1. dual control

At the turn of the millennium, Shimano launched the Dual Control levers. This was the unfortunate marriage of the brake lever and the gearshift. Almost all fingers had to be clamped under or over the brake lever and rocked up or down to change gear. This was not only unergonomic. It was also a wobbly affair and you had an unsteady grip on the handlebars when shifting. Shimano hesitantly realized this and stopped the levers after a few years.

2. Hammerschmidt

The gear crank from Truvativ had actually anticipated the single-chainring hype. However, the "Hammerschmidt" never really caught on in the market. This was because the crank was heavy, produced a lot of resistance and the assembly was a science in itself. Sram stuck with it for a few years and quietly, and subsequently with much success, worked out the 11-speed drivetrain without a front derailleur.

3. the short glove

It can be 35 degrees on the trail, we mountain bikers wear long gloves. And not because the protection is better. But because fingerless gloves simply look modest when biking. Style is a must, which is why fingerless gloves are not just a flop, but a taboo when biking.

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4. integrated bottom bracket

For heaven's sake, if there's one thing that doesn't make sense on a mountain bike, it's pressed-in bearings for the crankshaft. There should be a thread and a screwed-in bearing. This is the only way to get to grips with manufacturing tolerances and reap the rewards of crack-free operation. The annoying part of the story: press-fit bearings are not a flop, but persist on the market.

5. elastomers

Instead of air and oil, the first generation of suspension forks worked with elastomers. These rubber buffers were rock hard in winter and the Elasto forks didn't work any better in Californian temperatures.

6. the Onza pedal

The Onza pedal, which also used elastomers - instead of a steel spring - to control the release hardness of the clipless pedal, was the ultimate disaster. This worked super unreliably and regular crashes were the result.

7. the oversized saddle

There were times in the downhill circus when the saddle couldn't be big enough. The winner in this discipline was Scott: the Octane bike was fitted with a saddle that could accommodate a small family and the expansive seat even required a double seat post. Fortunately, this saddle fashion was short-lived.

8. U-brakes

At the beginning of the mountain bike boom, the U-brake, mounted under the saddle rails, was the order of the day. It looked sleek and stylish back then. However, the thing was nblei heavy and virtually unadjustable. In muddy conditions, the brake reliably ensured constant deceleration, as the dirt stubbornly stuck between the tire, strut and brake.

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9. Reverse shifting direction

Shimano, or rather their customers, went through an experimental phase in the noughties. Suddenly, the rear derailleur shifted in the opposite direction when the thumb command was given. This Rapid Rise system was unnecessary training for the cerebellum and was quickly withdrawn from the market.

10. tubeless systems of the early years

It was a difficult start for tubeless tires on mountain bikes. The UST system pushed by Mavic was airtight, but far too heavy. Competing systems were lighter, but difficult to get airtight. It took a few years for the manufacturers to coordinate the tubeless components in such a way that operation was reliable.