Vintage or Modern for long distance races
- Thread starter caemis
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02gf74":2rm1egsf said:
Now who's being a silly billy
ultrazenith
Senior Retro Guru
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This is an interesting question, and one that I've been trying to answer myself during the past year or so.
I'm training for a pair of 100 and 150 km ultramarathon races this May, as proof of concept that I can handle a 150+ off road ride all in one sitting before committing to take on the Tour Divide in 2018. So far I've found a 26 steel 853 hardtail with 75 mm fork up front and 2x8 (11-36 custom built cassette) gearing to be pretty good, but I'm yet to try a middle of the road modern bike.
I've also been riding a rigid fat bike, which is not much slower than the hardtail, and will soon be riding a rigid 29+ bike.
I'm training for a pair of 100 and 150 km ultramarathon races this May, as proof of concept that I can handle a 150+ off road ride all in one sitting before committing to take on the Tour Divide in 2018. So far I've found a 26 steel 853 hardtail with 75 mm fork up front and 2x8 (11-36 custom built cassette) gearing to be pretty good, but I'm yet to try a middle of the road modern bike.
I've also been riding a rigid fat bike, which is not much slower than the hardtail, and will soon be riding a rigid 29+ bike.
highlandsflyer
Retro Wizard
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02gf74":npayykfy said:
Just about right. The obvious benefits of modern kit are often overlooked through rose tinted goggles.
Yes, some older kit is more than up to the job, but go careful.
You can pick up bikes today that can go hard all day long with great ergonomics and competition ready reliability for not too much coin. It might be fun to put together similar from an earlier era, but it depends what your priorities are. Perhaps you just want to get out and ride, without all the thought.
I know what I like, and I like what I know.
Gaddmeister
Retrobike Rider
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Ok...I rode through the 90's, the decade it all took off, changing bikes and Kit as it came out, couldn't keep up! I loved it and rode these incredible bikes that went off road. Wow! I faltered and met the missus in the late nineties. I dabbled in bikes, but stopped riding and eventually the bikes disappeared. Had our first couple of children, hankered after a bike and bought a couple....but never rode them. In 2015 I was reborn and bought my first bit of shite that I built and eventually upgraded and upgraded to the point where I had my dream bike back in the 90's. It rides beautifully. I love it. The dream was worth it. I am happy as I have the best riding bike I ever had. I have never ridden a modern bike. I dare not for two reasons; firstly I would feel disloyal to what I know best due to the lost years of not having a bike and secondly, the cost. I have built my dream bike of the day that would cost me stupid money today. I had to let go of my MK2 Golf Gti 16v 6 years ago for the family. That car made me grin like the Cheshire Cat every time I drove it. My 2016 renault grande (yawn) scenic is..Er...fine.
I like my old bikes....it makes.me smile to look at it and to ride it, so I would use it for a long haul race
Ok...I rode through the 90's, the decade it all took off, changing bikes and Kit as it came out, couldn't keep up! I loved it and rode these incredible bikes that went off road. Wow! I faltered and met the missus in the late nineties. I dabbled in bikes, but stopped riding and eventually the bikes disappeared. Had our first couple of children, hankered after a bike and bought a couple....but never rode them. In 2015 I was reborn and bought my first bit of shite that I built and eventually upgraded and upgraded to the point where I had my dream bike back in the 90's. It rides beautifully. I love it. The dream was worth it. I am happy as I have the best riding bike I ever had. I have never ridden a modern bike. I dare not for two reasons; firstly I would feel disloyal to what I know best due to the lost years of not having a bike and secondly, the cost. I have built my dream bike of the day that would cost me stupid money today. I had to let go of my MK2 Golf Gti 16v 6 years ago for the family. That car made me grin like the Cheshire Cat every time I drove it. My 2016 renault grande (yawn) scenic is..Er...fine.
I like my old bikes....it makes.me smile to look at it and to ride it, so I would use it for a long haul race
highlandsflyer
Retro Wizard
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Great post! Of course, we would all choose whatever we feel good on for whatever purpose.
It really is not the case that modern is so much more expensive for most people.
Truth is, you can go out and buy a race ready rig for less now than ever.
Great post! Of course, we would all choose whatever we feel good on for whatever purpose.
It really is not the case that modern is so much more expensive for most people.
Truth is, you can go out and buy a race ready rig for less now than ever.
Re: Re:
Perhaps this is so, but it won't be imbued with all the love and dedication and tenacity that is a fundamental component of finding all the retro-bits one needs to build a proper retro-ride; and then all the labor and attention to detail that goes into the very act of turning it into an existential reality from a jumble of bits and jewels in the parts bin.
The greatest obstacle is not wanting to wreck any of the rare and beautiful components that were so difficult and took so long to find
("ahhh - my precious ... my little precious" ...
)
highlandsflyer":urlu7tsi said:
Perhaps this is so, but it won't be imbued with all the love and dedication and tenacity that is a fundamental component of finding all the retro-bits one needs to build a proper retro-ride; and then all the labor and attention to detail that goes into the very act of turning it into an existential reality from a jumble of bits and jewels in the parts bin.
The greatest obstacle is not wanting to wreck any of the rare and beautiful components that were so difficult and took so long to find
("ahhh - my precious ... my little precious" ...
)Gaddmeister
Retrobike Rider
Re: Re:
Hit the nail on the head!k-rod":ejt95u7z said:highlandsflyer":ejt95u7z said:
Perhaps this is so, but it won't be imbued with all the love and dedication and tenacity that is a fundamental component of finding all the retro-bits one needs to build a proper retro-ride; and then all the labor and attention to detail that goes into the very act of turning it into an existential reality from a jumble of bits and jewels in the parts bin.
The greatest obstacle is not wanting to wreck any of the rare and beautiful components that were so difficult and took so long to find
("ahhh - my precious ... my little precious" ...
