3 best things and 3 worst things

93col15

Hi

I'm just doing some research for Loughborough university in the UK with the aim of developing better products for bikes that will increase enjoyment and performance of the cyclist. Just as a starting point I'd like to know what are the three best things about your bikes and also the three worst. please also state the make and model of your bike.

Many thanks

asprilla

Cervelo S1
Best 1: It's pretty
Best 2: Geometry
Best 3: Very stiff BB

Worst 1: The cleaning / maintenance required
Worst 2: I can't get mudguards to fit (inc Crud RRs)
Worst 3: There is no 3

Civia Bryant Alfine
Best 1: Geomety
Best 2: Almost zero maintenance
Best 3: Guard and pannier mounts

Worst 1: It's heavy
Worst 2: Getting the rear wheel off is a pain
Worst 3: There is no 3

Custom Fixie
Best 1: It's fixed
Best 2: Low maintenance
Best 3: Guard and pannier mounts

Worst 1: It's still fixed when it's windy
Worst 2: Getting the rear wheel off track ends with guards on
Worst 3: There is no 3

Alphabet

Benotto Fixed gear

The Good
1. It's very much one of a kind because it's old, obscure and converted by me and i love it.
2. It's fun to ride fixed
3. it's maintenance light

The Bad
1. Hills are a b1tch on 81"
2. There's a creak from the stem/bars that worries me
3. I can't ride it all day


Kona Kula '09

The Good
1. Geomety is ace
2. Super fast up hills
3. I've wanted another Kona since I wrote my Cinder Cone off in the 90s

The Bad
1. It's not as fast on my commute
2. Tyres are far too tight on the Sun Rims - have snapped 5 tire levers so far to the point where i now just leave the knobblies on all the time
3. Don't get enopugh of a chance to use it off-road

Stuey01

Do they still do Hey Ewe on a Wednesday?


My Bikes:

Cervelo S1
Best
1) I like looking at it.
2) I like riding it
3) It's a Cervelo (I'm a brand whore)

Worst
1) Toe overlap
2) I can't quite get my SRAM gears shifting as sweet as I'd like
3) Toe overlap


Santa Cruz Chameleon
Best
1) I've wanted since I was a teenager, now I have one (go me)
2) it's tough
3) the hope brakes I have put on it are awesome

Worst
1) it's slightly too small for me
2) it is very stiff (beats the crap out of you on rocky descents)
3) it could be lighter


1996 Rocky Mountain steel rigid MTB commuter SS
Best
1) low maintenance
2) Classic steel frame (tange prestige) with 90's kona geometry
3) Sentimental value (first proper bike)

Worst
1) The steel forks I have put on it are harsh (Salsa Cromoto's)
2) the rear wheel: DT swiss rim and Specialized tyre is bloody impossible to change (I fear punctures)
3) It's not as fast as my road bike.

Mr Plum

Diamondback Apex 2009:

Best 1. Cheap to buy for a good level of spec.
Best 2. Don't know if it's specifically the geometry, but it has a confidence inducing feel that allows you to push your limits on the trail.
Best 3. It rides great on-road with slicks.

Worst 1. Had to buy it online - no LBS backup/come-back.
Worst 2. I hate cleaning it - nothing specific about the bike, just my own laziness :P
Worst 3. I find the SLX groupset slightly 'clunky' compared to my previous bike with Sram X5.

The Rookie

Custom Built Carrera Grytphon
Best1 Fairly light
Best2 Fairly fast but comfortable over rough roads
Best3 Great Geometry

Worst1 To make it lighter now is expensive
Worst2 Roadies are still quicker
Worst3 Nothing

Custom Built Carrera Kraken
Best1 Very cheap for what it is
Best2 Fairly light
Best3 The colour (custom paint)

Worst1 Needs better brakes
Worst2 Needs longer stem right now
Worst3 Nothing

Simon

SimonAH

Custom fixed Trek district

Best
1) Basically zero maintenance
2) Light and fast, silent and fixed
3) Sooo pretty

Worst
1) I think I need a larger frame (not by much, but a bit)
2) My Brooks saddle is still raping me daily (but getting a bit better)
3) ........erm, nothing else.

Butterd2

Scott CR-1
Best1 FAF (fast as f***)
Best2 LAF (light ....)
Best3 Considering 1&2 above remarkably comfortable

Worst1 Worry it will get nicked if I leave it anywhere
Worst2 Worry it will break if I bin it
Worst3 OEM Aksium wheels have freehub made from butter

PACE RC-200 F2
Best1 It was ridden by Mint Source http://homepage.mac.com/pfellows1/thisiswhy/about.html
Best2 It was my dream bike
Best3 I've had it 18 years

Worst1 Technology has moved on a £1k frame 18 years ago is bloody heavy by todays standards
Worst2 I don't need an MTB anymore (it's become an FG)
Worst3 None, I still love it!

EKE_38BPM

SimonAH wrote:

Custom fixed Trek district

Best
1) Basically zero maintenance
2) Light and fast, silent and fixed
3) Sooo pretty

Worst
1) I think I need a larger frame (not by much, but a bit)
2) My Brooks saddle is still raping me daily (but getting a bit better)
3) ........erm, nothing else.

They say you can get used to anything in time.

EKE_38BPM

Alphabet wrote:

Kona Kula '09

The Good
1. Geomety is ace
2. Super fast up hills
3. I've wanted another Kona since I wrote my Cinder Cone off in the 90s

The Bad
1. It's not as fast on my commute
2. Tyres are far too tight on the Sun Rims - have snapped 5 tire levers so far to the point where i now just leave the knobblies on all the time
3. Don't get enopugh of a chance to use it off-road

I have to agree with this. The tail end of DD was rolling hills and Alphabet was racing up them faster than I was rolling down.

Alphabet

EKE_38BPM wrote:

The tail end of DD was rolling hills and Alphabet was racing up them faster than I was rolling down.

haha, not a chance of that next year though. determined to do it fixed in a veeery mashy gear

Initialised

Best:
Cheap
Super light frame
Not attractive to thieves

Worst
Cheap
Not desirable
Old and bits keep need replacing and finding them can be hard

iPete

Specialized Allez Sport Double 2010.

Good
1) Fast & Light.
2) Adaptable, its now fitted with panniers & array of accessories.
3) Value for money. Its a step above entry level and would cost many times more to see an improvement in speed.


Bad
1) Wheels lasted 8-9 months (3000 miles), although in their defense, they were abused.
2 & 3) Idiot owner. Its a racing bike with a double crank. The only bad points are completely down to the idiot owner who attached panniers & cycled fully loaded over the Alps to realise that a double doesn't have a small enough gear to make it comfortable.