I could give a very long list of stuff that I highly recommend, but to be honest there are very few things that I'd never get. For example...
MKS Aero Titanium Bell - yes it's a real thing. No it doesn't ring. It just makes a nice soft thunk which alerts nobody!
Mini air pumps which fit in one's jersey pocket and don't actually work.
A bike with a Press Fit bottom bracket. I've owned several. Some worked well for a while but all eventually started to creak. And while Wheels Manufacturing has a BB which fixes most creaking PF bottom brackets, I'm just not going back there. Ever.
Chinese carbon. I had a brand new Chinese carbon fork break the first time I rode it and used the brakes. It’s not that Chinese factories can’t make quality stuff, there’s just no QC with the generic stuff. ISSI pedals, the retention clips break easily if you hit a rock. Ritchey pedals that would wear out in 6 months and they wouldn’t supply rebuild kits. Pearl Izumi anything. You can get their stuff dirt cheap at the end of the season, but it only lasts one season. Kong Oi bell, they work okay at first but the spring is weak and wears out fast.
Combo brake/shifter levers. I'm sure they work for others but I consider them proprietary, inflexible, expensive, and vulnerable to crash damage. Besides, I prefer a TT bar.
Tires made by Panaracer. I've had 9 sets from 32 to 48 mm labeled Panaracer, Rene Herse, or Soma. All had little to no resistance to glass punctures and all but the Shikoro exhibited moderate to severe tramlining. Again I'm sure they work for others in different situations, like no pavement. All were comfortable and reasonably to very fast.
Race clothing. After a semi-major crash 5 years ago I decided to ride with a little protection. I'm now wearing: base-layer top and shorts with pads, off-road motorcycle jersey, tough messenger shorts, full-finger gloves, and MTB helmet. If I'm going off road I add elbow and knee pads. The outfit isn't exactly what you might call stylish (or lightweight or aerodynamic) but I'm in my seventies and don't really care. So far it's worked, I haven't had another crash. 🙂
Cheap tools. Mine have been described as "overkill" but I find the fit, function, and durability worth the money.
Seat bags. After using a small (1700 cc) frame bag I'll never go back.
Computer, power meter, action cam, etc. One reason I ride is to get away from all that stuff. I do carry a phone (for emergencies) and my bike has lights and a radar (to help avoid emergencies).
Semi popular choice: 2x drivetrains for unpaved riding. Now that I have have a bit of data from a few electronic drivetrains, my chain line is better on 1x than anything else. It was a perfect triangle for the gears used for my Barry Roubaix and Gravel Worlds ride files. So much cross chaining on my bikes with a 52 or 50 chainring. No drops. Simple setup. 2 x 11 is only 14 distinctly different gears in most set ups and most of those have an unusefully high gear in there. But I am glad people have options if they want them.
Moderately unpopular choice: Panaracer or Rene Hearse tires. The beads are comically loose. They are dangerous to set up AND to ride. They puncture more easily than other fast tires.
Very unpopular choice: Silca anything but wax chain lube and bar tape. I have had two tools break. Two saddle bags (rolls) that flop open and dump tools everywhere. My pump needs a new gasket annually. The titanium cleats are incredibly difficult to clip in with and moderately difficult to unclip with.
I totally agree about narrow tires and race geometry. My current minimum tire width is 34 mm, only because the Corsa N.EXT doesn't come wider. I'm OK with a less upright position but I like the stability and lack of toe overlap with a longer wheelbase.
In defense of a few things hated here... 😉 I have a Lynskey Race GR - not quite race road bike dimensions but more aggressive than most gravel bikes. I love it. 1x Sram eTap gearing rear is Eagle XX0 10x50, front is Force 42. I love it. (If you've ever ridden a fixed gear for training, an increased jump gear to gear for 1X is nothing). Things I'll never buy buy again? Deep drop bars, thin bar tape, or Ritchey C260 stem.
- René Herse tires in general but especially in 'ultralight' edition: dangerous i.m.o., especially when mounted tubeless, certainly on hookless rims; - Mini pumps: when you need them you'll come to the conclusion that they failed somewhere along the way; - 30 mm bearings that can supposedly make it possible to use cranks with a 30 mm spindle in a BB86 bottom bracket bike: they'll work for a week, then start creaking; - Products from IT brand 'Ingrid'. Maybe I was unlucky but I tried twice and twice it ended in failure.
In addition to what I posted above, I would add that I will never buy a carbon bike that costs >$1000-1500 USD - and especially one from a major manufacturer - instead I will buy from a known Chinese brand. Same is true for all carbon stems, bars, and seat posts.
Challenge Getaway Pro tires. Hard to mount because they just lay flat. Ride quality is great, but the tread quickly separates from the casing. They also puncture very easily- Leading back to the issue of the tire laying flat. So hard to get the tire changed in the field.
- - Mini pumps: when you need them you'll come to the conclusion that they failed somewhere along the way;
+1 on Mini pumps. Great product until you actually need it. I have a Lezyne mini-floor pump that adds about 100 grams and is 10 times more useful. --Also agree about narrow tires. I'm firmly entrenched at 45mm+ My mountain climbing bike for paved roads has a 46mm front with a 55mm Speedking on the back. It eats up rough pavement and expansion cracks and gives me some light gravel options as well.
mike wrote: Wow, I wouldn't even know where to get a custom fit helmet.
Yep! I could never get one that fit me comfortably before. Every brand gave me headaches. Also since I have such a long oval head to get anything that remotely fit front to rear would be super wide on the sides.
I have a Hexr but Kav helmets are made in the US. That's a Lazer on the right.
Xenophon wrote:-30 mm bearings that can supposedly make it possible to use cranks with a 30 mm spindle in a BB86 bottom bracket bike: they'll work for a week, then start creaking;
The BBInfinite option is legit, but it's $$$. I'm not aware of anything else worth trying.
Volsung wrote: I have a Hexr but Kav helmets are made in the US. That's a Lazer on the right.
Well, I have a similar problem as you. You have me looking at the Kav helmets. They look pretty darn sweet. I might have to try one (30 day risk free). 😉
