LED lights and dynamo hubs. The quality of system available today is exponentially better than 10-15 years ago.
On Monday, July 2, 2012 11:43:13 AM UTC-5, Michael Hechmer wrote: > > OK, admittedly a bit, ok a lot, off topic... but Riv people have a > ....nuanced relationship with technological biking "advancements." So > consider this a philosophical inquiry. (Perhaps even GP will be interested > in this unscientific survey) Yesterday as I was out for a very pleasant > couple of hours riding in the Green Mountains on my Ram, I had a certain > insight into what has added the most to my cycling pleasure during the last > 35 years. It was clear. The "compact crank"! > > When I took up cycling, as an adult, with full Campy equipment,typical > gearing was a 52/42 mated to a 13-23. Even then being wimpy I used a 13-26 > and discovered that despite Campy's claims my NR derailler would handle a > 28. Still big hills, let alone mountain passes, were agonizing. Now with > a 44/30 & 11/28, I can cruise up 8% grades in a near 1 to 1 ratio, and > manage the occasional 10-14% ramp without distress even though I am 30 > years older. Of course longer 10+% mountain climbs want lower gears. I > believe that the compact crank has also driven both front and rear > derailler development, yielding crisp shifting over just enough wider range > to make a go-fast set up appropriate for tackling lots of hills. > > Of course, learning the speed and joy are independent variables has also > helped a lot. But pain and joy are not. > > Soooo.... what bicycle development has added the most to your enjoyment > during your cycling career? > > Michael > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/YC_Bpv3AEcUJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
