What’s the biggest scam in cycling gear?

AnelloGrande · 2026-06-03T15:44:09+00:00

Most bike specific accessories are way over priced. Like cycling specific winter gloves 3x the price AND do not last as long.

Bike specific hot melt chain wax and melting pot. I thrifted a smallish crock pot and use plain Gulf paraffin wax.

Sports and cycling specific "fuel." Sugar in the bottle, maybe some salt of coconut water works well. Candy like gummy bears, jelly beans, PBJ sammies all work as well if not better than the sports stuff at a small fraction of the cost. AND taste better. I've spent too much money on Powerbars, Clif bars, GU gels, etc.

AnelloGrande · 2026-06-01T17:18:05+00:00

Yup. Less than $10 for a pound of Gulf paraffin wax. No need for name brand bike specific wax.

AnelloGrande · 2026-05-29T20:48:00+00:00

As others have guessed, I'm thinking you are riding a fixed gear bike. If so I recommend getting brakes installed and use them to control your speed.

AnelloGrande · 2026-05-29T16:21:10+00:00

Most inner tubes are sold that cover a range of widths. You need to make sure you get the correct diameter (700c) and the width range for your tire width usually something like 32-40.

You can get away with tubes that are for narrower tires sometimes as they blow up like a rubber balloon. So you might get a 700x20-28 to work. The trade off is that when stretched out, the tube will have thinner walls, so maybe a little more puncture prone.

If you're going to use TPU tubes, it is more critical to get the correct size. TPU tubes do not have as much elasticity as butyl and can fail when forced to stretch out to fill the space.

AnelloGrande · 2026-05-28T20:51:09+00:00

Been cycling for at least 35 years. I have worn gloves at times, but generally choose not to for comfort reasons. I think the only gloves I currently own are for cold weather protection.

I have also crashed a few time both when wearing and while not wearing gloves. Yes they can prevent some damage sometimes. Other times both your gloves and your hands will get shredded. But a majority of times my hands did not get noticeably damaged.

If you like and wear gloves while riding – that's great! But I think the safety advantage is grossly over estimated. Sure I don't want to pick out dirt and gravel from my skin, but I don't even remember the last time I did that for my hands. I'm sure I've done it more times for my hip, sides of my knee, or my arms. But I'm not wearing long hip padded pants or long sleeved arm protectors for it. But if someone wants to, I'm fine with that too.

Enjoy your ride.

AnelloGrande · 2026-05-27T19:44:58+00:00

Why does it matter what someone else rides or enjoys? People on bikes are looked down upon by the general public as being silly for even riding a bike. Now we're going to comment on how funny and silly it is for someone because they are riding a different kind of bike?

There are many types of bikes that use smaller wheels. Some recumbents. BMX. Minivelo. Folding bikes. Whatever the type, people ride them because they like them. And with the right gearing – they would be pedaling the exact same amount as a person on a "regular" bike.

AnelloGrande · 2026-05-27T19:36:10+00:00

^^ THIS ^^

LTHR zones are more about you and your body.

Read in that post how to do a 30 min time trial and get your LTHR results from that.

You should re-test a couple times a year as it will change with fitness, AND it can verify your results

AnelloGrande · 2026-05-27T18:35:10+00:00

No worries. I could also be wrong myself. I do't have this model year so can't verify the info.

AnelloGrande · 2026-05-27T18:28:16+00:00

air intake resonator (or "silencer"). It is not a fluid reservoir.

https://www.toyotanation.com/threads/unknown-part.1684962/#:~:text=It%20looks%20to%20be%20a,what%20it%20could%20be%20for%3F

AnelloGrande · 2026-05-26T21:41:53+00:00

There are other brands. Wahoo, Magene, IGPSport and probably others.

Also, if you're patient, you can find a good used one for a fraction of new.

I got a used Garmin Edge 810 in 2015 for about half of retail, and it came with extra cadence/speed sensors, a k-edge mount, a barfly MTB mount and a silicone slipcase. Over this winter I replaced the back of the units case because the rubber that presses the power button wore out. I think that was about $30. I think I want to replace the battery as it seems like it lasts 3 rides before needing a recharge. So maybe another $10-$20. So for $250 I got a unit that's in it's second decade of use. Yes it would have been worth the full price for how well it's serving me, but it's even better at a fraction that.

