Forum for Anal-Retentive restorers?

[South Bound]

Interesting debate that seems to boil down to whether or not there is a need to get all geeky in a separate area without fear of being playfully abused for being a geek. Happens on every forum and unless you create a distinct area for it that is heavily moderated it can never happen because our culture is very much one of having the right of free speech and being permitted to comment, or those of us that like a giggle with people we think can take it.

Funny really, because it is the detail that is the essence of this site. How many posts do you see apologising for not being able to get the correct component or shade of ano? Loads, and there are loads of similar posts where people have made a conscious decision to move away from the purist renovation of a classic bike. The common link is that this forum equips us with the info to make the decisions about our projects, about what a bike was like originally, how it rode, who rode it and the implications (improvements or otherwise) of departing from the original spec.

No need to hide the geekery, just as long as the detail does not get lost in the fun. Some people of course don't do/understand the fun bit, and that is fair enough, but this is John's site and he has created something that is open, pretty fair-minded and well-moderated without being smothering (I love you dude). Within the irreverent posts are invariably the snippets and gems you are looking for. Leave as is. Bloody hell, whiffly today!

 

[hamster]

I for one like the relaxed attitude here.

If it ends up as a bunch of collectors trying to find NOS 1987 gear cable inners and nerding over "the fact that in 1992 Marin used KMC chains and what is a SRAM one doing there...." :shock:

...and worst of all people being criticised for damaging or devaluing their bikes by riding them then it's all too much like toy trains where the sodding things sit in their boxes unused....

 

[Tallpaul]

But, if I ever see another 200GS chainset..... :twisted:

You'll start another thread about it?

 

[cchris2lou]

I feel my builds have improved too since joining here , but it doesnt mean we should neglect the people who are new to restoring bikes .

just point them in the right direction .

 

[XCDave]

I'm with The Big Cheese on this one (word, brother!), but comments like these from this month's BOTM are really funny and it'd be a loss if people didn't make them:


"Let me get this straight......you are asking for us to vote for a "plain Jane" production bike wrapped in a candy bar wrapper paint scheme for bike of the month???......sheesh!"

"The alignment of the valves with the tyre labels is fine if simply for a posed pic, and would have been even more effective if aligned with the angle of the forks, but this kind of detail clashes with the rest of the bike where everything is engineered for a purpose."

"Mountain Goat is DQ'd for me because of the sloppy front brake cable ferrule in the headset - it's a 6mm thread, and that hanger takes an 8mm. This is a VERY easy part to find at a local shop."


I'm off to align the Cheng Shin tyre logos on my Carrera Scrapheap.

 

[Tallpaul]

I'm with The Big Cheese on this one (word, brother!), but comments like these from this month's BOTM are really funny and it'd be a loss if people didn't make them:


"Let me get this straight......you are asking for us to vote for a "plain Jane" production bike wrapped in a candy bar wrapper paint scheme for bike of the month???......sheesh!"

"The alignment of the valves with the tyre labels is fine if simply for a posed pic, and would have been even more effective if aligned with the angle of the forks, but this kind of detail clashes with the rest of the bike where everything is engineered for a purpose."

"Mountain Goat is DQ'd for me because of the sloppy front brake cable ferrule in the headset - it's a 6mm thread, and that hanger takes an 8mm. This is a VERY easy part to find at a local shop."


I'm off to align the Cheng Shin tyre logos on my Carrera Scrapheap.

My favourite ever was (and I'm sorry mattbrown):

Let me get this straight...you pirated parts from two other crappy Outposts...to build up one crappy Outpost?

It caused a right stink at the time, but I still think it's a very funny comment. I think Matt took it in the spirit it was intended, but some others weren't able to be so objective in their view of it.

Please don't let every build get wrapped up in cotton wool, let's still have a bit of bite about the place - keeps it interesting!

 

[utahdog2003]

Let me get this straight...you pirated parts from two other crappy Outposts...to build up one crappy Outpost?

It caused a right stink at the time, but I still think it's a very funny comment. I think Matt took it in the spirit it was intended, but some others weren't able to be so objective in their view of it.

Please don't let every build get wrapped up in cotton wool, let's still have a bit of bite about the place - keeps it interesting!

I agree, which is why I'd hate to lose the IVMTB guys. One of the best things about Retrobike is the amazing diversity... You could never get that on MTBR-VRC. The diversity makes it fun. It's only natural as MadCowKev said, to want to improve your projects, and I've said before that the Altus/Alivio crowd needs some tempering, but I wouldn't necessarily filter people out directly with a policy of exclusion, just indirectly with a fair and measured amount of embarassment and abuse!

The idea that people reasonably new to this, who now feel that they know the required amount to strut some badge of membership, is, if I may borrow from Nick Hornby, "Like just shaving your head and saying you've always been punk!" Seems to me you guys are the ones that owe the most.

I've learned a bunch about euro brands that I've never known of before...Yates, Roberts, Fuquay...everyone in the states knows Orangs and Pace, but there's more to learn. If there comes a time that the UK crew feels they need to have a 'top tier' retro bunch...well, lets just say that I may be able to pass that entrance exam, but it doesn't mean I should start calling myself 'master'.

 

[JustKev]

..I pretty much started when Kev did, so his comments and actions are of interest in understanding how this relatively new phenomenon ('a public forum') is evolving nationally and globally.

Well I’m glad my comments are of interest Neil. The forum is evolving but sadly not improving in my opinion. The quality of content is being heavily diluted. That is both the discussion in the forums and the bikes being posted in Readers Bikes. There are still a few gems which keep us coming back but they are becoming increasingly hard to find.

My interest in this site is now as a collector of old bikes. I have a healthy interest in early 90’s bikes – especially Yeti as you know! Although I’m certainly not evangelical about only riding retro.

I certainly wasn’t having a pop at Lewis in my earlier post. From my comms with him he’s a good guy. But I stand by the fact I don’t like low-end mass produced bikes. They’re just old bikes. Not retro, vintage or classic – choose your adjective with your forum And I just prefer not to see endless poorly thought out builds.

The fact that he has publicly declared himself as 'improved' is just plain funny to me as I've read it as tongue in cheek...

Where did I declare myself “improved”? I said I had “learnt from my mistakes”. I also said “my tastes have improved”. I know what I like now. And my builds have improved. Improvement comes with learning and importantly insight. Through the many forums of which I am a member, asking questions, paying attention to the answers, but also comparing my efforts with those of my peers I’ve learnt and improved my knowledge and therefore my builds but I am still learning and am certainly not in position to play preacher man. I’m happy to share my (sometimes) limited knowledge and give parts assistance for builds that interest me or to individuals that ask for help.

Everyone can improve – ask the guys who regularly win or truly (dare I say) ‘compete’ for BoTM on this forum. Are they not looking to improve?

And this site can improve and fill the void left by the demise of the VRC – wasn’t that that the reason for the OPs original question? But it needs steering in the right direction with clearer guidelines for users and better moderation before it just becomes singletrackworldforolderbikes.com
As I said, just my opinion.

...and worst of all people being criticised for damaging or devaluing their bikes by riding them then it's all too much like toy trains where the sodding things sit in their boxes unused....

I challenge you to find another picture of a BoTM being crashed at a retrobike meet? Although it won’t be of me as I haven’t ridden retro this year once. :shock:

And well said UtahDog!

 

[utahdog2003]

..

That was a good fair post, Kev. You should have left it.

 

[JustKev]

..

That was a good fair post, Kev. You should have left it.

I did. Just attention to the details