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Noticed a few that were "ah I didn't think of that", I guess they'd also be applicable if you're swapping between different types of bike. These minor inconveniences are definitely worth putting up with though. Any others you noticed?
Falls over much easier when leant against something, I guess this is due to the head angle.
Handlebars won't fit through anti-motorbike barriers. Care needed on narrow bridges, next to fences, or wooden chicanes when a trail crosses a fire road.
Usually need to dismount completely (not just straddling) to open/close a gate. Shortish guy 29er problem.
Non-standard adjustments needed to roof rack to fit the length.
Handlebars won't fit through doorways straight-on. Hits light fittings and doorways if moved about on the back wheel, at least I'm not on an XL and leaving tyre marks on the ceiling. Cannot be turned around in a small room.
Long, low, slack bikes being longer than the car is wide when on the towbar rack.
Boost spacing and wide bars meaning you can only get 2 bikes on a 4 bike rack.
What happened to axles with levers?
What happened to axles with levers?
My neighbours probably believe I’ve developed a very situation specific form of Tourette’s triggered by the open boot of a car and the presence of the new Solaris I bought last year that has a tooled ****ing axle and of course the nearest Allen key is somewhere in the house......
Internal cables?
Internal cables
Especially ones that rattle or don't play well with left rear brakes.
Can't wheel my bike upright through doorways without turning the steering, too long. Need to turn the steering anyway because the bars are so wide.
I'm also not a fan of leverless axles, I have a cheap set of Allen keys in my car at all times now, I'd like to get a proper levered axle but they're silly expensive for what they are
DT Swiss levered axles are like £20? Forks come with them?
I have both for both of my bikes. The xc bike gets them on race days.
If you need to get off to open a gate, learn to track stand and open it?
Weird, I removed the QR levers for 6mm bolt up axles. Neater, better clearance, lighter and I always have Allen keys to hand (One Up EDC).
Replacing a cassette and chain requires ordering parts 12 months in advance.
Your bank forces you to authorise payment with their app as it's so inconceivably expensive.
The ispec lottery. It's like the Monty Hall problem: whichever one you chose initially, it will be the wrong one. Change your mind and cut the odds.
Wide bars and big wheels combine to make bikes harder to put into cars.
Tubeless, guaranteed to work perfectly for almost 18months without so much as a top up of air.
Then you'll have a problem and will have forgotten either anchovies, tubes, pump, co2, tyre levers, Allen key, boot, patches or something, anything, just the one thing that would actually fix it.
And it won't be in the garage, or even a ride from home, it'll be miles from the card and the car will be miles from home so spares won't be there either.
*Looks at my Mk1 Cotic Soul with all its outdated standards and laughs at all you LLS sheeple"
😉
Superficial
Weird, I removed the QR levers for 6mm bolt up axles. Neater, better clearance, lighter and I always have Allen keys to hand (One Up EDC).
Except when your axle is too tight & you can't get enough leverage.
When my slack 62.5 degree head angle bike is stationary the front wheel really doesn't like to stay pointing forward.
Lean over the bike to lube the chain and the bars will turn and the bike will roll off in a semi-circular path making you look like a right numpty as you chase it around.
Theres is a 3 way (4,5,6mm) allenkey attached to the back door of our van with a magnet. Such a simple thing, but makes life easier. The allen key axles are nicer than the old maxles
I appreciate this isn't on the radar of the STW Audi/T5 demographic, but fitting a modern MTB into a train's bike storage space isn't going to happen; too long to hang off hooks, tyres too big to fit into clips, bars too wide to fit into narrow compartments. One could argue that's a train problem, of course.
Large pedals.
They catch everything, they catch the other bike, they catch on bag handles where they are stored together, wheeling a bike around a corner, the pedal will get hung up. The pins will scratch the wall, they bash into things like the bucket in the garage...bloody pedals, they're a PITA
Theres is a 3 way (4,5,6mm) allenkey attached to the back door of our van with a magnet. Such a simple thing, but makes life easier. The allen key axles are nicer than the old maxles
I did similar and then my wife bought a Sonder Camino Al and the front axle is 8mm - Argh!
Maybe it's an anti-theft reason - dunno.
I appreciate this isn’t on the radar of the STW Audi/T5 demographic, but fitting a modern MTB into a train’s bike storage space isn’t going to happen; too long to hang off hooks, tyres too big to fit into clips, bars too wide to fit into narrow compartments. One could argue that’s a train problem, of course.
The one place this used to be fine was the East Coast Mainline, but since they put brand new trains on it the space for 2 bikes now barely fits road bikes in let alone mountain bikes. And even then I you have a rim deeper than 40/50mm I think the rules say you need to take the wheel off and get a second reservation for it.
When I bought my crew cab van in 2013, I could fit two fully-built 26in enduro bikes in the back - with a blanket between them for protection.
Now both wheels have to come off and let's just say it's handy I played a lot of Tetris as a young man.
montgomery
Free MemberI appreciate this isn’t on the radar of the STW Audi/T5 demographic, but fitting a modern MTB into a train’s bike storage space isn’t going to happen; too long to hang off hooks, tyres too big to fit into clips, bars too wide to fit into narrow compartments. One could argue that’s a train problem, of course.
