Best & worst of 2007. What's the best and worst bike things you acquired this year?

It can be anything, some things would be the best because they were such a bargain or free, other things because of their looks, some things because of their function.

For me the best is based on aesthetics and functionality and it's:

Best: My wheels: Phil Wood High Flange Hubs + Sapim CX Ray + Mavic CXP33's
http://www.flickr.com/photos/buro9/1008050285/][img]http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1091/1008050285_451a1fb350.jpg[/img

I absolutely adore them and they're the best bike purchase I made all year. I'd highly recommend the spoke pattern and all of the components that make the wheels.

The runner up would be the BMX I bought. As it's been so much fun to ride and has let me ride places I wouldn't normally consider going on the track bike (down the side of the Thames, the gravel and mud bits).

Worst: Michelin Pro 2 tyres

Simply put, I have never punctured as much as when riding those tyres on the streets of London. I counted 12 tyres replaced in the first half of the year before switching to another brand (and not having a single puncture since).

velocity boy
Worst: Michelin Pro 2 tyres

Simply put, I have never punctured as much as when riding those tyres on the streets of London. I counted 12 tyres replaced in the first half of the year before switching to another brand (and not having a single puncture since).

tell us, what's the winning brand?

Best:
Brian Rourke frame+fork - second hand. I love the 'Birds Custard' colour scheme and it rides nice. (Can be seen stacked 3 behind Cornelius' brushed mystery metal frame in that thread.)
Campy Record Pista Hub tied and soldered to a tub rim + Continental Sprinter Gatorskin Tub. So light + stiff! From my sensei Momentum-San. Has finally got me fixed after months and months faffing around!
Worst:
Flouro-yellow Tioga toe clips and matching zefal bottle cage from Ebuy. waiting for my crappy bike to be assembled I don't know if I love or hate them yet.
Half-link that snapped pulling away from the lights from CONdor. Chain was making funny sound for 2-3k before - it was raining and I didn't stop to check it- d'oh!

Cajeta, worst: one pound Stirling mudguards.

Bestest: my conversion skate/cycle shoes

2nd Best: big, fat, hand-built (by me) Halo wheelset and white Oury grips.

Best:
My IRO!

Worst:
Saddle bag. Nowt wrong with it, just I've never found a reason to use it.

Should this thread not have been started in early 2008. So far I've only bought a few fixed things in my 2 months.

Best: Fuji Track

Worst: Fuji Track

Best: Eddy Merckx track bike from Belgium with full Campy Record groupset including Campy Atlanta rims. Price would blow your mind.
Carradice and Bagman support was awesome for a fixed gear tour over Easter.
Project Tortoise bag got me riding in comfort after an enforced shoulder switch (plate in my collar bone).

Worst: Cheap cog for polo which is too thin for the lockring to tighten against it. Cheap but a total waste of money.

Best

That's a nice half brick in the photo there

MA3K Bestest: my conversion skate/cycle shoes

2nd Best: big, fat, hand-built (by me) Halo wheelset and white Oury grips.

How did you convert and what did you screw the cleat into

Door prop innit

best:

mks double straps

clips and straps have never been so comfortable

worst:

white oury grips

ugly and wore through in two days use

best:
http://bp3.blogger.com/_6G8f4ofis4k/Rt8ljIpCbJI/AAAAAAAAAAU/TF0W5S07CS8/s400/31082007008.jpg

Also best:
http://bp3.blogger.com/_6G8f4ofis4k/Rwio5Ra4OZI/AAAAAAAAABM/OlphCmfLibY/s400/28092007091.jpg

Worst:
the saddle that came free with the frame (on blue bike). Wow. I had bruising for days.

flickwg
How did you convert and what did you screw the cleat into

Old cycling shoes:
cut away the leather, then chuck soft insole and separate the hard plastic sole from the rubber grip.
Old skate shoes:
remove insole, cut through rubber grip a hole big enough to facilitate clipping/unclipping, get some serious epoxy resin, glue surfaces(esp toe area), fit hard cycle sole into skate shoe, let dry, fit cleats, fit soft skate insole, hey presto.

Max, you must have rough hands?

How could I have forgotten?

Worst

A urethroscopy - watch out for those top tubes boys....

MA3K [quote]flickwg
How did you convert and what did you screw the cleat into

Old cycling shoes:
cut away the leather, then chuck soft insole and separate the hard plastic sole from the rubber grip.
Old skate shoes:
remove insole, cut through rubber grip a hole big enough to facilitate clipping/unclipping, get some serious epoxy resin, glue surfaces(esp toe area), fit hard cycle sole into skate shoe, let dry, fit cleats, fit soft skate insole, hey presto.[/quote]
thanks

john- what pedals do you use? are they eggbeaters?

Best - Complete new drivetrain - Dura-ace track cranks + 44t ring , Euroasia Superstar cog 16t & Shadow Interlock chain (So much smoother than the old BMX drivetrain)
Worst - Sunday BMX Frame which sits on a shelf mocking me everytime I go home. DOn't get me wrong it's a wicked frame I just haven't had the expendable to build it into a working BMX yet.

Best so far...

Harry Hall Track - Awaiting new paint and decals.

Possibility of picking up my bike from Aus.

Worst...

None, yet.

best.
changing bikes like underwear. selling a found bike frame for £130.

worst
waiting for bits you've purchased, during postal strike :( . plus the new chain i got which has about 10 links, damn bmx's

photoben Best:
My IRO!

Worst:
Saddle bag. Nowt wrong with it, just I've never found a reason to use it.

Did you order your IRO from the states or is there somewhere in the UK that does 'em?

Nicholas [quote]photoben Best:
My IRO!

Worst:
Saddle bag. Nowt wrong with it, just I've never found a reason to use it.

Did you order your IRO from the states or is there somewhere in the UK that does 'em?[/quote]
I think they have some at cavendish cycles

Yup, Mr. Pancake sorted me out from Canvendish. But I'm seeing quite a few peeps with them now - time for a respray!