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Bike Manufacturers Are Making Bikes Less Repairable

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207 points LorenDB | 5 comments | 14 Oct 24 19:27 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source
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fire_lake ◴[14 Oct 24 20:48 UTC] No.41841823[source]▶
How to make your life super easy if shopping for a bike:

- 1 1/8 steerer tube, or maybe tapered

- Threadless a-head headset in any common SHIS type. Threaded ones won’t last as long.

- QR or common thru-axle

- Any common BB standard (threadless ones are actually fine but require a well made frame, and you’d be surprised how many expensive frames are not well made)

- Always a round seat post and get 27.2mm if you can. Bigger if you care about dropper posts

- Rim brakes are fine unless you are doing serious off road. If going disc, hydraulics offer great performance for the price.

- Flat bar shifting components are much more interchangeable and better value that drop bar!

- If going drop bar, consider older 2x11 speed mechanical equipment. It’s much cheaper and it was competitive at a pro level not so long ago.

- External cable routing!

- Aluminium is uncool, but it represents a sweet spot in terms of weigh/cost/durability

- Tyre volume, not frame material, is the most important factor in comfort

- Never buy a bike that doesn’t fit you

These tips won’t get you the best bike (in terms of absolute performance) but it will be reliable, easy to fix and good value.

replies(11): >>41842154 #>>41842155 #>>41842225 #>>41842564 #>>41842777 #>>41842785 #>>41842997 #>>41843145 #>>41843336 #>>41843385 #>>41844056 #
1. bbqfog ◴[14 Oct 24 22:07 UTC] No.41842564[source]▶
I wouldn't recommend anyone get quick release, thru-axle is so much better. Disc brakes too, it's such a huge upgrade. I'd also say a dropper post if you're doing anything off-road, or maybe even on-road, they're awesome!
replies(1): >>41843102 #
2. hi-v-rocknroll ◴[14 Oct 24 22:59 UTC] No.41843102[source]▶
Unlocked QR wheels and seats get stolen and vandalized. QR should generally only be used where transportation space is limited or for stationary security, but otherwise prefer permanently-installed ones at the expense of having to carry a wrench with the tire patch kit.
replies(1): >>41843162 #
3. bbqfog ◴[14 Oct 24 23:09 UTC] No.41843162[source]▶
I can't think of a reason QR is better other than price. I actually find it easier to mount and unmount the wheels with thru-axle. They're not really permanently installed though, so they can be stolen if you know how to take them off.
replies(1): >>41843208 #
4. hi-v-rocknroll ◴[14 Oct 24 23:15 UTC] No.41843208{3}[source]▶
Anything can be stolen given unreasonable dedication, but that's not the point. The point is to deter by making it not worth messing with. Unlocked QR wheels will be stolen or vandalized in most major US cities in an instant.
replies(1): >>41844147 #
5. ndriscoll ◴[15 Oct 24 01:51 UTC] No.41844147{4}[source]▶
When I was in college, I'd pop the QR front wheel off and chain lock it through the rear wheel+frame+rack. Only took an extra 10 seconds or so, and took less time than it'd take to lock two chains to make sure everything was secured to the rack.