now we are back on topic ..... and no, I am not turning it into a discussion about confectionary.
There seem to be a few committed retrobikers that will not accept times have moved on. I am guessing they were 12 or 13 reading mtb mags and drooled over bikes they could not afford. 20 years on, they have the cash and the older bikes are being sold off at a lot less in real times than they were when they were new so they are buying their dream bike(s). These same people with their rose tinted blinkers will say retrobikes are better regardless going as far as saying they have soul. Eh? Bicycles are bits of metal and plastic, inanimiate objects so could not possibly have souls, even if it could be proven souls exist.
Then they say they are faster than modern bikes. I am not so sure about that. :? The equipment used by the top XC riders I would have thought been a good indication of what is faster over the terrain and that non of them are using steel framed rigid bikes with cantilever brakes seems to me to indicate retrobikes are not. Or that retrobikes are more fun because they make riding more difficult. Having front suspension and brakes that stop does make the trail easier but it makes it no less fun, just different.
If you subscribe to the theory of evolution, then it also would apply to man-made items: cars, computers, TV sets and bicycles. Other than the BSO from Argos or Tescos, you would struggle to buy a steel frame bike with rigid forks, horizontal top tube, cantilever brakes etc. Why? Simply because you can get the same tool to do the sme job better e.g. a bike with a lighter aluminium or carbon fibre frame, suspension forks, disc brakes that stop in the dry and wet and maybe even *shock * *horror* 29 inch wheels. :shock:
In short, modern bikes are better. The grand-daddy of mtbs says it all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km67fjE8DqE
Now that does not mean we should not love the old bikes. They are the reason we have better bikes today. :mrgreen:
I don't mean to upset anyone or start an argument but have deep admiration the retobikers who will go to great lengths to restore an old frame, sometimes something pulled out of a skip, kit it out with period correct components with a tendancy bordering on obsesivness by buying up old fire extinguishers to get period correct air to inflate the tyres!!! :shock: Just like classic cars (which similarly are not as good as modern ones think performance, reliability etc) it is nice to know that somebody is willing to spend time and sometimes large sums of money to maintain bikes that are part of our history.
Due to old codger disease,
I cannot ride a rigid fork off road and would never give up disc brakes so do not partake in the retrobike restoration per se. My oldest bike is 'a 96 proflex that has been convered to disc brakes, 3x9 gears, a modern rear shock and carbon fibres bits that I will not part with due to sentimental reasons even though the swing arm flexes like cheese - oops, didn't mean to go there :facepalm: - weighs a ton and is not as good offroad as any other my modern FS bikes.
err so carry on, maybe we'll get to page 10!