Author Topic: Je t'aime bike components that are as good or better than expected (Read 10735 times)

Frenchie · « **Reply #50 on:** 28 April, 2010, 08:41:36 am »

Continental Gatorskins tyres -- fabulous ('round here).

citoyen · « **Reply #51 on:** 28 April, 2010, 09:42:28 am »

Conti GP 4 Seasons - just to redress the balance after they got mentioned in t'other thread. I love 'em!

d.

Polar Bear · « **Reply #52 on:** 28 April, 2010, 10:07:28 am »

I love Gatorskins though many here loathe them with relish

Greenbank · « **Reply #53 on:** 28 April, 2010, 10:24:58 am »

Quote from: citizen smudge on 28 April, 2010, 09:42:28 am

Conti GP 4 Seasons - just to redress the balance after they got mentioned in t'other thread. I love 'em!

+1

IMHO, best trade off of weight and puncture-proofness. All year round use, commuting, training and Audax.

Frighteningly expensive though.

Brooks Swallow Ti Classic.

Rhys W · « **Reply #54 on:** 28 April, 2010, 10:25:47 am »

Quote from: Polar Bear on 28 April, 2010, 10:07:28 am

I love Gatorskins though many here loathe them with relish

+1. They've been my choice for the winter bike for a few years now, excellent.

Simon Galgut · « **Reply #55 on:** 28 April, 2010, 10:40:52 am »

Marathon Supreme
Salsa Bell Lap handlebars
Rohloff
Mavic A319 rims
DT Alpine III spokes
Nike Granfondo WRX shoes

Everything else just breaks too quickly even if it's good whilst in one piece.

John Henry · « **Reply #56 on:** 01 May, 2010, 03:51:28 pm »

My best friends:

Schmidt hub dynamo (+ IQ)
On-One Mary bars
Panaracer Paselas
Brooks B17
Time ATAC pedals
Carradice Super-C rack pack
Sidi Dominators
Endura Baa-baa merino base layers
Hilltrek Ventile cotton winter commuting/touring jacket

Sigurd Mudtracker · « **Reply #57 on:** 01 May, 2010, 09:02:42 pm »

I'm surprised no-one's mentioned Carradice yet - so let me nominate them, with particular reference to my 30 year-old and nicely faded Nelson.

Zefal HPX pump - fitted to all my bikes that will take one, even work fine when you've got a dent in the pump barrel.

Selle Royale Rolls saddle which fits my behind perfectly - has transformed my Brompton experience. Almost all my other bikes have them...

Panaracer Pasella tyres

SKS mudguards (to contradict an earlier posting)

Ergon flat bar grips (esp with integrated bar ends)

fuzzy · « **Reply #58 on:** 02 May, 2010, 12:23:54 pm »

Exposure Joystick light (when married to a helmet mount). Has served me well for a few years now. I think the light being at head height has made a difference in avoiding some driver errors.

Cateye Velo 8 'puter. Been using mine for about 8 years now. 2 Battery changes. No problems since I learned to dab a bit of vasaline on the contacts to counteract biblical weather conditions.

Altura Airstream jacket. keeps me nice and toasty in the cold weather. A snip at a penny under £40 when I bought it.

Specialized BG Equinox gloves. Comfortable, warm, could write tickets in them when used on cycle patrol. Protected my delicate mitts when I was required to defend myself. Sadly I have ridden mine into oblivion.

Tacx Spider workstand. A good, secure work platform that doesnt stress the tubes.
Continental Contact tyres. I'm saying nothing that will tempt fate

rower40 · « **Reply #59 on:** 02 May, 2010, 12:27:25 pm »

Karrimor Disk-lock mechanism for attaching pannier to rack. No longer obtainable because Karrimor went to the wall.

Biggsy · « **Reply #60 on:** 03 May, 2010, 03:59:43 pm »

TA 1" threadless headset with cartridge bearings. Lightweight, looks alright, works perfectly and should be durable

But no longer available to buy

(JE James list it, but can't actually supply).

