Which decade do you think of as Retro?

[roadking]

Re:

I think retro is a misused and abused term in this context, retro after all is an abbreviation of retrospective - looking back.

I do not consider any of my bicycles retro. They are, if anything classic or vintage. A retrobike in my opinion is a bicycle built in the traditional style (from steel), perhaps even with classic components or new retro components (e.g like Velo Orange).

Therefore my bicycles are not looking back, how can they look back? Therefore they are not retro.

Several examples of retro cars to consider - Rover 75, Jaguar S Type, Mini, Fiat 500, these cars all have styling that looks back to a previous era.

Retro has become an abused catch-all phrase that identifies a fashion or fad for heritage...nothing wrong with that but I don't ride retrobikes (I have a Mercedes 300CE and 500E and they are not retro cars).

Jon.

 

[rikcougar]

1970's as classics for me too

It was the decade that threw up th TT Raleigh team bikes, still the most desirable of all in 753 flavour for me

Time trials on steel framed bikes when cycling was a minority thing

Being older now and having plenty of disposable income has taken some of the original excitement out of it but added a new, different dimension and it does allow me to have a Sierra Cosworth in my garage which is probably retro!

 

[roadking]

1970's as classics for me too...me to have a Sierra Cosworth in my garage which is probably retro!

Hi Rik.

The 70s was for me too a great era.

I had several Sierra Cosworths when they were new (including the original 3 door in Moonstone, my favourite colour), I did work for Ford Motor Company at the time!

I'm fortunate to have a handbuilt by Porsche Mercedes 500E.

Neither are retro though!

Jon.

 

[gavr]

Re:

About 75-90 for me but I'm quite fond of modern steel with a retro feel - not forgetting 70s classic rangefinders...

 

[The History Man]

Retro modern!

 

[Mike Muz]

Retro modern!

I was fooled when I saw that camera! Easily done some might say. Any more pie THM ?
For me, as I only started taking an interest in cycling in '89, I'd say early to mid nineties. d/t shifters, toe clips for some, 7speed, Avocet30 computers, ma40 rims I could afford!
Everyone will have different ideas depending on when they came into the sport.

Mike

 

[The History Man]

Found the on switch now. :facepalm:

70s was first road bike at 11. Lusting after the red Raleighs. Riding the boards at saffron lane. Not racing but riding everywhere with mates, planning adventures, posh centre pull weinmanns, ten gears!

 

[legrandefromage]

Retro is the pre-Hyperglide years of shift-clunk-clunk-clunk-click gear changes so 1989 for me. STi, indexing with Hyperglide - everything that is still here today some 25 years onward.

 

[Mike Muz]

Found the on switch now. :facepalm:

70s was first road bike at 11. Lusting after the red Raleighs. Riding the boards at saffron lane. Not racing but riding everywhere with mates, planning adventures, posh centre pull weinmanns, ten gears!

Actually that reminds me, I had an Elswick Super Sprint that I rode to school on in the early '80s.
Upgraded from 5 to 10 speed in '90, cleaned it up, polished it too. Just to have some berk total it after driving straight across a crossroads he should have given way at. I went over the car, bike didn't.

Mike

 

[Nob]

The 70's as I enjoyed drilling