Do you still use your retrobike for its original purpose?

Mike's post that a Colnago cyclocross frame should be built up and raced got me thinking about this... do you still use your retrobike for its original purpose?

I've got a 1995 Gazelle Champion Mondiale that I plan to ride a crit race on, although it would just be as a fun thing to do... I wouldn't use it for an important race. Whilst the Gazelle (531 frame with Sachs New Success components) would have been raceable at the time, by today's standards it's too heavy, and the frame and quill stem are too flexy. Procycling did an article a while ago comparing a modern carbon race bike with a steel Pinarello with period parts. All the racers who tested the Pinarello hated it, and even felt that it was dangerous compared to a modern bike due to the flexy frame and poor brakes.

My Gazelle does get ridden, mostly on training rides and sometimes on commute duties. It's a stylish ride that gets lost of compliments, and it works well as long as I don't try to go fast or uphill. Interestingly, old steel frames do still get used on the track - Ross Edgar (or someone similar) rode some old iron (with up to date wheels, a Mavic IO and disc) at the Good Friday Track Meet this year.

Is anyone using their retrobike for its original purpose - racing, time trialling, cyclocross, touring, whatever? How do you feel that it works compared to a modern machine?

i still use my san andreas to ride around on playgrounds doing cycling prifficiency lessons with year 4,5,6.....does that count?

yes. why wouldn't i?? These frames will last longer than me.

tintin40":1f8386ex said:

yes. why wouldn't i?? These frames will last longer than me.

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ok... it might help us get a discussion going if you went into a bit more detail

well they're not garage queens if that's what you mean they get hammered, scratched, broken, repaired. Raced? Hmm. Not really the racing type.

I saw the ProCycling article and thought that the choice of retro bike was a bit too retro.

I aint gonna win a race on any bike so I might as well ride a pretty one!

Pretty and comfortable too!

Simon, if I recall correctly the Pina was tested against its modern competitor on a hilly terrain. The outcome could have been different or more close if it were a Gazelle vs a random carbon rig in a tradition Dutch criterium stage with multiple laps around the church on brick roads.

Personally the way I use my bikes is still the same as two decades ago. Recreational use, where speed does matter, but speed is not needed for winning competitions. Around 1997 or so I lost interest in everything that was issued new. I stayed with the old stuff, what for me is optimal functioning stuff. I do not riding old bicycles solely for sentimental reasons or because they have more class ...what they do have, what is certainly an added value. Pro is the old world quality where durability did matter. For example I do have a Champion Mondial of the late 70s that was given a repaint in the early 90s at Gazelle. That is how it worked back then: You had a fine 531 chassis and when it became ugly you sent it back to the factory for a refinishing and it was up to its task again for the next upcoming decade. Nowadays the industry is more centered around disposibles. Stuff wears out faster, if not becomes obsolete because they come up with new and 'better' every day.

I've ridden my Duralinox and my MKM Ultimate in full open and 'Old Skool' time trials this season and will do next year as well. I would even consider using a retro bike in road races next year, especially TLI ones. I can't see them being 'dangerous'. The brakes work just as well as modern ones IMHO. If they were good enough for Eddy to fly down an Alp then they're good enough for me!

The main difference I find in road races these days is that when a modern bike hits a bump it goes 'Clunk', a 'proper' bike goes 'Ping'!

I don't see why not either. I've just renovated my mid-80's Aende tt frame to ride 'Old Skool' and non aero time trials next year and to do a few club events on too. I don't own a modern carbon frame or aluminuim frame, hate the asthetics of most of them. I did have an old Specialised Carbon from the early '90's until it was stolen. Nowadays my race bike is a custom built Columbus Life steel frame with carbon rear stays. Sort of new and retro at the same time.

Neil

whippet":3n1zexfj said:

I've just renovated my mid-80's Aende tt frame to ride 'Old Skool'

Neil

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Very good chance the Planet X Series will be on again next year but in a slightly revised format. It would be good to see a large Retrobike contingent entering. After all, there's enough of us with the right kind of bike and we could well be the largest 'club' affiliated to CTT.

I'll post a new thread when I know more.