14 issues I hate most about mountain bikes in 2024

Sure mountain bikes are nice, however there actually bloody annoying generally too. This is my listing of pet hates…

The finest mountain bikes are good issues, able to tackling seemingly unattainable terrain at foolish speeds, they’re nice for our happiness and our well being. However that doesn’t cease them being actually bloody annoying at instances – who amongst us hasn’t acquired the hump whereas attempting to seat a tubeless tyre? It may be a nightmare, even in case you are utilizing one of many finest flooring pumps round.

So, in honour of the game and the bikes I really like a lot, right here’s my listing of the issues I hate most about MTBs. Chime in with your individual on the YouTube video if you happen to suppose I’ve missed something.

The fork valve is straightforward, however the strain chart is buried manner down by the axle… take a photograph of it for reference

1. Fork strain charts

Nowadays you may work out how a lot air to place in your fork simply by taking a look at it. That’s as a result of there’s a strain chart on the decrease leg, which is an excellent thought… a minimum of, till you realise it’s buried on the within of the stanchion.

Yeah it seems to be higher there nevertheless it means you actually should get in your fingers and knees to work out how a lot air to pump in.

And also you’d higher take your glasses with you too, as a result of the font measurement is simply ridiculous. How does Fox and RockShox anticipate us to appear like correct mountain bikers once we’re crawling around the carpark squinting at our forks? Your finest guess is to take a look at our information to find out how to arrange mountain bike suspension.

Is the mountain bike god attempting to make us mad by speccing a distinct sized bolt for all the pieces?! High tip: get a multitool

2. Too many instruments

Trendy mountain bikes are marvels of engineering, they will deal with terrain impassable to some other car. What they will’t do, it appears, is use the identical allen keys all through and meaning you want a couple of dozen instruments in your fingers on the similar time, simply to make minor changes.

Need to change the stem top? You’re going to want a 4mm for the steerer clamp bolts, and a 5mm for the headset bolt. Then you definitely’ll want a Torx driver for the bolts for brakes and equipment shifters too. And also you’re going to want three fingers, or a software belt to place all of them in. And ideally, the finest mountain bike instruments to do all of it with.

Shock pumps generally is a nightmare to assault on some bikes, get a pump with a protracted hose to make issues simpler

3. Attaching a shock pump

When you’ve acquired a full suspension bike the shock may be simply as annoying to regulate too. Very sometimes the valve pokes out with sufficient house to allow you to thread even the finest shock pump on properly. Most bikes want the finger dexterity of a young person to get the valve head on there although. Wouldn’t it actually be so onerous for shocks to have valves you may truly get to with out skinning your knuckles?

And heaven forbid you must have the audacity to run a coil shock, I hate attempting to set the sag on a coil shock with a ardour. Not solely do you want a buddy to test the sag you’re working, to do something about it you’ll want a totally totally different spring, and the instruments to suit it.

Scott’s TwinLoc is a superb function for locking out your suspension, nevertheless it does trigger numerous unpleasant sprouting

4. Poor cable routing

There are such a lot of issues to hate about cable routing it’s onerous to know the place to start. For starters there’s a lot of it on some bikes, with the standard brake hoses and shifter cables now joined by lockout cables and even wires to your digital shifting.

The issues don’t cease with the bar and stem although, some bikes have cables that enter and exit the bike at inexplicable intervals, giving simple entry factors to water and dust.

And the worst for final, the one most maddening factor about poor cable routing is the rattle. If these cables should not sleeved inside one thing then your journey can rapidly flip into a loud nightmare, a cacophony of cable rattle.

If that occurs to you, don’t throw your bike within the nearest bush, It’s tempting. As an alternative get artistic with some moto foam and see if you happen to can pack out the house.

5. Creaks

This one. You knew it will be alongside quickly. We’ve all been there I think, the trick right here is to maintain calm and systematically work your bike over for dry or free bolts, which account for 99% of creaks in my expertise. Do that at house, if you happen to’ve not fastened that pesky noise within the first 5 minutes by the facet of the path, you’re not going to. Right here’s our information to fixing creaks, if you need one thing easy to comply with.

