bikeworkshop
Retro Guru
Isn't that the indoor equivalent of the trailhead car park xtr display?
So called big collectors belittling smaller.
- Thread starter mtbdave
- Start date
This is why I stick to RB, for an enthusiast forum it is extraordinarily tolerant of retromods and folks doing their own thing in general. On here I find a nice balance from folks appreciating a bike's history but with a general ethos that a bike getting ridden is always a good thing. There's purism but it is to a minimum compared to groups I joined when I first ventured into vintage bikes. I absolutely abhor purism to be completely honest, and I don't think many know how horribly limiting it is, to the survival of the hobby. I know of a few folks who'd rather see the bikes maintained by a person who is as infatuated with brand history etc as themselves. Which means that sometimes newcomers using old frames and parts, building something they like, are treated poorly when we really should be cheering on anyone who repurposes old bikes and parts regardless of how it is used. Like there's often been a negative association with the Radavist and xbiking 'hipster' trends, where they re-invent the wheel and they get into vintage bikes because it is "cool", with no real interest in the history. I still think that is perfectly fine, as it is people riding old bikes that'd likely have ended up in a landfill at some point.
The collectors I've seen on Instagram and other forums with 20, 30 period correct NOS bikes kept in a heated display room have absolutely nothing to offer for someone like me, who just likes to have a wide array of bicycles, new and old, to get out there enjoying nature. Not going to put down those types of collectors too much, but in my experience they rarely bring anything to the table other than gate keeping.
The collectors I've seen on Instagram and other forums with 20, 30 period correct NOS bikes kept in a heated display room have absolutely nothing to offer for someone like me, who just likes to have a wide array of bicycles, new and old, to get out there enjoying nature. Not going to put down those types of collectors too much, but in my experience they rarely bring anything to the table other than gate keeping.
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I always think its rather sad when someone's obsession has got that bad. Fair enough, it's probably not harming anyone. Although spouses, if they have one, might disagree. I knew of a family where the wife had to hand over her salary every month, scrimp and justify every tiny expense as he felt she couldn't be trusted with money. Meanwhile the husband had a half a dozen top of the range road bikes. He died about a decade ago, and she has taken great pleasure in spending much of the loot he accumulated (about £250K) by retiring early, buying herself a van to travel around in, and a dog.
And everyone see's it for what it really is - an attempt to acquire status in a community. But the average person really doesn't give a shit about their collection of overpriced old bikes and I doubt anyone on their death bed will think, "you know, that was a really worthwhile use of my time on this planet".
Gtpulse
Dyna-Tech Fan
I think irrespective of what someone owns or knows it just comes down to are they a kind or an unkind sort of person.
Most of the time I’d not be willing to make that judgement without meeting them in person. That said most of the people I’ve encountered on this forum are of the kind variety!
Most of the time I’d not be willing to make that judgement without meeting them in person. That said most of the people I’ve encountered on this forum are of the kind variety!
That is exactly what am talking about
They are on this forum also mate, try to make you feel unworthy of having something they want and then low balling you to sell them what they want
The person am talking about is on fb,rb and instagram and exclusively is about GT’s
PhillB
GT Fan
Well, looking at your signature, you have two, highly sought after GT bikes, which I think almost any GT collector would love to have in the collection... they will/should sell for decent money. Hold firm on what you want and, with any deal, if it feels off, then walk away.
I have blocked the guy on social media he’s after a 20” gt Xizang I have one, it’s not perfect it’s a 1990 model but to be spoken down too, and be aired to am a collector and it will be better off with me, well it’s got this wrong, and that…yeah I know I told you and it’s 34 years old, all this too run me down isn’t washing with me.
I would rather cut it up and scrap it than sell it to him
ted andkilde
Rocky Mountain Fan
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Would I be a bad person if I blamed it on Facebook? 
I've noticed with the lack of community on FB and the explosion of "niche" FB MTB groups, even we, classic MTBers, have become a little cliquey. I've become, privately, guilty of it a bit in my personal tastes as well. I've developed a set of rules for myself to govern which bikes and components I seek in a somewhat futile attempt to prevent my collection from outgrowing me. That said, I have a great deal of respect for the folks who acquire the things that I personally shun and feed my addiction with the bits surplus to their needs, wants and desires. Facebook is taking a bit of a self-imposed kicking here in Canada, they've banished news articles since the Canadian government told FB they needed to compensate news orgs for sharing copyrighted content, which makes FB little more than a 24/7 ad farm anymore -- I'm hoping this drives more of us back to forums like Retrobike, time will tell.
I've noticed with the lack of community on FB and the explosion of "niche" FB MTB groups, even we, classic MTBers, have become a little cliquey. I've become, privately, guilty of it a bit in my personal tastes as well. I've developed a set of rules for myself to govern which bikes and components I seek in a somewhat futile attempt to prevent my collection from outgrowing me. That said, I have a great deal of respect for the folks who acquire the things that I personally shun and feed my addiction with the bits surplus to their needs, wants and desires. Facebook is taking a bit of a self-imposed kicking here in Canada, they've banished news articles since the Canadian government told FB they needed to compensate news orgs for sharing copyrighted content, which makes FB little more than a 24/7 ad farm anymore -- I'm hoping this drives more of us back to forums like Retrobike, time will tell.