This has been a thing forever, it depends on the train- the bike space on the old fort william train was obviously designed for road bikes frinstance and getting even a short 2009 mountain bike with 710mm bars and 26 inch wheels in was a battle, as the entrance was so narrow. And once in, it took 3 spaces in the wagon unless you could find another mtb the right shape and hang it the other way up. So if they reserved on the spaces then drama occurred.
But if you go on the edinburgh-glasgow train, which was the connection for fort william, it's just a big floor space in the carriage and even modern monster trucks are no bother. Though, I'd still loosen the stem in advance so I can move the bars, makes things easier for everyone.
Pedaling in ruts
Buying an Asgard with a nice bracket attached to the back wall for your bike. Then building up a Stooge Dirtbomb and having to fight to get it in the shed. Once accomplished realising that it won’t sit on the nice bracket and just sort of rocks a bit until you stick a spade, brush or lawnmower under one end.
I can fit my cross bike, road bike and my Stooge into the boot (minus the wheels) but have no chance with my Scalpel.
Internal cabling on a mountain bike makes no sense. They make some sense on a road bike as it makes it a bit more aero.
Skinny tubed steel frame = sore shoulders when carrying.
Poor drainage, turning a bike over and creating a puddle on the garage floor.
Not something I'd considered when choosing a cotic!
US internally routed frames making no consideration for left—rear brakes (Santa Cruz)
How long before we see AXS / shi-wireless only frames?
A wide range of fitting bolt interfaces. Why have simply allen keys, when you can have allen, torx,cross-head,slot and even nut and bolt, and all on the one bike, guaranteeing the need for multiple tools.
And who can forget quick links,which are not quick to undo,without first using a specialist pair of pliers that no allen.torx.cross head or nut type compact bike tool has on it.
Buying an e-bike then falling backwards onto my fence when I tried to put it on the roof carrier the first time. One side of your body needs to be pumped like Arnie.
Aye, this is what the magazines, bike testers, reviewers and pros have been missing for years, it's not about how bikes ride, handle, how they carry speed, kinematics, weight blah blah ****in blah ...
They REALLY NEED to focus on how the bike may fall over, and if it's really suitable for Ned gates and doorways. 😂
I have the Asgard shed issue but that's also due to Asgard sheds being designed by and for people smaller than 5 foot 8. Name change to Hobbit Sheds?
I prefer allen-bolt axles too.
But internal cables (on MTBS) are the work of the devil.
Wheeling the bike through the house on the back wheel, and the front tyre catches on the top of the door frames, and the bars won’t fit through without being on a slight angle.
Modern bikes being so good it’s definitely you that’s the weak link and why you’re not in the top half on Strava.
I just swapped my frame with a slightly bigger size. I think it now doesn't fit in the car with the wheels on.
didnthurt
Full MemberInternal cabling on a mountain bike makes no sense
TBH if it's done well, it can protect the cables/hoses from damage, with not much downside. And it does look nice. It's just that it's hardly ever done well.
dyna-ti
Free MemberAnd who can forget quick links,which are not quick to undo,without first using a specialist pair of pliers that no allen.torx.cross head or nut type compact bike tool has on it.
When do you ever want to undo a quick link except at home, though? They're easy to fit, which is a trailside thing (you don't need special pliers either, anything with a narrow tip does the job. The proper tool's easier is all)
And who can forget quick links,which are not quick to undo,without first using a specialist pair of pliers that no <span class="skimlinks-unlinked">allen.torx.cross</span> head or nut type compact bike tool has on it.
You can do it with a bit of shoelace, or get some tyre levers with the chain link opener ends. For sure, who needs tyre levers in these days of tubeless obviously, but for £3 and the space they take up
Found a new one today! Getting through those circular(ish) bits next to a gate, have no idea what they’re called or how else to describe them, is a right bastard with a big bike.
The lack of choice in components for those of us riding older bikes who might want a handlebar under 1m.
I'm aware you can cut them down. It's the principle.
What principle you big curmudgeon?
@northwind class 156s are easy, try getting any bike besides a folder into a 158. Those bloody lockers...
(pretty sure Lee Craigie has an amusing picture of a cargo bike stuffed into one,they must have taken half the journey figuring it out)
Spotted in Pinkbike comments: wheel flop makes it harder to ride leisurely in a straight line with no hands
Internal cables?
When I realised the YT Jeffsy I'd just bought had internal guide tubes I thought it would be a doddle fitting new cables, wrong!!!
The exit points at the rear of front triangle face upwards, so any muddy water runs down into the guide tubes and can end up blocking them enough to make refitting a f****n nightmare if it dries, similar design to a u bend in a toilet. It was easier on my old Mondraker without guide tubes
Found a new one today! Getting through those circular(ish) bits next to a gate, have no idea what they’re called or how else to describe them, is a right bastard with a big bike.
It sounds like you are describing a kissing gate, and it's by design because it means it's a footpath and you are not intended to be going through there on a bike.
It sounds like you are describing a kissing gate, and it’s by design because it means it’s a footpath and you are not intended to be going through there on a bike.
Not necessarily, most of the time they're just there to stop MXers going through.
I find it more difficult to ride with no hands on my MTB than road bike...