Valiant · « **Reply #61 on:** 04 May, 2010, 03:35:14 am »

Panaracer Pasela Tour Guards tires - Very comfy and so far no visits
Topeak RoadMorph pump - Portable track pump that just works
Crank Brothers Speed Lever - When all else fails this seems to get tires on and off
Shimano M520 Pedals - Bombproof
Goldtech Hubs - Bombproof
Dinotte 600L lights - A few years on and still brighter than a bright thing, anything else would have been superceeded
Dinotte Tail light - Same as above really
RPM Zenith Cranks - Cheap but surprisingly durable
Avid Arch Rivals - Just love them
Avid BB7s - Massive stopping power with easy adjustments

clarion · « **Reply #62 on:** 04 May, 2010, 09:16:19 am »

VAR levers. Unsung hero of the toolkit.

citoyen · « **Reply #63 on:** 04 May, 2010, 10:34:23 am »

Quote from: clarion on 04 May, 2010, 09:16:19 am

VAR levers

+1

Tim Hall · « **Reply #64 on:** 04 May, 2010, 01:53:56 pm »

Quote from: citizen smudge on 04 May, 2010, 10:34:23 am

Quote from: clarion on 04 May, 2010, 09:16:19 am
VAR levers

+1

Lost mine, somewhere in the depths of the garage. I shall have to shell out for another.

alexb · « **Reply #65 on:** 04 May, 2010, 03:19:13 pm »

I'm not sure if this has made it onto the list, but Lidl's cycling shoes are excellent.
Stiff, light and very cheap.
Also offered regularly enough that you can buy a pair after someone recommends them.

rower40 · « **Reply #66 on:** 04 May, 2010, 03:20:15 pm »

Quote from: clarion on 04 May, 2010, 09:16:19 am

VAR levers. Unsung hero of the toolkit.

+1, with the caveat...

My VARs keep snapping. So I have the ordinary levers for taking a tyre OFF the rim, then the VAR (with snapped top-levery bit) to put them back on again.
Possibly caused by impatience at making sure the tyre is nestled down in the well of the rim before going in with all guns blazing.

citoyen · « **Reply #67 on:** 04 May, 2010, 03:30:43 pm »

My Tchibo gilet.

Windproof front, mesh back. Lots of pockets. Ideal for commuting. It cost £6, IIRC. I've had it at least five years and I still wear it regularly.

d.

clarion · « **Reply #68 on:** 04 May, 2010, 03:52:50 pm »

I don't use a VAR to get the tyre off. It's rubbish for that (I use Parks), but it is unrivalled for getting recalcitrant tyres on

Tim Hall · « **Reply #69 on:** 04 May, 2010, 07:33:48 pm »

Au contraire.

I find the teeny thinness of the levers just brilliant for dealing with a tight 25mm tyre on my fixer. Or the 406 x not much on the front of the Pino.

I've straightened Parks out before now.

Dead good, as you say, for getting tricky ones back on too, unless you have a handy Pippa standing by.

Jurek · « **Reply #70 on:** 04 May, 2010, 07:43:15 pm »

Quote from: Tim Hall on 04 May, 2010, 01:53:56 pm

Lost mine, somewhere in the depths of the garage. I shall have to shell out for another.

Not under a lamp post near the top of Reigate Hill?

salar55 · « **Reply #71 on:** 06 May, 2010, 03:42:42 pm »

Park mt-1 multi tool want another one cant find one anywhere
dt swiss 240s hubs never looked at them 5years old out in all weather
deda newton bars light and strong
michelin latex tubes gives you time to stop, slow to go down
connex chains best joint link
chorus ergos just as good as record, got record on 2nd and 3rd bike no 1 bike has chorus never felt need to change

MSeries · « **Reply #72 on:** 06 May, 2010, 04:28:18 pm »

Quote from: Tim Hall on 04 May, 2010, 07:33:48 pm

Au contraire.

I find the teeny thinness of the levers just brilliant for dealing with a tight 25mm tyre on my fixer. Or the 406 x not much on the front of the Pino.

I've straightened Parks out before now.

Dead good, as you say, for getting tricky ones back on too, unless you have a handy Pippa standing by.

I broke the hook on one of my VARs so I now use Michelin levers to get tyres off, as thin as VARs but less brittle

Tim Hall · « **Reply #73 on:** 06 May, 2010, 08:18:51 pm »

Haven't seen the Michelin ones. I'll keep my eyes open.

Meanwhile, in other news, I was in Sarf Croydon today, so went to Bike Plus and reVARed myself.

Ian H · « **Reply #74 on:** 06 May, 2010, 08:44:13 pm »

I still have several pairs of nice thin steel levers.

Author Topic: Je t'aime bike components that are as good or better than expected (Read 10735 times)

John Henry

Sigurd Mudtracker

fuzzy