RETRO CRISIS ???

[CAPIN]

During last year, when riding, i started hearing this whisper in my ear. That whispering was increasingly difficult to ignore.
Especially when going downhill.
That voice was saying over and over something along these lines: Riding 17 years old equipment has limitations!.. Retro is beautiful but sucks on trail!
Not that the voice totally convinced me, but wasnt wrong either..

So basically, after several years of retro fever i realized, that MTB is not only about sentiment and aesthetics (of the past) but also about actual RIDING.
Since i like it more agressive and technical my dissatisfaction with the old grew..
Now i started building by our standards a modern longer travel bike and Im at the point where i wil probably separate my passion for old mountain bikes from serious riding..
Still building my dream machines from my teenage years, but riding modern technology.
Is this what im going through totally foreign to you or you share some of my feelings ?

cheers
jan

 

[Paul_Buckley]

My 1994 Klein finally let me down in a Southern XC race last year - broken brake cable on the only bike there with cantilever brakes. And the courses are bumpier to compensate for the new-fangled front-suspension.

On the trails it was designed for though its still an out and out XC racer, its speed still shows through and the 20" handlebars still fit between the trees.

To compare old and new and decide which is best is fine (as your doubts indicate). To say old is bad without trying it is absolutely wrong.

 

[Chopper the ex Copper]

I got modern bikes and they'll probably continue to form the core of my riding. However, now I'm dipping my toes in the retro waters I shall ride any and all old bikes I acquire. Perhaps not in the depths of winter, in in a gloopy UK drought mudfest, but ride them I shall. Not much point in having them otherwise.

 

[Raging_Bulls]

I'm well aware that my 728 is way beyond its frame's life expectancy, and I tend to treat it as such.
My 503 has a rougher life, but even with that one I'm still wary of the fact that the brakes are mere cantilevers and that the cables can snap.

My Copperhead on the other hand has a proven (classical) frame design, reliable brakes, that famous German engineering, one of the best suspension forks on the market, and I know the bike's entire history because I am the first owner.
As a result, I don't hesitate to take it up to (and over) the limit on any terrain.
It's also a LOT more comfortable than my old bikes, but then again that may be down to my choice of old bikes. I'm pretty confident that Konas, GTs or even Kleins are a lot more suitable for touring than Sbikes.

If it's important to get somewhere without breaking down, I'll take the Copperhead any time. The older bikes just don't give me that peace of mind.

 

[NeilM]

I have recently returned to 'full on' riding, initially as a fitness aid to my horse riding, but more increasingly for the sheer pleasure I get from riding.

As a bonus, in the years since I last rode 'seriously' my son has grown up and become and accomplished rider, so we now go out together whenever possible.

Thanks to Gravy Monster, I was introduced to the modern trails that have been constructed within some of the parks and woodlands around Bristol and further afield. You can ride these on a retro and many people do, but it is clear to me that they have been designed for modern machinery, especially full suspension bikes, and if I were to ride them on a regular basis, I would not choose to do it on a rigid.

On the kind of bridleways, droves roads and single tracks I have been riding on and off for over 20 years, my retrobikes perform as well as they ever have, and rocky descents hold no additional fear, just because my bike is 16 ears old, in fact, it's true to say I ride the Zaskar to the maximum of my (limited) capability and never give the bikes age a thought.

Bikes are bikes to me, and if the modern machines get more folk out and about and also keep my LBS' in business, then that's fine by me.

 

[brocklanders023]

I feel exactly the same as you Capin, to the point where I sold most of my retro earlier this year to fund a modern ht (retro looking 2007 Clockwork though ) to go along side my modern fs. I love the old stuff but hardly ever used it and didn't have the room just to store show bikes. Saying that, I'm always on the look out for certain bikes in the right condition that I'd happily buy and keep forever. Also think I'll be back in the game once I buy a house with a garage that I can fill with tat

 

[CAPIN]

Another problem is that, when riding regularly and hard, you realize that every frame and component has its lifespan.
That, in context of rareness and availibility of most parts goes right against your goal of riding..
Last year, my rear Mavic 217 CD 36h rim colapsed from too thin sidewall and it took me 3 months to get another one in 36h..
Didnt want to have each rim different..( ofcourse :roll: )

 

[brocklanders023]

Yep, agree. My 93 Clockwork build was my pride and joy and it took me ages to find a Syncros seat post for it. Finally got one, the bike was complete, then the post broke on it's first ride out. Can't afford to chuck £50 away like that so it took the shine off the bike

 

[Russell]

Whilst I'll happily ride the HoNC or bash out the miles on bridleways on my retro rides, I'll reach for the moderns for the trail centres or rides that I know are going to be more technical or gravity orientated.

Its not about rigid vs suspension either, one of my moderns is a rigid bike but the geometry and other advances make it a more accomplished machine than the older bikes.

You 'can' ride retro bikes on the same terrain as moderns (and I do), but you can ride harder terrain faster with a modern bike, and if riding hard terrain fast (or in relative comfort) is your thing...

 

[merckx]

i have both modern and vintage hardtails. both are fun, the modern is of course easier to ride with better geometry handling brakes and suspension.

but i still ride both regularly, just alternating between the two as my mood dictates