Your choice for the worst cycling invention in history

We asked readers what they considered to be the worst cycling invention, and received a flurry of nominations for awful biking kit from rain capes to road disc brakes

In October we ran an article highlighting five awful cycling inventions, and the article received a huge response. Some agreed with our choices, other very much did not!

So we gave you an opportunity to nominate your least favourite cycling invention, and we had a flood of responses.

Have you got anything to add? Let us know what you consider to be the worst cycling invention in history in the comment box below.

>>> Top five worst cycling inventions

Gel saddle covers. They've no place in cycling, They are no good for people on bikes, they move about.

Richard Coleman

Bicycle theft.

Kev Malone

The ‘mountain’ bike is responsible for convincing generations that bicycles are a crap way of getting from A to B.

Ian Wilson

The cycling cape: a death trap in bad weather… and those little electric motors hidden in front wheels. That's just cheating.

Simon Walker

The derailleur! Ha ha, love and kisses, the Singlespeed Mafia (Winchester Branch).

Dave Rowe

White shorts.

Stefan Pool

Benotto bar tape for those that can remember it, a nightmare to fit, you never got enough and it always snapped towards the end, plus it was deadly if wet or when wearing gloves.

Andy Hargreaves

Kirk frames.

Simon Daw

Storck Aernario disc signature disc brake

Disc brakes on road bikes - purely marketing, or worth it?

Disc brakes for road bikes – industry con job.

Stephen Howell

Cycle lanes – a waste of paint!

Andrew Cheetham

If you truly mean in history then it would have to go to the High Wheeler. If you mean since mountain bikes started in the 80s, then that would be the Campagnolo off-road groupset.

Scott Ilg

The motor vehicle.

Simon Tuck

Handlebars. Can we have a wheel instead?

Terry Murray

The test to detect EPO!

Danny Walmsley

MAMILS! Worst thing in cycling EVER. Can't stand them. "Oh, I see you have a Venge, how many watts do you max out on average?" Who cares! Just ride your bike for fun, old man!

Mike Lowrider

Ripon Revolution Sportive 2015 by Chris Catchpole _ 010

Middle Aged Men in Lycra yesterday
(Image credit: chris catchpole)

The Rules. Ride your way. Not how they tell you.

Nick Hussey

Lance Armstrong.

Richard Crewe

Someone – and it’s probably just as well that I cannot remember who – once brought out a seatpost that had a bike pump concealed within it. All well and good, until you actually needed to use it: you had to undo the seatclamp to get it out and then pumping with a saddle in the way was a faff. Solution to a problem that never existed, that one.

Graham Northrop

Hills over 12 per cent that last over 10 kilometres.

Ken Behan

Those extending dog leads.

Kurt Walls

Carbon-fibre bikes – man up and push the metal.

Neil Porter

Mavic Mektronic or Shimano Biopace... I can't decide...

Stuart Gardner

Watch: Top five superbikes of 2016

Those online ride logging websites so that everyone can see exactly how bad you are, and how short your rides are. There’s no hiding from the truth any more.

Chris Fowler

Turbo trainer tyres! Will anyone admit to buying them and believing the ‘spin’?

Jon Ward

Leather brake blocks on chrome rims when it’s raining.

Joey Hales

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Nigel Wynn
Former Associate Editor

Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.