Classic & Vintage - How about those ugly TdF machines...

For years I've been waiting to see the tour on television and now that it has come the bikes are horribly disfigured. I watch (and tape) the OLN bike coverage and long to see the real bikes of the Grand tours in action. How about a Molteni colored Merckx, celeste Bianchi...any steel whatsoever!!!! These compact sloping top tube things look like broken real bikes to these old eyes.

I agree, those compact frames just don't look right to me. I have noticed, however, there are a fair number of traditional diamond frames in the Tour...if you look closely. Of course none are steel, I'm quite sure.

Funny thing...cycling is the only area where I am traditional. When it comes to bicycles my heart is stuck in the 70's and 80's.

Compact frames, black stems and bars are just mountain bike ugly.

give me a steel parrallel angled diamond frame anytime.

Marty

Compact frames, black stems and bars are just mountain bike ugly.

give me a steel parrallel angled diamond frame anytime.

Marty

yup i agree,im a classic frame guy too.i want to buy a new machine,but im lost when it comes to whats what with the new frames.hardly any names im familiar(sp?)with also.its been awhile since ive been in the cycling loop.

Steel frames....have to love 'em!! Look at Waterford (http://www.waterfordbikes.com) or Rivendell (http://www.rivendellbicycles.com) for some really beautiful and traditional frames. To me, this is what the true art of the bicycle machine should look like.

Steel frames....have to love 'em!! Look at Waterford (http://www.waterfordbikes.com) or Rivendell (http://www.rivendellbicycles.com) for some really beautiful and traditional frames. To me, this is what the true art of the bicycle machine should look like.

Traditional, old school steel is all I own and ride, onroad or off.

Count me in on this one. I'd choose my old motobecane mirage over one of these high dollar, high tech things anyday.



Olds

I'm on the same page here too. My 20 year old Fuji frame rides like a dream. Sure, it's a bit heavier than the newer aluminum and composite bikes, especially in the front end. But the ride is springy AND stiff when it needs to be. Steel is the only way to go.

Yup, I love my 30 year old beasty. Steel is REAL!! Woot

RoadToad

Are you all Amish? Or just luddites?

Don't forget the old school marque Masi. Even though the name is owned by acclamied BMX bike company Haro, they still make steel frames with real downtube shifter bosses. I think there is a US based female team riding steel framed Masi competitivly.

This is funny. I appreciate the new and the old and ride on both. You do realize that in 30 years there will be people posting on B Forums about how crappy these 'new' bikes are and say, 'Man I still love my old carbon roadie with STI'

I wonder if the STI stuff will still work after thirty years of use. I know my downtube friction shifters do.

I ride both as well. But my 24yr old Miyata sees the most road.

Are you all Amish? Or just luddites?
'doh! :D

This is funny. I appreciate the new and the old and ride on both. You do realize that in 30 years there will be people posting on B Forums about how crappy these 'new' bikes are and say, 'Man I still love my old carbon roadie with STI'

Yeah, here's how it goes:

Your parents: "I remember when I used to walk 10 miles to school everyday!"
You: "I remember when I used to ride my Schwinn BMX bike to school everyday!"
Your kids: "I remember when I used to drive my car to school everyday!"
Your kids' kids: "How come we have to take the supersonic transport bus to school? Why can't we just use the teleporter?"


:D

When I was a kid I had to bike to school all year around, rain or show. And it was solid 100 lbs. of led soldered steel, up hill against the wind both ways. The kids have it so much easier today.

Are you all Amish? Or just luddites?

Road bikes are essentially low tech devices. Most of the "advances" are in lighter materials and more gears which provide a marginal improvement way out of proportion to their cost while being counterbalanced by drawbacks or are irrelevant to most riders most of the time.

There are some nice things about modern bikes and some aren't even fugly but unless you're seriously racing, the latest carbon/titanium off-the-rack superbike is, IMO, a poor choice compared to a comparably priced custom built steel cycle.

All that being said, a low-end al bike provides a lot of value these days. I don't know if, accounting for inflation, it's a better deal than an older hi-ten bike, but I'd say it's better in an absolute sense.

[QUOTE=
You: "I remember when I used to ride my Schwinn BMX bike to school everyday!"
:D[/QUOTE]

I didn't know Schwinn made BMX bikes...I though BMX was basically the antithesis of the ape hanger Schwinn. I always believed that was kind of what killed Schwinn off for so many years.

Not saying ape hangers Schwinn's aren't cool- I want one but don't want to pony up the $$$.

PJ

Hey all ya'll making remarks about us being luddites etc.
I've got a clue for you.
THIS IS THE CLASSIC AND VINTAGE FORUM.

what'd you expect? praise for plastic bikes?

sorry bout the shouting.

Marty

Bikes have also always been high tech devices, at the cutting edge of materials and design. There was a time when Reynolds 531 was a cutting edge aerospace-grade material. I think some of the curvy carbon monocoques like Orbea are quite pretty.