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Bike Manufacturers Are Making Bikes Less Repairable

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207 points LorenDB | 8 comments | 14 Oct 24 19:27 UTC | HN request time: 0.415s | source | bottom
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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.

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1. adsteel_ ◴[14 Oct 24 22:26 UTC] No.41842785[source]▶
Rim brakes/pull-brakes/v-brakes are great even for serious off roading, though you may want to upgrade to long caliper pads, which make a world of difference. Disc brakes aren't helpful until you're doing serious downhill. Why everyone has disc brakes these days when they don't need them is a great question.
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2. hi-v-rocknroll ◴[14 Oct 24 22:52 UTC] No.41843054[source]▶
Rim/v-brakes just need proper adjustment, replacement pads when worn, and clean rims. They're also much easier to control with finesse than disc brakes which tend to lock and require brake fluid and pads service. In rain though, I'd want disc brakes because rim/v-brakes can fade rapidly depending on material and coating of the rim.
3. ak217 ◴[14 Oct 24 23:09 UTC] No.41843166[source]▶
Hydraulic brakes have far better power and better power modulation. I think that matters a lot in terms of usability and confidence to a beginner. Especially in rainy weather.
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4. mvdtnz ◴[14 Oct 24 23:26 UTC] No.41843292[source]▶
Shockingly bad advice.
5. TacticalCoder ◴[14 Oct 24 23:46 UTC] No.41843445[source]▶
> Why everyone has disc brakes these days when they don't need them is a great question.

The reason I've got disc brakes is because of how precise and pleasant the feeling and feedback in the brake lever is. It's pure bliss.

I know it's totally overkill but the to me there's no comparison in how pleasant the brake lever is, so I don't mind paying a bit more.

6. AdrianB1 ◴[14 Oct 24 23:51 UTC] No.41843486[source]▶
I used to ride a lot in the mountains. Even on roads my disk brakes were blue from heat, rim brakes would simply die or make me die - no, thanks. Rim brakes are perfectly fine for city bikes, many road bikes and light offroad, but not for any long braking - that is not limited to downhill.
7. dogmatism ◴[15 Oct 24 00:44 UTC] No.41843779[source]▶
carbon rims

enough said

8. akvadrako ◴[15 Oct 24 01:34 UTC] No.41844063[source]▶
Rim doesn't mean they aren't hydraulic. I have hydraulic rim brakes and agree they give you much more power than cabled ones.