tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post5564928119355005602..comments2024-03-28T11:56:48.304-04:00Comments on The Retrogrouch: Cycling Shorts: Modern Vs. RetroBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-56131780610207080172019-12-07T09:28:19.061-05:002019-12-07T09:28:19.061-05:00When you find a classic bicycle today that is stil...When you find a classic bicycle today that is still in great shape, its condition is usually not due to the bike's quality or type of construction as it is how much it was ridden, how gentle was its storage, and how it was treated during its service life when it was not being ridden. I'm continually impressed by the number of sales listings in which the long-time or even original owner describes the bike's fantastic ride, when the original chainrings show no more than a few hundred miles of wear, if that.<br /><br />I started forming observations on the different types of bicycle buyers / riders many decades ago, when I started working in the bicycle biz. I don't know if the numbers exist, but I would love to see a data study that breaks down the number of seasons bicycle purchasers actually ride their bikes before moving on to something else. It was my observation that the more gung-ho a new bike purchaser was about riding, and the more competition-focused that buyer was, the more likely that he or she would have moved on to another sport in 2-3 years.<br /><br />When the bicycle model was something really special, it often didn't get re-sold, as the used bike market rarely offers the value that the owner believes the machine to be worth. The dealer markup is only relevant to the bicycle when new and must be immediately deducted before resale, along with all the other intangibles that go along with losing the flexibility of selection when buying something new. The owner sees the used bike looking just like it did when new and not believing that it has almost immediately lost at least half its retail value. Not willing to "be taken advantage of", the owner hangs the bike on a hook in the garage, where it sits largely forgotten. Depending on the local climate, and how much salt was let on it after its last ride, this either becomes a time capsule for the bike, or a slow death for its finishes.<br /><br />I suspect that modern bikes are not much different. There are plenty of bikes with carbon fiber in them that are 30 years old or more (I have a Look KG86 that rides like brand new), and it's the bonding that's more likely to be an issue than the actual tubing. That bonding has largely disappeared from bicycle frame construction. I think the bigger issue with carbon fiber is the many ways that it can be almost invisibly damaged and how this damage can lead to catastrophic failures. Still, I check my aluminum cranks before every ride and often wonder when I'm out of the saddle if I'm about to repeat Fignon's Campy ti BB spindle disaster. I've been with a rider when he sheared off a Campy crankarm and it was not a pretty sight.<br /><br />I've gradually come to the realization that it's too much of a disadvantage to show up at a fast group ride with anything less than my highest performance bike. This is as much due to the effect of age on my own performance, as I no longer have a margin I can afford to give up to the bike. Bottom line is that my highest performing bike is also the newest, even if that bike is still 15 years old. On the other hand, there is negligible difference in performance between that aluminum & carbon machine with its 10-speed Campy group and a brand new bike, so I don't have any compulsion to "upgrade", though I did recently drop a grand on a 1966 Frejus with, you guessed it, 100 miles on the chainrings.Steve Barnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05141738452735566462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-26501306799869526722019-12-06T11:14:07.268-05:002019-12-06T11:14:07.268-05:00About the longevity of modern day carbon fiber bik...About the longevity of modern day carbon fiber bikes -vs- vintage steel bikes: I currently ride a 70 year old steel frame bike. Today's carbon fiber bikes are basically carbon fiber held together with thermoset plastic. I doubt I would put much faith in the strength of 70 year old plastic of any formulation.SK in Californiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15287717278916910255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-66775328258435307642019-11-23T13:51:53.888-05:002019-11-23T13:51:53.888-05:00Me too.
Wonderful wool vs hideous plastic.Me too.<br />Wonderful wool vs hideous plastic.Dave Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07355264650239868491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-84739802081872131142019-11-21T16:25:14.926-05:002019-11-21T16:25:14.926-05:00"I did it! I did it!" I had a similar r..."I did it! I did it!" I had a similar reaction when I successfully shifted gears the first time with brifters on a rental bike.Morlamwebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17799436150549217033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-31046166211397665102019-11-20T06:15:47.232-05:002019-11-20T06:15:47.232-05:00George Longstaff was a highly regarded builder but...George Longstaff was a highly regarded builder but not so popular in racing circles. I have one of his in the same colour, with the same lug lining and apparently the same lugs and fork crown as this one. It too betrays the builders thinking in that it has the same Mafac cantilevers (rubbish, by the way, the Dia Compe cantis of that era were far superior). Mine also has Simplex retrofriction levers and a Suntour rear mech. George was a tourist at heart and mine was so built. Racing frames by him are rare indeed, and I had to do a double-take when I saw this. Great post, so thanks!Liptrothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08835027037197420267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-6558760605778220342019-11-14T11:42:37.522-05:002019-11-14T11:42:37.522-05:00ROTFL! "Cycling Shorts", indeed. I hones...ROTFL! "Cycling Shorts", indeed. I honestly thought it was going to be about those that gird one's loins.JBHorenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07403369078267809626noreply@blogger.com