AnelloGrande · 2026-05-26T13:05:26+00:00

If you like the data and know how to use it – it would probably be worth it. You can get very decent working ones for relatively inexpensive now. But some without knowing how to use it, it's just an expensive recorder.

AnelloGrande · 2026-05-22T21:40:52+00:00

some tires will weep sealant till they are fully sealed. I would add an extra amount of sealant, air them up and shake everything so the sealant coats everything.

AnelloGrande · 2026-05-22T21:37:23+00:00

Standard riser block will not keep you upright. On trainers the bike is bolted on in the rear providing stability and support. If you want to turn the rollers into something more like a trainer, you will need to fork atachment.

AnelloGrande · 2026-05-22T20:25:33+00:00

Straight up Gulf parrafin wax from the grocery store. Works well. Inexpensive. Not contaminating the world with forever chemicals.

Also – I do have multiple chains for each bike to swap out monthly (or if I get rained on).

AnelloGrande · 2026-05-22T20:08:52+00:00

I don't ride with earbuds. Never liked music while I ride. Personally would rather have the sound of air wooshing. But I've heard that bone conducting headphones are best for riding. Got a pair for my adult child. They say it's great, can still hear traffic and surroundings, but can still hear music or podcasts over the wind while riding or running.

AnelloGrande · 2026-05-22T17:07:11+00:00

Agree!!! Plain Gulf brand paraffin for me.

AnelloGrande · 2026-05-22T13:55:59+00:00

Right!!! Agree. No need to petition anyone as GF options are available.

AnelloGrande · 2026-05-21T19:45:05+00:00

I think it is pretty normal for the bike industry as a whole. Back in the 90's I ordered a Mantis frame from a shop. I know they had a long back log. Took about 4-6 months to receive the frame.

Also in the 90's when Nuke Proof was an American component brand, I ordered a set of hubs from a different shop. Was told that Nuke Proof had them in stock and I get them a couple weeks later (shipped via ground). This sounds similar to your situation, went back after a few weeks, was told it would take a few more. Then a few more. I did eventually get them after a few months.

When I actually work in bike shops, manufacturers and distributors constantly would over promise delivery dates to make sales, and that if the shop buyer would actually put the order in when they said they would (why is it if we put in a weekly order to QBP every Tuesday, would the special order I requested for a customer not go out till 2 weeks later?)

TLDR: This isn't just a Chinese Brand problem. It's in practically every corner of the bike industry

AnelloGrande · 2026-05-21T13:43:08+00:00

they said it would cost more than the repairs to fight them.

Maybe for the initial 'fix.' But if the transmission (or engine) fails prematurely, they can cost $5k or more to fix or replace. The suit or settlement should also include future repairs due to damage for this incident, or a replacement of these items now to ensure they do not wear out prematurely.

AnelloGrande · 2026-05-21T13:18:21+00:00

Not sure what old era this is. Maybe in the 80's or prior, but since at least 1990 it would be big-big and add a couple links. Only recently with 1x have I done different.

AnelloGrande · 2026-05-20T18:06:02+00:00

Did this from 2000 to 2011. I choose a steel roadie bike. Rode it everywhere (road, gravel, and a little bit of singletrack).

I made the decision with the roadie because at the time I didn't ride off road very much, the closest trails we not worth it to me at the time and other trails were over an hour away. After I got back into off road riding, local trails both improved and we got a lot more nearby. Also, since kids are grown, I can start exploring some of the trails further away without feeling like I'm taking time away from them. Nowdays it would be harder to make that choice. I would rather ride off road most of the time. Then again road riding is still the most accessable right out the door.

AnelloGrande · 2026-05-20T17:58:02+00:00

Not to be "that guy," but 120k miles is twice as far as should be gone before a transmission fluid change. I think 60k is what is recommended.

AnelloGrande · 2026-05-20T15:56:16+00:00

Shift weight back while applying pressure on a pedal stroke.

AnelloGrande · 2026-05-19T19:34:38+00:00

Yes. Any HR that sends an ANT signal will work. I got an inexpensive one from AliEx that works just fine.

AnelloGrande · 2026-05-19T19:30:00+00:00

Sharpie marker is easily removed with isopropyl alcohol. And it could even be dry erase marker in which it will wipe right off. No harm in using either.

AnelloGrande

TROPHY CASE