Archive-URL: http://search.bikelist.org/
> On 8/2/07, John Barron <jb(AT)velostuf.com> wrote:
>
> It would be romantic if old bikes were as fast as new bikes, wouldn't
it?
> Well, without getting too worked-up about this, I'll tell you all that
my
> experience shows that a $3,000 Heuer watch from the 60's doesn't keep as
> good a time as a $9.99 quartz watch bought today; a $100,000 Ferarri
from
> the 60's doesn't perform, overall, as well as a $22,000 Camry bought
> today.
>
Being a confirmed retro-grouch, I rode many (steel) bikes while working in
bike shops in the 70's and have luckily gotten a couple classic rides of
my own. I've found what I like most in the handling of a bike, the not so
nervous balance of classic racing bikes, the all day comfort of a balanced
steel ride. My foray into modern bikes is a not too classic lugged steel
bike w/ Carbon fork that I purchased used for the modern components. That
frame is now hanging from the rafters looking for a new home after I was
forced to brake heavily on a very rough, twisty downhill my steel bike
virtually floats over.
No matter how much faster a modern bike is, I'll never ride at the pace of my youth, and am more looking to be out there all day and lunching with friends on a beautiful ride. And when the bike is riding really well ... bikes don't disappear beneath me, but send marvelous feedback, tracking well on downhills, slowly grinding up a hill while standing with the bike tracking true, there's nothing like the feel of a really nice steel frame. I've got steel bikes that don't ride as sweetly, and ridden even worse, but steel is what floats my boat in the long run.
I'll be out there enjoying myself tomorrow in the heat of summer. The bike is running great, and may very well be older than a few of the riders!
Dan Artley in Parkton, MD