details, details, details. what are you particular about on your bike?

[Noteddy]

1. Bar tape finished at the top with black electrical tape, no matter what the tape color, NOT the cheesy finishing tape that comes with most bar tape. Wrapped so that there's no exposed edge of the layer of electrical tape underneath the final wrap, and no big ridges. Cut the tape with a razor blade or scissors to eliminate the possibility of pucker from tearing it.

2. Proper wheels with pulling spokes the same on front/rear, rim labels on the same side, hub logo readable through the valve hole, tire label centered over valve. QRs mirror image of each other; pointing to about 2:00 (front) and 10:00 (rear)

3. Matching cages and water bottles

We could get along. An incorrectly assembled wheel is unrideable.

[Saab2000]

Drinking and posting should be discouraged.

There's not much else for me to do....

• Cable length. Cables that are too long or too short piss me off.
• Saddle tilt. 0º is the proper tilt.
• Tip of the brake lever is about 2mm above the plane drawn from the bottom of the bars.
• Tiny (or no) spacers above or below the stem
• No squeaks or rattles. If they exist they must be found and banished.
• General cleanliness of the bike. I hate month-old dried worms on my buddies' bikes and crusted up dirt that they never wash.
• No frayed cable ends. Ever.

I'm pretty anal about my bike stuff and I'm a fairly decent wrench. I spend a pretty solid amount of time getting a bike to its final configuration. The only time I leave too much cable is if there will be a bar and/or stem change imminent, which is exactly the case with my Pacenti.

[Jaq]

On my bike, I'm usually most particular about not getting knocked off my bike.

[randonneur]

brake lever angle on mtb handlebars. 45 deg from horizontal is about right. if it's less than 30 deg, bikes just look wrong.

[ChristianSLC]

Everything, but in particular:

• Pump pegs
• Saddle tilt
• Quiet drivetrain (don't miss the SRAM cassette/chain combo on my old Ridley)
• Matching bottle cages
• A well stocked saddle bag
• Wheels with matching rims, rim strips, spokes & nipples, hubs, tubes, and tires

[WayneJ]

I care mostly about fit - it has to be perfect.
And a quiet drive-train, but mine is usually dirty (sorry Gary) from generous applications of Chain-L and lots a dirt roads.

Oh, and I always clean my tires, but hardly ever clean my bike.

[mike p]

Everything.......but perfectly true wheels.

Mike

[hampco]

a quiet bike

a good crema on my espresso at the stop

a cold hoppy beverage when i get home

the rest is simply my obsessing

[robin3mj]

I can't abide curmudgeons.

[professerr]

1. Bar tape finished at the top with black electrical tape, no matter what the tape color, NOT the cheesy finishing tape that comes with most bar tape. Wrapped so that there's no exposed edge of the layer of electrical tape underneath the final wrap, and no big ridges. Cut the tape with a razor blade or scissors to eliminate the possibility of pucker from tearing it.

2. Proper wheels with pulling spokes the same on front/rear, rim labels on the same side, hub logo readable through the valve hole, tire label centered over valve. QRs mirror image of each other; pointing to about 2:00 (front) and 10:00 (rear)

3. Matching cages and water bottles

We could get along. An incorrectly assembled wheel is unrideable.

I would totally mess with both of you guys. I shared a workspace once with a guy who would align all the slots on every wood screw on his pieces (this requires testing and/or filing lots of screws…). I’d secretly move them randomly 5-10 degrees every now and then.

[Jonathan]

There's not much else for me to do....




I'm pretty anal about my bike stuff and I'm a fairly decent wrench.

Youre Swiss, you get a pass.

[Saab2000]

Youre Swiss, you get a pass.

I'm not actually Swiss but I feel part of who and what they are after so many years there.

[liv2bike]

Stem top cap...it musn't be misaligned. If it has a logo or such it cannot be crooked.

[e-RICHIE]

what are you particular about on your bike?

I'll have a full report over the weekend. Be scared - be very scared atmo.

[echelon_john]

the bike isn't the bike. the details are the bike.

[christian]

Regal.
Nitto 176.
Campagnolo 10s.
Velox bar plugs.
Tires with no colors other than black and gum.

[fixednwinter]

pedals/ shoes

hate changing anything to do w/ this.
that said i just took my first ride in a pr of giro factors.
pedals rxs carbon- which i have 6-7 pr..will last until i quit the sport.

Thumbs up for Giro shoes on Time pedals. I'm using the Giro Prolight shoes on RXS as well as the even older Impact pedals. Nothing else will do. Other details -

- Perfectly positioned contact points
- I must have round bars
- really great brakes and levers set up perfectly

[PGSmith]

Every bike I touch:
Shifter to bar transition - Especially when double wrapping or using really thin tape, this can take some finesse.
Shifters must be absolutely level - Look around and you'll see that shifters are rarely lined up.
Cable length - Not too much in front and not too little in back
Quiet - I should only be able to hear the pawls, the rollers, and the tires.

My bikes:
Brakes - I'm finicky not only about the setup, but I'm also picky about the equipment. I can't stand flimsy brakes or unpredictable pads. Could be my motor sports background, but I won't compromise the power or feel of my brakes.
Tire pressure - This obsession is even worse on dirt. I don't pre-ride the course to warm up, but to dial my tire pressure for the crucial sections.

[Craig Ryan]

It all starts with clean.

[joosttx]

Details are for line managers......
I prefer to sweat while riding than the details.