DMC707

Roger that ! I'm not stupid --- I spent 7 hours last night poring over pics of the '01-'03 USPS machines so I can make sure that both bike, - and body - are correct (although my personal physique tends to run towards the stocky side of the spectrum -- --- that will not prevent me from looking "pro" )

my response was tongue in cheek, but now that you mention it, I have a set of old Look pedals with a black pedal body that would look much better than those bashed up bluish/purple numbers

jefnvk

To be completely fair, that happens a LOT in every direction. New technology E-assist bikes aren't being received too well over in the touring section right now. Humans seemingly have an innate need to be part of a group, when someone is doing something different than you, it is too often taken as a threat that your group is not the right group.

I personally use whatever suits my needs at a price I'm willing to pay. I appreciate the classic styling and preserving history, but i started and continue with them because they do what I need a bike to do FAR cheaper than a new bike.

tarwheel 

This thread reminds me of a book I read long ago, The Survival of the Birch Bark Canoe by John McPhee. Great book and my inspiration for making a mid-career switch into journalism. The book chronicles a guy who makes birch bark canoes just like the Native Americans, except for one small detail. He sealed his canoes with asphalt caulk and said it was the only modern material that he had found superior to that used by the natives (they used pitch from fir trees). Other than that, he built his canoes exactly like the Indians.

crank_addict

I'm all for 'rolling' with capitalism. Glad theres folks dropping $10k for bikes or whatever one desires. Economy counts on it.

The only downside in my reasoning is waste. Dig deeper in thought and it becomes about our environment. All this frequent replacing of clothing, shoes to fashion or even short lived wholegoods means more production, hence using more raw materials and energy to produce, stemming to serious pollution, especially in China. The disposable way of living is too lopsided today.

USAZorro

I'm usually pretty civil, treat others with respect, and stick to the tenets of "do unto others", and "if you can't say something nice...", but that said, I am a bit opinionated...

I have yet to see an Aluminum bicycle I would want to own. Slanting top tubes? No way! Carbon? Some frames have a pleasing, sleek appearance. Cervelo time trial bikes are on the other end of the spectrum; amongst the ugliest creations of man. That said, I only have steel.

Saddles - classic leather preferred for most.
No suspension anything.
Gears - happy with anything between fixed gear and 3 x 10. Electronic shifters need not apply. Bar ends and brifters are my personal favorites. Downtube shifters and thumbies tolerated, stem shifters and mtb pods don't remain on my bikes.
Pedals - Platform with/without toe clips/straps or SPD. Still have one with Looks. Not interested in pedals that look like bar puzzle pieces or lollipops.
Tires - sized appropriate to intended usage.
Wheels - 32 spokes or higher, tubies or clinchers, rim brakes for all now, but willing to consider disc on one bike. (I do permit a low spoke count, radially laced wheelset on my newest bike for now, but I do have the eventual replacement ready in the wings).
Mudguards go on all my personal riders that have clearance for them.
No kickstands except on the Superbe.
No "safety" brake levers.
No dork discs.
Cork bar tape is a blight that should be eradicated.
e-bikes? Puh-leeze.

What did I miss?

rumrunn6

last 4 suvs were std trans but I recently switched to a 9 spd automatic, & brifters on my bike changed my life. I'm still a grouch

Seizedpost

One big way bike technology has regressed is threadless headsets. You can't adjust the handlebar height without replacing the stem or cutting the steerer tube. I'm surprised I haven't seen this discussed more. I don't think I'm a retrogrouch but this seems like progress for its own sake.

Sir_Name 

Great tunes! I recently signed up of one of the premium services (Spotify). It's amazing what you can find on there. As a test, I did a search for a somewhat popular regional band (as my memory has it at least) from my high school days. Every album is there, ready for a listen. Was not expecting that.

Kobe 

A sign that you are a retrogrouch is you call it a standard transmission.

All my bikes are steel with level top tubes. I still think lugs look the best, but are not mandatory.

09box

All but one of the vehicles I have owned have been a manual transmission. I don't know how to drive an automatic.

Reynolds 

My cars always had manual synchro transmission, but sometimes I shift without using the clutch, just to see if I still have the skill to do it (without noises or shaking, of course).

AlexCyclistRoch

I've noticed that retrogrouches are usually retrogrouchy in multiple different arenas. I, myself also do photography with a Speed Graphic, own a couple slide rules, and go to see classic trains occasionally with my dad (he likes steam, I prefer 1st gen diesels). I also still use a flip-phone....

dweenk

I agree.

Bikerider007

Yep, its an 83 CJ7, but I pulled a T18 out of an old F250 so it would have the granny gear for crawling.

