[Rich_cb]

I’m in the market for a new bike but given the well documented supply issues I’ve had a lot more time to think about my choice than I was expecting.

As a consequence I’ve now started thinking about the most sustainable options.

My gut feeling is that steel/Aluminium frame and components would be more sustainable than carbon fibre and that mechanical groupsets would also be the best option.

SRAM and Campy seem to offer better long term serviceability than Shimano.

Hope seem a good bet for miscellaneous other components.

Topic

[Chris Hayes]

Geometry, size and weight

Geometry, size and weight apart, I think that wheel build, tyre selection, and tyre pressure have more impact on ride quality than frame material (and I have two Ti, one ally, one steel, and two carbon frames – with interchangeable wheelsets).

[pablo]

Well can of worms.  So Steel

Well can of worms.  So Steel requires much less energy to produce than aluminium as a raw material but very little material is raw and often includes a high percentage of recycled content.  Recycled steel and Aluminium have a very silmilar energy cost.  Steel would then be the obvious choice for total energy outlay although i think it could be argued that getting the most out of the Aluminium (as so much energy has been outlayed to produce)could also be argued for if you can guarantee the recycled content.  I did some research at work for a customer on sustainability of steel and i found a letter for a UK steel producer saying in the UK 75% of all steel is recycled.  

[matthewn5]

I’d advise getting a really

I’d advise getting a really nice used steel frame – maybe a Bob Jackson, a Brian Rourke, Saffron, or something like that – and putting a modern groupset on it. LFGSS has a whole thread on it:
https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/212733/

I’ve found my Rourke to be unbelievably smooth and comfortable even though I can’t fit more than 25s (on wide rims) on it. Indeed, I reckon the current fad for very wide tyres is only because of the need for very stiff uncomfortable forks to cope with disk brakes…

[Rich_cb]

That Linkglide looks really
That Linkglide looks really interesting.

I am currently experimenting with chain waxing so will hopefully extend the life of my drivetrain especially given that replacement cassettes are like gold dust right now.

[TheBillder]

Rich_cb wrote:

Rich_cb wrote:

… my rapid demise would drastically reduce my carbon footprint.

Only as long as you make sure your corpse is composted…

[TheBillder]

Chris Hayes wrote:

Chris Hayes wrote:

Geometry, size and weight apart, I think that wheel build, tyre selection, and tyre pressure have more impact on ride quality than frames (and I have two Ti, one ally, one steel, and two carbon frames – with interchangeable wheelsets).

My carbon gravel bike on 38 mm tyres is noticeably less comfortable than my old steel bike on the same tyre in 32 mm, even with slightly lower pressures. I can’t eliminate all the variables of course, but I can believe that old steel frames are comfier (and way less laterally stiff, a taste I am trying to re-acquire).

+1 for Tourney working really nicely, even when quite mangled, but I have seen too many jockey wheels fall out due to lack of thread lock. Tighten the bolts and the wheels stop moving…

[TheBillder]

That Linkglide looks
That Linkglide looks interesting but only 1x and I wonder how compatible with road groupsets. I would certainly pay a little extra and accept a bit more weight to get longer lasting chains in particular.

There might be quite an interesting feature to be written on the lesser known Shimano products.

[ktache]

Cable oilers will prolong the

Cable oilers will prolong the useful life of your cables, they also allow the use of smaller runs of outer, meaning you can use up those many little bits you have sitting about.

[Secret_squirrel]

I wanted to suggest why not

I wanted to suggest why not Ti, but found this article instead.

https://grist.org/living/what-is-the-greenest-type-of-bike-frame/

[Secret_squirrel]

ktache wrote:

  I was waiting on a replacement frame last winter, but the shortest quality 8 speed chain only lasted 2 and a half weeks for the old getting to work bike.

Rohloff SLT99 8 speed chains were the business – outlasted many of my cassettes and chain rings on my MTB.  Shame they stopped making them when Shimano went 9+.  Rohloff reckoned they couldnt make a 9+ speed chain to the same exacting standards.

[kil0ran]

Buy secondhand and buy

Buy secondhand and buy Shimano’s new Linkglide group for longevity and serviceability. Oh and invest in a decent drivetrain lube which means your drivetrain lasts longer. Personally I hate the waste associated with poor maintenance – cable outers, inners, chains, cranksets, and cassettes are very hard to recycle so the longer you can keep them clean and running well the better.

[wtjs]

I’m very happy with the stuff
I’m very happy with the stuff in even very lowly Shimano groups- I have just reconditioned my daughter’s bike for the other daughter. It’s a Halfords Carrera with Tourney, and with everything oiled and adjusted it’s perfect with very smooth shifting. I expect Campag and SRAM have equally loyal fans. It’s also aluminium and a cheap ‘racing bike’, and it’s the first aluminium road bike I’ve ridden. They’re supposed to be a hard ride on rough Lancashire roads, but I couldn’t really tell any difference from my Reynolds steel frames.

[Rich_cb]

From what I’ve read more SRAM
From what I’ve read more SRAM and Campy stuff is serviceable/repairable compared to Shimano.

I think Shimano shifters are riveted together for example.

[Daveyraveygravey]

Not sure why you would pick

Not sure why you would pick SRAM or Campag over Shimano?  I had a bike with Campag a few years ago, and yes it was nice, but getting parts I found harder than Shimano. 

The non-drive side crank arm came off at the end of one ride, the bits had worked loose and I didn’t see it happening.  I was less than a mile from home, thankfully.  I saved the crank arm, but the washers and a few other smaller parts ran all over the place.  I remember it took me over a fortnight to get it back on the road, whereas I reckon if it had been Shimano then a few days max.

 

[Rich_cb]

That is a superb article.
That is a superb article.

Thank you.

[Author]

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