6. Inconsistent brake chew factors

I almost died the opposite day when my brakes instantly determined to alter their bitepoint half manner down a run at BikePark Wales. Think about how cross I’d have been if I actually had died. What this actually means after all is that the brakes want some consideration, if you happen to expertise this type of fade then take a look at our information to bleeding your brakes.

Ah, the one piece bar and stem – Canyon’s G5 is definitely actually good and is available in three widths, however there’s nonetheless no method to roll the bar ahead or again

7. One piece bar and stems

Eurgh. Nuff mentioned.

Loads of room to ship a wave of brown water via this factor

8. Saddles with gussets

Since when did it turn out to be a good suggestion to have a giant gaping gap in the midst of your saddle? Fairly aside from the truth that saddles like this don’t look like any extra comfy, it lets mud and water flick up onto your shorts. And bingo, you get an on the spot moist bum, even on rides the place the remainder of you would possibly stay dry. If saddles should have slits in them for ergonomic effectivity, a brief size of duck tube beneath often solves the issue.

9. Tubeless tyres

I’ve acquired a love/hate relationship with tubeless tyres, in that I really like them after they work, and hate them if you’re lined in sealant. Don’t get me mistaken, tubeless setups are sooo significantly better than tubes – I virtually by no means get a flat and the selection of working low pressures is all the time there.

However you’ve acquired to get air in them first, which is a complete lottery. Who hasn’t performed and misplaced at that sport?

The Kenevo SL has a cool through-shock suspension design, however meaning the dropper can’t slide in low sufficient

10. Tall seat tubes

I’m a giant Andy Barlow fan, the Grime Faculty coach is my go to man for expertise. His recommendation is to get low on the bike when it’s steep and provides your self loads of time to maneuver round. That’s fully ineffective although when bikes include seat tubes tall sufficient to play within the NBA.

I hate the way it limits which measurement you may journey too, the selection of Massive or XL is all the time a troublesome one for me however I don’t need it outlined by which measurement I can truly swing my leg over. The journey must be within the seat submit itself, not the body.

System Cura rotors are thick at 2.3mm and must be much less suseptible to warping and rubbing

11. Rubbing rotors

I feel I most likely hate this yet one more than something. The very considered my onerous gained leg energy leaching away to nothing makes me mad. And regardless that it most likely makes little or no distinction to my velocity it will get in my head. Instantly the climbs appear ridiculously onerous, and I’m nervous on the descents in case I don’t have the velocity to clear a leap.

And the worst factor is, two hours earlier you understand these brake callipers had been lined up completely with the rotor.

The one surefire method to set it proper is to get low, loosen the calliper bolts barely, and each so fastidiously line it up once more. Simply watch out to tighten the bolts slowly and in flip to stop the calliper shifting.

There’s one other method you need to use to type model new brakes too. Loosen off the calliper bolts fully, squeeze and tightly maintain the levers, then nip the calliper bolts again up once more.

I’ll take a trusty threaded BB anyday over a press match

12. Press match BB

Threaded backside brackets are higher than press match. I don’t care that press match is technically a lighter and extra environment friendly possibility, in follow they all the time find yourself creaking, and have a tendency to want extra upkeep. 

The threaded BB alternatively is far more dependable, and you may also service the factor extra simply your self at house, with out the necessity for a elimination software and press.

13. Forks the place the hub doesn’t line up with dropouts

That is one other one which makes you appear like an fool within the carpark, and that’s when the hub doesn’t truly line up with the dropouts. Generally I’m there for what looks as if minutes, attempting to ram the fork axle via the entrance wheel. Certainly wheel firms and fork manufacturers may get collectively and have a chat about this. 

14. Steering limiter

And whereas I’m as regards to carpark ache, I truly despise these steering limiters individuals like Nukeproof placed on their bikes. I suppose it’s there so the bars don’t spin round within the crash, nevertheless it’s a ache within the bum if you’re attempting to put a motorbike down flat behind your automotive. Really it could actually’t be finished.

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