But I still have to contend with the keeping gas going into the carb at steep inclines or camber situations. I addressed that with an index shifter from a bike mounted to the transfer shifter and a cable to the carb so I can elevate the rpm if I start stalling.

All the people in the group with 4 door, windows up, AC blowin' Rubicons think I am crazy! Guys in large bike groups probably thing the same when I roll up on an old bike and they are all on CF.

FullGas

bikes should have horizontal top tubes.

cars should have clutches.

negotiable on other details...

vtchuck

I've made a few concessions, I have an aluminum 76 Canondale & a CF 97 Lemond, but I don't use brifters, index shifting, or "clamp-on" stems. I do use downtube friction shifters, cleats/toeclips/straps, and clinchers. I am grouchy, but thats likely because I'm an "auld phart".

lugsNleather58

All of my bikes are 25 years or older, which means they all have steel lugged frames. Most of my bikes are 70s-era Raleighs and Schwinns, although I do have a mid-80s Trek 520. I never got into tubular tires, as the prospect of repairing flats and dealing with rim glue seemed too daunting to me. I am currently saving up to put modern components on my '69 Schwinn Paramount frame. I don't care for brifters, so I'll use bar end shifters and aero brake levers. I'm still a big fan of Brooks leather saddles, so any bike I ride regularly will have a leather saddle.

qcpmsame 

Glad to see another slide rule user/owner here, I know several of the old school engineers here have put in their use of them over the years. I use and collect them, its a good way of teaching arithmetic operations. Certain to be marked by most as being retrogrouchy, its just something I learned and value.

It goes very well with my love of steel bicycles and Campagnolo components. Its not for monetary value to collect them (slide rules, not bikes,) I doubt that even the rarest of my collection would ever gather in its purchase price, and I could not care one whit, its just because they represent a method of doing math problems that gives me a lot of pleasure and a feel for what is going on by doing them.

Hopefully I can have as many classic bicycles, as I do rules, eventually, just need a place to put 17 bicycles.

Bill

leicanthrope

Forgive me, for I have sinned...

qcpmsame 

Say three Hail Eddys and one Our Lady of Ghisallo, go and sin no more my son......

CrankyNeck

crank addict wrote: "I'm all for 'rolling' with capitalism. Glad there's folks dropping $10k for bikes or whatever one desires. Economy counts on it."

I'm all for capitalism and keeping the economy rolling, too. I really have no problem people doling out $10k for a bike, provided they can honestly afford it without the purchase adversely affecting their financial situation or their marriage. I also know sales like that drive new technologies (some of which will be good, some not). Where I draw the line is with those folks giving advice to others that is in THEIR best interest, not the person needing help and asking the questions. Calling people retro grouches because they like and want to use something old that still works for them is just plain wrong. Whoever called themselves a retro grouch did themselves a disservice. By the way, music since about 1990 sucks.

oddjob2

My primary residence was built in the 1920's.
My ADK home was built in 1907.
I still have my Bundy Selmer trumpet from 1964. Mom sold off my Bach Stradivarius, *%#£!
I still have my LeJeune TdF from 1972.
I still have my Nikon F gear from high school/college years.
My Henckels professional cutlery set was bought in 1976.
My watch is close to 40 years old.
I have lots of MCM furniture and fixtures, not reproductions.
My vehicles are 1996 Z3, 1998, and two from 2003. Mini S is 6 speed.
I have several cases of 1980's premium wines.

My entire Raleigh fleet is 1970s.
My Trek and Schwinn road bikes are 1980's.
My French bikes span the 1970's-1980's.
My Japanese road bikes are 1980's.
My mountain bikes are 1990's.

Do I feel grouchy or retro? No. Most millenials dig my stuff.

Mobile 155

You forgot to say, "get off my lawn."

Salamandrine 

Even though all my bikes have lugged steel frames, and one has sew ups, I don't see myself as a retrogrouch. I look at it as picking the features I like best. I remember when STI came out it seemed a bit unnecessary, and it still does. But beginners liked it because you didn't have to let go of the bars, so it sold. Carbon is definitely better performance wise than steel, but at this point in my life and fitness level, the difference is irrelevant, and I prefer the ride, the toughness, and the quiet sound of steel. Overall I feel it is a more rational choice for a recreational rider. I don't want to be another one of those middle aged dudes with a beer gut and carbon bikes I pass up on my weekend rides going up the hills.

Pop music since 1990 does suck.

bulldog1935

are you kidding, I used to make my own from two sheets of semi-log paper
also derived my entire P-chem class from Maxwell's relations