A tongue in cheek look at retro

[coomber]

Re: Re:

However, due to "fashion" and the belief from manufacturers and shop dealers that all bikes are meant to be racing-like, the head-steerer is cut way too short without even asking the customer

Most bikes come with massive steerers and an inch or more of spacers ready for the new owner to adjust as they see fit. Only top end have cut short / set steerer lengths.

 

[M-Power]

Re:

Have to agree with a lot of sentiments on this thread. I do prefer many of the retro design solutions, threaded headsets are much prettier, alloy bolts are safe and fun etc

 

[one_bad_mofo]

Wow, I never expected such a strong reaction. As I said the piece was written with tongue firmly in cheek. However, I have had first-hand experience of al of it, and I'll stand by it all.

Oh and alloy bolts, the one I really hate is the break-away bolt use in rear derailleurs. Did you ever wonder why, when they were popular, a zip tie was included in the packaging? When the bolt broke the derailleur would explode, the zip tie went through the hollow bolt and around the frame to keep everything in one place. Now imaging what it was like for those of us in LBS workshops tasked with fitting "those" breakaway bolts... Not forgetting trying to remove alloy bolts that have been fitted to frames, forks, whatever, without grease or copperslip. Ah, I can still hear the noise of heads being banged against walls in frustration. :facepalm:

 

[FluffyChicken]

Re:

And a new flex stem has just been released (well suspension stem)

And my breakaway bolt had no hole, but they are designed to. Do exactly what the breakaway dropout do now. Just a different place (of which a friend has broken his on 3 consecutive rides as they make them out of cheese now).

 

[ultrazenith]

Wow, I never expected such a strong reaction. As I said the piece was written with tongue firmly in cheek. However, I have had first-hand experience of al of it, and I'll stand by it all.

Oh and alloy bolts, the one I really hate is the break-away bolt use in rear derailleurs. Did you ever wonder why, when they were popular, a zip tie was included in the packaging? When the bolt broke the derailleur would explode, the zip tie went through the hollow bolt and around the frame to keep everything in one place. Now imaging what it was like for those of us in LBS workshops tasked with fitting "those" breakaway bolts... Not forgetting trying to remove alloy bolts that have been fitted to frames, forks, whatever, without grease or copperslip. Ah, I can still hear the noise of heads being banged against walls in frustration. :facepalm:

Your article popped up on my Facebook feed a few days ago, and I did read it, and enjoyed it. Some good points, and some not so convincing but still entertaining - which is what it's meant to be really.

How does one go about writing for mpora?

What kind of response did you get from modern / younger riders? I have a suspicion some will have conflated better bikes now = faster = better riders now, giving a bit of a feelgood factor that would encourage sharing the blog post on their feed. In my younger years, I too enjoyed mocking the fashions and norms of my parents' generations.

See my own blog in my sig for my own take on the 'advantages' of retro bikes...

 

[one_bad_mofo]

How does one go about writing for mpora?

ultrazenith - I've sent you a PM about this.

 

[mikee]

I don't see the point in writing that other than to provoke a reaction
Technology moves things on , not always in the best way , the early days of mtb'ing were a very exciting time , the innovation ,especially seemed more intense than the rehashed stuff these days
Btw ahead sets are a prime example of " designing out the dollars " , less parts quicker assembly time , and bigger margins
Yup everything's better these days
Mike

 

[one_bad_mofo]

I don't see the point in writing that other than to provoke a reaction

It worked then didn't it.

BTW that is not why I wrote it. It was actually written because I lived through those days and did some really daft stuff and wasted an awful lot of money on bikes and parts. Did I really think single finger BMX brake levers on a pair of 'bars cut down to less than 20 inches was a good idea? Hell yeah. I know better now, but I'd still ride the Kona Lava Dome I had the set-up on back in '91 if I had it now, but I wouldn't think I was cool as f... doing it. :shock:

 

[ultrazenith]

I don't see the point in writing that other than to provoke a reaction

It worked then didn't it.

BTW that is not why I wrote. It was actually written because I lived through those days and did some really daft stuff and wasted an awful lot of money on bikes and parts. Did I really think single finger BMX brake levers on a pair of 'bars cut down to lees than 20 inches was a good idea? Hell yeah. I know better know, but I'd still ride the Kona Lava Dome I had the set-up on back in '91 if I had it now, but I wouldn't think I was cool as f... doing it. :shock:

If you want to be even more mischievous, how about penning an article arguing that modern bikes (or some aspects of them) are crap, and see the reaction you'll get from the mainstream (non-retro) MTB community.

 

[mikee]

Lol

Of course your cool as F , with bars so narrow there's no room for levers
That evolved into hipster fixies

And we all know how cool they are , don't we

Mike