What is Retro?

[al]

This may be random,but i am over 40.

The Foos back catalogue,Count Arthur Strong CDs, 2 Pizza stones, and a wedge of dollar from my rich outlaws. God bless em!

Nothing bike related yet.I may be building an old school fixie as a pressy too me.

Cheers,Al

 

[al]

I was only 39!

Theres always someone to piss on ya chips!

Al.

 

[cherrybomb]

 

[gibbleking]

me 39 at the mo 40 on july 27 (please feel free to send prezzies).

 

[Anthony]

ha.ha hmmmm food for thought .....
Anyway all sorted I googled it
The word "retro" derives from the Latin prefix retro, meaning "backwards" or "in past times" -- particularly as seen in the words retrograde, implying a movement toward the past instead of a progress toward the future, and retrospective, referring to a nostalgic (or critical) eye toward the past.

Yes, I think that's the point - in general English usage, retro is used to mean something whose style harks back to the past. So it isn't about any particular time period - and in fact something brand new can be retro, provided it is say a replica of something old.

But what is 'old' then? 1997 has been suggested as the cut off, and it's no coincidence that 97 was the end of the steel hardtail era. From then on, aluminium and full-suspension dominated the market, but we really don't see many aluminium or full-suspension bikes on this site. Some, yes, but most of the bikes on here are steel (or ti) hardtails. And there weren't all that many of those after 97.

But if 97 is old, then SIDs, Bombers and disc brakes are old. But not 9-speed. Does that sound right?

 

[legrandefromage]

it doesnt have to be old to be retro - clean lines, an eye for detail and a frame that goes 'ting' instead of 'thunk'....