"Stuff" you don't need.

dennisn

For lack of anything better to do today I thought I'd ask what people thought were the
cycling items that were the most useless or unnecessary(i.e. things that solve a problem
that doesn't exist). I cast a vote for chain cleaners. Granted they aren't very expensive
and probably do actually clean your chain, but doesn't a rag work just as well and how clean does a chain need to be???? In any case they look to me like a pain to use and messy to say the least.
Also, carbon chainrings seem to me to be a bit over the top, if not just plain crazy.

Anyone :? :? :? :?

paul-yokaholnes

a personal walkman holder back in the day with speakers attached... my friend had one, i though it was well funny at the time.

Infamous

The small ring.

ride_whenever

gears

anything purple

Wappygixer

Cycling mirrors.
Can you actually see anything through them with all that road buzz?

daniel_b

Carbon bars and stem.

Oh wait, no I'm just trying to make myself feel better

Anonymous

4 of my 5 bikes.

dennisn

Wappygixer wrote:

Cycling mirrors.
Can you actually see anything through them with all that road buzz?

But, isn't carbon supposed to totally eliminate road buzz??????

dennisn

NapoleonD wrote:

4 of my 5 bikes.

Yes, I agree, but maybe you're confusing need with WANT. Nothing wrong with wanting 5 bikes. It's only natural.

beancounter

NapoleonD wrote:

4 of my 5 bikes.

5 of my 6 bikes (plus the one on order, I guess).

bc

dennisn

beancounter wrote:

NapoleonD wrote:

4 of my 5 bikes.

5 of my 6 bikes (plus the one on order, I guess).

bc

Don't worry. With ONLY 6 bikes you're nowhere near the obsessive, compulsive buying habits of a couple of guys I know.

pianoman

Carbon saddles?

I heard about someone that bought such an item before the Eddie Soens last year. Now even I can attach a saddle to a seatpost properly(!) but this guy didn't and, having paid over £200 for a 96 gram perch, he promptly got squeezed wide at turn 1 and the ensuing crash he had split the seat in two

greasedscotsman

How about those gear indicators you get on some STI levers? Why do you need to know your in 5th? If your cadence is to high, change up a gear, if it's too low, change down (or maybe vice versa, think I've confused myself there) and if your on your lowest and need to change down again, then your gonna be walking...

iain_j

+1 on chain cleaners (rag works just as well) and handlebar/helmet mirrors.

And brake lights/indicators for bikes. Nice idea but why is a driver behind you going to recognise that yet another red flashing light on the back of your bike is a brake light or indicator.

Scrumple

Really silly of the OP to say chain cleaners when he hasn't even got one!! At least base it on experience.

Rags make a mess of the floor... drip... etc.

I have nothing in my bike drawer that is a waste, beyond some cheap tools I got ages ago.

Mark Alexander

beancounter wrote:

NapoleonD wrote:

4 of my 5 bikes.

5 of my 6 bikes (plus the one on order, I guess).

bc

Now, now, boys, let's not get over eager at 1 upmanship or "keeping up with the Jones'" You know that all 7 bikes are very necessary. You can't commute on a Cervello P4 now can you?

iain_j

Scrumple wrote:

Really silly of the OP to say chain cleaners when he hasn't even got one!! At least base it on experience.

Rags make a mess of the floor... drip... etc.

I've got one, haven't used it for ages though. Found it was more messy than using a rag. If th chain's really gunky and needs degreasing I just use a toothbrush, the same rag collects the drips.

rake

iain_j wrote:

Scrumple wrote:

Really silly of the OP to say chain cleaners when he hasn't even got one!! At least base it on experience.

Rags make a mess of the floor... drip... etc.

I've got one, haven't used it for ages though. Found it was more messy than using a rag. If th chain's really gunky and needs degreasing I just use a toothbrush, the same rag collects the drips.

i find chain cleaners can swill more grit out deep from the chain pins. i dont think a rag would get it.

