Sometimes the best solutions are the simplest.

We’ve all complained that as technology innovates on a bike, it complicates the bike while increasing the cost of ownership. But that’s not all there is to it, there are some good ideas that make bikes easier while being better.

Rather than complicated suspension systems or adding electronics to the car, sometimes the best design is to ask yourself, are these really necessary? In general, simplicity means making your car lighter, quieter, less expensive to own, easier to maintain and more reliable. Not only that, but a simpler overall scheme will also make your car appear more elegant and sophisticated.

Here are a few examples where less is more.

1. Flexible turning point

Almost every XC bike these days will be designed with a “flex pivot” instead of a traditional pivot with bearings. Of course there is a reason for this, the elastic pivots are lighter, they reduce many small parts (bearings, bolts, washers…) and make the whole system easier to maintain.

While the bearings only need to be replaced once per season, the flex pivots are engineered to last the life of the frame. The pivot points at the rear of the frame, whether they are on the seatstays or the chainstays, can often be seen as they rotate multiple times during suspension movement.

This means that there may be faster bearing wear and increased losses because the force is always acting on the same point. Flexible frame members made of carbon, steel, or even aluminum can accommodate this small range of motion well without fatigue. They are now most commonly found on bikes with 120mm of travel or less.

2. Single disk system is suitable for everyone

For the serious mountain biker, the benefits of a single chainring system may be so obvious that it almost goes without saying. They allow us to do away with front derailleurs, front derailleurs, cables and (often equipped) chain guides, while still offering a variety of gear ratios. But for novice riders, the simple and easy-to-operate features of the single disc system are also more conducive to riding. Not only are they easier to install and maintain, but they also make riding easier since you only have to worry about one shifter and continuous dense cassette.

While they’re not exactly new technology, you can now buy entry-level mountain bikes with decent single-ring drivetrains. This is a very good thing for someone who is just starting out in the sport.

3. Single pivot suspension system

The main reason for using the Horst-link design (which is the most common design today) on the single-pivot portion of the suspension linkage is to reduce and adjust the effect of braking forces on the suspension’s anti-rise characteristics. This is claimed to allow the suspension to more easily apply the suspension when braking. But actually, it’s not such a big deal. In fact, the high resistance to rise that the single pivots have helps them counteract the effects of braking force and makes them more stable under braking, which I think is a fairly noticeable effect.

4. Larger stroke

There are many ways to try to improve suspension performance: fancy linkages, expensive shocks, idlers. But there’s only one surefire way to help a bike smooth out bumps: give it more suspension travel.

Adding more travel doesn’t necessarily increase weight, cost, or overall system complexity, but it does fundamentally change how efficiently a bike absorbs shocks. While not everyone wants a flatter ride, you can make a long-travel bike as stiff as you like by reducing sag, locking up the suspension, or adding volume spacers, But you can’t make a short-travel bike ride as soft as you want it to be, or the suspension might bottom out.

5. Big Disc

Larger rotors improve braking efficiency, heat dissipation and consistency without adding complexity. Compared with 200mm discs, 220mm discs can improve braking efficiency by about 10%, while also providing a larger surface area to dissipate heat.