I Like Klunking !

[Dr S]

I would like to point out that the reason I was willing to spend big money way back to have someone build a frame when was that my "klunker" was my main mode of transportation, and I rode it harder than what it was designed for. Those beautiful old pre-war frames lasted five or six months under me, then it was time to find another. The more I broke, the higher the replacement cost seemed to be and the harder it was to find another.

I'm finding this out the hard way. I built my Klunker Schwinn less than two years ago. It's on it's second rebuild already. Last year it broke a seat stay and the bridge fell out, now its needing the rear end realigning as the whole lot has shifted to the non drive side by 2 inches. It still rides but in a crab like fashion and the chain line sucks.
It isn't too easy to scrap it and start with a fresh frame these days!

 

[Dr S]

Just out of interest, those original Joe Breeze frames are stunning (with the extra diagonal). Do you know if there any left in one piece and what happened to Joe Breeze - did he carry on building? (Sorry if these are all obvious questions but only discovered klunkers a few weeks ago via this site )

Joe is alive and well, still in the bike industry and also a Retrobike member. The survival rate amongst the original Breezer Ballooners is pretty high. I think 7 or 8 of the original 10 bikes survive. They were very well built. There are also at least 2 replicas in circulation.

 

[GoldenEraMTB]

Just out of interest, those original Joe Breeze frames are stunning (with the extra diagonal). Do you know if there any left in one piece and what happened to Joe Breeze - did he carry on building? (Sorry if these are all obvious questions but only discovered klunkers a few weeks ago via this site )

Joe is alive and well, still in the bike industry and also a Retrobike member. The survival rate amongst the original Breezer Ballooners is pretty high. I think 7 or 8 of the original 10 bikes survive. They were very well built. There are also at least 2 replicas in circulation.

When do you get back in town? Welcome back.

Cool vids. So what's the real reason guys are slower today with the high tech bikes?

 

[Repack Rider]

Joe is alive and well, still in the bike industry and also a Retrobike member. The survival rate amongst the original Breezer Ballooners is pretty high. I think 7 or 8 of the original 10 bikes survive. They were very well built. There are also at least 2 replicas in circulation.

AFAIK they all survived, although several original owners cashed in the most collectible bike of the 20th Century. Mine is in the MTB Hall of Fame and I haven't seen it for nearly 20 years. Another was purchased by Shimano. Yet another is in the hands of a private collector.

I saw another original owner an hour or so ago, and his is still flawless.

 

[MikeD]

So what's the real reason guys are slower today with the high tech bikes?

There's a speed limit now

 

[petitpal]

Cool vids. So what's the real reason guys are slower today with the high tech bikes?

I reckon it's because the brakes actually work. I think this might be a half serious point actually.

 

[GoldenEraMTB]

speed limit and functional brakes might be it, but I'd imagine someone would break that limit and not use those brakes. Perhaps there was another element put to use by the original Repack riders, not used today, an element of the herbal variety

 

[Repack Rider]

So what's the real reason guys are slower today with the high tech bikes?

No one works on it as hard as a bunch of fanatical riders with time on their hands did.

The fastest rides took place when the races were frequent. We got a lot of practice on the course, found where there were seconds to be had, and memorized what was around all the blind turns. For example, we found that a fast start over the first 200 yards of slight uphill made a huge difference farther down the course. Gary swears he took off on the record ride with a strong tailwind.

Jimmy Deaton, who won the last two races, rode a smoking time on his first look, around 4:40 if I recall. His bike was a rigid 24" converted BMX. Marla Streb has been under 4:50 on FS, the fastest woman down the hill.

Sit and watch the second hand on a clock make five revolutions. That's a long time to be at your limit.

 

[theredchili]

Cool vids. So what's the real reason guys are slower today with the high tech bikes?[/quote]

My thoughts are there is less skill in riding modern bikes , modern bikes are allot more forgiving,where old bikes require better handling skills.

Saying that though, it doesn't explain why modern bikes are slower,maybe a a modern day Pro rider could get down quicker, depends on the rider more so than the bike me thinks :?

 

[petitpal]

No one works on it as hard as a bunch of fanatical riders with time on their hands did.

I reckon you're spot on there. You get a bunch of bright, enthusiatic kids together with time on their hands and that'll do it every time.