With much talk of clearing physical and metaphysical spaces of late (sheds and minds), my thoughts have turned to the question of the bikes we SHOULD be riding.
Let me run with this......
So many of the recents posts have cited the fact that the geometry of many of our bikes are now (or in fact never were) suitable for the type of riding we do, or come to that, the type and shape of people we now are!
Norba geometry of the late 80s / early 90s I'm sure has much to do with this, especially as it was the result of the likes of Joe Murry designing bikes ultimately orientated for racing, not green lanes or "pootling". Certainly a huge jump in design can be seen between say 86 and 89....prime retro territory.
I'm also hearing lots of you saying that whilst you lust after and own these racing beauties, they are now not actually helping your actual cycling as they don't " fit". I've recently let go of a couple of bikes as realistically more the 2 hours in the saddle was killing me.....even on the dreaded risers!
By comparison there are a number of posts on the "cruiser" thread, stating how comfortable they are and that all day riding / touring was a possibility......hummm.
Possibly more alarming is the implication from many that the pursuit of these racing icons is hurting your mental riding ability too! I can completely get that....if you have a stable of bikes your finding hard to ride or your shed is full of collected "projects" that won't be good for you even when finished, I'm honestly not suprised your finding it hard to be motivated or your will is slipping......or is that why you have so many.....still looking for the perfect partner.....hey?
The cruiser thread again was quite startling if you read between the lines.....freed from the need to build an " acceptable" retro bike, suddenly we are all building bikes for ourselves......and being happy about it.......and isn't that kinda the point?
So.....the big question this poses is "what bike should you be riding?" What bike, that allows you to do what you want, go where you want, for as long as you want, in comfort and with an air of freedom......whilst still being a retro mountain bike!
Im going to build one......anybody want to come along?
Let me run with this......
So many of the recents posts have cited the fact that the geometry of many of our bikes are now (or in fact never were) suitable for the type of riding we do, or come to that, the type and shape of people we now are!
Norba geometry of the late 80s / early 90s I'm sure has much to do with this, especially as it was the result of the likes of Joe Murry designing bikes ultimately orientated for racing, not green lanes or "pootling". Certainly a huge jump in design can be seen between say 86 and 89....prime retro territory.
I'm also hearing lots of you saying that whilst you lust after and own these racing beauties, they are now not actually helping your actual cycling as they don't " fit". I've recently let go of a couple of bikes as realistically more the 2 hours in the saddle was killing me.....even on the dreaded risers!
By comparison there are a number of posts on the "cruiser" thread, stating how comfortable they are and that all day riding / touring was a possibility......hummm.
Possibly more alarming is the implication from many that the pursuit of these racing icons is hurting your mental riding ability too! I can completely get that....if you have a stable of bikes your finding hard to ride or your shed is full of collected "projects" that won't be good for you even when finished, I'm honestly not suprised your finding it hard to be motivated or your will is slipping......or is that why you have so many.....still looking for the perfect partner.....hey?
The cruiser thread again was quite startling if you read between the lines.....freed from the need to build an " acceptable" retro bike, suddenly we are all building bikes for ourselves......and being happy about it.......and isn't that kinda the point?
So.....the big question this poses is "what bike should you be riding?" What bike, that allows you to do what you want, go where you want, for as long as you want, in comfort and with an air of freedom......whilst still being a retro mountain bike!
Im going to build one......anybody want to come along?