jango
Senior Retro Guru
...but it has been suggested, quite reasonably, that I should ride a modern bike (this reads short stem, wide probably riser bars, suspension forks, discs). I'm not totally opposed to the idea but nor am I convinced (where will my excuse go?)
For what purpose Ed? do you want to improve your downhill prowess?
Yes, you'll find a modern disc brake full-susser a lot easier and confidence inspiring on the downhill bits.......you'll also find it 'mushier' on the uphill bits.........what are you hoping to gain?
As an example, I recently took my modern round the same loop as the Retroride at Afan.........on the Retro it was hard work and killed a set of canti pads, but it was big fun.......on the modern it was an awful lot easier, I hardly used the front brake.......but was it a better ride, more fun........no, it was just easier.
so the question remains, what do you hope to gain?