Near perfect bike parts

[Ray]

My Spectrum ti - not the material or the 'brand', just the magic of a well designed custom frame from one of the masters

Nitto Dirt-Drop handlebars - the old narrow ones - can't get 'em anymore, but I hoarded a bunch. Pure personal preference, but its the only drop bar I love

Specialized Phenom saddle - same great shape as the Toupe but firmer shell and a small amount of actual padding.

Phil bottom brackets

White Industries ENO hub - dead solid perfect. Now I'm riding the RIGHT frame as a fixie.

48-34 compact cranks - brand doesn't matter, but I do like narrow Q factors

Rain legs

All of the modern drivetrain gear works frighteningly well, but a lot of the old stuff didn't - except the Suntour/Silver friction shifters Ken mentioned - a perfect part.

Salsa seatpost - ugly but the best adjustment out there.

Smartwool socks.

I'm sure there's more but that's all that comes to mind.

-Ray

[RudAwkning]

This stem:

[Dave Kirk]

Any Suntour freewheel. From BMX to Ultra 6 they all rocked.

dave

[Jason Musgrave]

Grants silver Sachs atmo

[taylorj]

lotsa good stuff here. How about a Record Ti seatpost too!

[bdaghisallo]

Defeet Levitator Lite socks
Defeet Wool Arm Warmers
Oakley Radars
Thomson posts
Dura Ace hubs
Easton Pro bend bars - the best bend known to man
Giro helmets
Assos FI.13 S5 bibs
Shimano PD-7810 pedals
Fizik Aliante
Lupine Betty headlight
Polar waterbottles
Clif Bar - Choc Almond Fudge...hmmm

[randy]

DA 7410 Crankset

[HUNTER1]

DeFeet Wooleator and WoolyBooly socks
Specialized Pro Bib Knickers
Thomson posts
S-Works 2d helmet
Arundel stainless cages
Co2 inflators
Tubeless Mtb Tires even the 29"ones

Fillet brazing, especially a well done seattube/stay/binder thingy like this one...

[keevohn]

Specialized Phenom saddle

Word.

DA 7410 Crankset

Word.

[GrantM]

Aesthetically, Dura Ace peaked in the 7400 - 7401 - 7402 period.
As evidence, I'll offer this 7speed 7401 group, circa 1986 . With it's threaded freewheel, alloy brake pad holders,
and brakes with manly springs... it was at the top.

[Bssc]

Aesthetically, Dura Ace peaked in the 7400 - 7401 - 7402 period.
As evidence, I'll offer this 7speed 7401 group, circa 1986 . With it's threaded freewheel, alloy brake pad holders,
and brakes with manly springs... it was at the top.

Yep that stuff was perfection just prior to planed obsolesce and short life span parts.

3 pawl 11-17 man freewheel

[SteveP]

i cant think of anything.
it was all just bike stuff to me.
some worked better, some worked worse.
if it worked well i would keep it...
if not i would move on.

it is all a distant shadow of what we all use now.

[Pdxbikeboy]

Shimano D/A HS-7410 1" Headset.

[Craig Ryan]

Clement Del Mundos or Paris Roubaix setas on fiamme ergal rims. spell?

[oopfoo]

Brooks Swallow saddles with Ti rails
Mavic Open Pro CD rims
The Surly Pugsley (heavy, ugly, and utilitarian...what's NOT to like?)
Nitto noodle bars
Nitto seatposts
Cinelli XA stems
Waterford-built Paramounts
Dura Ace 7810 pedals
1st-generation Campagnolo C-Record rear derailleurs are aesthetically ideal, but Suntour Superbe from the same time is a better derailleur (and a better group, overall)

and, above all else...
lugged steel

[niedz]

Shimano SPD pedal system.

really? for off-road?
where do you live/ride?
out here on the east coast rocks mud and logs eat these things up.
for cyclocross they are nearly impossible to clip into once packed up with mud.
give me a set of time ATAC aliums!

white industries SS freewheels
WI hubsets
and a +1 on pauls neo-retros
DT swiss competition spokes w/ brass nipples
stans tubeless rims
brooks b17

[Dekonick]

DKS rear
Brooks B-17
AR leather wrap
King headset
A bike that fits.

[Dave Wages]

[ATTACH]Mavic 001.jpg[/ATTACH]

How about these sweet Mavic brakes that were made by Dia-Compe. Not super panic stoppers but smooth and reliable, and oohhh so sexy and clean. Hidden internal springs, those qr's that rotate in line with the brake arms and the easy to use adjuster barrels that never get lost when the brakes are off the bike.

I got so excited I had to run down to the basement and take these pics.



Oh yeah, Clement Criterium Setas, 'nuf said!

[dookie]

what can i say that hasn't been? it's like y'all *really* know bikes or something...

dt hubs
ssc brakes
salmon pads
sidi
brooks tape/saddle
king hs
well done fillet (i'm partial to my scapin)
campy (delta, c-rec, ergos, anything w/bearings, etc)
white freewheels & eno
moots welds
corsa evo cx (incl open)
da spd-sl
the steel master builders (one day...)

[Triskeliongirl]

Brooks Finesse Saddle