Retro bike is faster!

[Max Mudroom]

So, I took my latest retro build ('94 Kona Lava Dome) to work for a change this week... usually I use my trusty cyclocross bike for commuting on bike paths and roads but thought I'd get the knobblies out and have a spin on the MTB, a good excuse to go on a few rougher paths I usually avoid.

Turns out, I clocked a faster average speed than I usually do on the modern drop-bar bike with skinny road tyres. Didn't see that coming!

Anyone else found their retrobike quicker than a modern alternative?

 

[Minifreak]

On a smoother cross country route I find my retros a lot quicker then my 29er full sus, could be the more racy and efficient riding position, lighter weight etc etc. having said that, when the terrain gets more extreme and at the cycle centres you can't beat the more modern bike.

 

[widowmaker]

So, I took my latest retro build ('94 Kona Lava Dome) to work for a change this week... usually I use my trusty cyclocross bike for commuting on bike paths and roads but thought I'd get the knobblies out and have a spin on the MTB, a good excuse to go on a few rougher paths I usually avoid.

Turns out, I clocked a faster average speed than I usually do on the modern drop-bar bike with skinny road tyres. Didn't see that coming!

Anyone else found their retrobike quicker than a modern alternative?

Oh dear, you have gone and opened a can of worms now

I found my Saracen to be equally maybe slightly quicker than my Modern Giant, I think some may have been the placebo effect, but with me (and this is by no means a sweeping statement) I am just more at home on the older bike - cant put my finger on it

Anyway suspension if for Wimps, real men have white knuckles, swollen wrists and arthritis

I hope I shall be even quicker when I build my Univega 'Winter Trainer - Roadbike Slayer' Bike :twisted:

 

[Woodyuk]

No suspension = faster bike.... As soon as you have suspension you loose speed . I find my Retrobikes faster than my new bike but if going off off road or down mountains then I normally take my modern bike

 

[Bollox64]

Same with me, after moving from my full suspension Specialized to my unsuspended Yo Eddy, I am much faster on single-track, semi-technical climbs also. However when gravity gets to play, my 50 year-old knees & elbows are no match for 75mm of travel front and back!

 

[Mike Muz]

So, I took my latest retro build ('94 Kona Lava Dome) to work for a change this week... usually I use my trusty cyclocross bike for commuting on bike paths and roads but thought I'd get the knobblies out and have a spin on the MTB, a good excuse to go on a few rougher paths I usually avoid.

Turns out, I clocked a faster average speed than I usually do on the modern drop-bar bike with skinny road tyres. Didn't see that coming!

Anyone else found their retrobike quicker than a modern alternative?

.

Anyway suspension if for Wimps, real men have white knuckles, swollen wrists and arthritis

.:

And only 7 speed wheels, plus canti / U-brakes !

Mike

 

[mkozaczek]

I think it really depends on the trail.

Out here I am nearly certain I'd ride much faster on a modern bike than I do on my old rigid rigs.

 

[Rob H]

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=265019&hilit=retro+faster

 

[Neil]

So, I took my latest retro build ('94 Kona Lava Dome) to work for a change this week... usually I use my trusty cyclocross bike for commuting on bike paths and roads but thought I'd get the knobblies out and have a spin on the MTB, a good excuse to go on a few rougher paths I usually avoid.

Turns out, I clocked a faster average speed than I usually do on the modern drop-bar bike with skinny road tyres. Didn't see that coming!

Anyone else found their retrobike quicker than a modern alternative?

Beware the car park barrier.

S'all I'm sayin', man...

 

[jimo746]

Re:

It does depend on the trails.

On things like fireroad climbs, fairly smooth wooded singletrack sections, basically anything up to an easy Red route at a Trail Centre etc then I found recently that my Scott Pro Evo was quicker than my modern full-sus bike.

But on loose or rocky climbs, rough downhills, or rough singletrack then the modern bike with it's front & rear suspension shows it's merits... its like riding a magic carpet over the kind of things that would have my wrists aching and fillings falling out of my teeth on the retrobike.

I wouldn't say "retrobike" is faster, more that its a case of "horses for courses".
Rigid, hardtail, full-sus, they all have their merits, and their limtations.