Scrumple

Well, I have the set from park tools coming from santa, with the brush and fluid gubbins. I have to see if they really are crap before sending it back!

I like the idea of it as I haven't the patience to brush my chain, and would rather just clamp on, wind, and remove!

dennisn

rake wrote:

iain_j wrote:

Scrumple wrote:

Really silly of the OP to say chain cleaners when he hasn't even got one!! At least base it on experience.

Rags make a mess of the floor... drip... etc.

I've got one, haven't used it for ages though. Found it was more messy than using a rag. If th chain's really gunky and needs degreasing I just use a toothbrush, the same rag collects the drips.

i find chain cleaners can swill more grit out deep from the chain pins. i dont think a rag would get it.

I don't doubt it. And that brings us back to the ever present argument of how thoroughly
should you clean your chain????? Don't strip the internal factory lube out of it OR soak it in solvent until you can eat off of every little part????? Or somewhere in between????

ride_whenever

make a chain out of powerlinks...

rake

dennisn wrote:

rake wrote:

iain_j wrote:

Scrumple wrote:

Really silly of the OP to say chain cleaners when he hasn't even got one!! At least base it on experience.

Rags make a mess of the floor... drip... etc.

I've got one, haven't used it for ages though. Found it was more messy than using a rag. If th chain's really gunky and needs degreasing I just use a toothbrush, the same rag collects the drips.

i find chain cleaners can swill more grit out deep from the chain pins. i dont think a rag would get it.

I don't doubt it. And that brings us back to the ever present argument of how thoroughly
should you clean your chain????? Don't strip the internal factory lube out of it OR soak it in solvent until you can eat off of every little part????? Or somewhere in between????

i leave the factory grease on at the start its supposed to be the beast thing. when it get too gritty i clean it all off and motorbike solvent grease. the solvent lets it get deep in and then evaporates to thicken up.

dennisn

ride_whenever wrote:

make a chain out of powerlinks...

Not possible.

Monty Dog

dennisn wrote:

ride_whenever wrote:

make a chain out of powerlinks...

Not possible.

Wanna bet? There isn't a bike mechanic in the country that hasn't tried it - yes you need to rob the rollers from a 'sacrificial' chain. Bike mechanics have to do something to while away the hours!

dennisn

Monty Dog wrote:

dennisn wrote:

ride_whenever wrote:

make a chain out of powerlinks...

Not possible.

Wanna bet? There isn't a bike mechanic in the country that hasn't tried it - yes you need to rob the rollers from a 'sacrificial' chain. Bike mechanics have to do something to while away the hours!

I know you can, IF you rob another chain. I was just TRYING to be sarcastic.

iain_j

rake wrote:

i dont think a rag would get it.

Hence the toothbrush.

billy whippet

um... i'm rather embarassed to say this... but 9 of my 10 bikes probably redundant

(condor summer fixed, condor winter fixed for most of training, condor moda titanium just bought, carbon madone soon to be retired, kona major jake converted to single speed commuter, folding birdy, lovely custom steel columbus framed just resprayed by argos, kona jake snake crosser, mountain bike, plus cheapo hack on turbo...)

dennisn

11 tooth rear cog?????? That one makes me wonder why.
650 wheels????
Anything triathlon related????
I'm also starting to wonder "why carbon seat posts"?

ddraver

I think Chain cleaners are more use on MTBs where chains get thoroughly covered in cr*p rather than a bit of road spray - I rarely use one on the roadie but It gets used pretty much every other ride on the MTB (every ride in Winter!)

chriskempton

dennisn wrote:

11 tooth rear cog?????? That one makes me wonder why.
650 wheels????
Anything triathlon related????
I'm also starting to wonder "why carbon seat posts"?

Blatant WUMmery!

If you're a 4 foot 8 triathlete with hoemmharoids who lives at the top of a steep hill you need all of these.

Harry182

Rapha Essentials Case - £40



Rapha Silk Scarf - £50

:shock: :shock: