming difficult to find quality STEEL chainrings that have a chance of lasting a significant amount of time.
Eight speed was the height of technology. The market seems to want everyone on 9 speed. And we all know that Shimano is prepping a 10-speed group for MTB at some point in the future.
Give me back the equipment that we can just bang on and it will not be hurt! Grams ha!!!! I laugh at grams. Intact 34 pound bikes go WAY faster than broken 21 pound bikes. You get a better workout too!!!
Saw this post at Guitar Ted’s site:
http://g-tedproductions.blogspot.com/2007/01/no-thanks-noreally.html
I really hope ten speeds are nearing…
Single Speed? Anyone? Bueller?
Ferris is late his XTR drivetrain brokedown 10 miles out …
Gnome you hit the nail on the head.
One speed means less maintenace (tuning).
Simple silent cycling on or off-road.
No thinking about what gear to be in, just pedal.
Free your mind and your ass will follow !