daf1009

I concur with basically everything said...if you are on a well maintained C&V bike, the roadie crew is generally agreeable. I have had a few MTB'ers that made some snide comments about my "ancient bike." But, I think that was just that particularly group.

I actually find that I get a LOT of attention when I am on several of my bikes in group rides...people want to know more about it...and they love hearing the stories that go with the bikes...modern CF bikes often are lacking for back story...they are what they are...and..."old" bikes have stories!

The Golden Boy 

Never been a part of a group ride.

However, there was a guy who had a nice looking Merlin- I think a titanium/carbon-y thing. I complimented it, and we talked a few about bikes- and then he made a very condescending comment that I took as 'someday when you grow up and can afford a bike like mine.' I happened to be straddling my 85 Trek 620 when he said that. I did politely let him know that I choose to ride what I ride.

But that's about the extent (that I can remember) of any sort of dis on my bikes. I did have some nice young ladies compliment my 720 as well as Dave Wages of Ellis Cycles passed me and said I have a nice vintage Trek. That was awesome.

qcpmsame 

I've never heard anyone around our area say something derogatory about a C&V bike, usually its some group, like the Road Forum, as Robbie said above, (the "41" here,) that you get the digs about "old" bikes and such. Even there, a nice vintage bicycle gets its due by many of the members. When someone wants to do the road snob thing, I would consider the source.

People that need to judge someone based on the age of their ride aren't worth the time it uses up to be interested in them, or their crap.

Maybe its my age or my back ground, but the engineering and lines of a C&V bicycle are appealing to the engineer in me, and the modern bicycles have interesting bits in them, too. I plain love bicycles, all ages and all types. No excuses there, either.

Bill

Fahrenheit531 

Yes. This is the analogy that I came up with as well.

crank_addict

The ATB / mtn. bike scene is a whole different matter but depends on where you ride or mixed in with the hardcore. If you hit any of the popular hardcore spots or parks, expect the trash talk. Unless you show up with a group of friends and all riding something old, its fine. Otherwise, the 20 something age group on $4k mountain bikes will let you know..... and all day long. Been there, done that. They take it seriously as if its their territory, just like out on the surf. I find it amusing and actually get a kick out of it. Anyhow, no way can I ride off-road like I used to and rather enjoy the slow, technical challenge. If I fall, its nothing at speed and less to get me in trouble.

Getting back to the ballistic boyz: I dish it back though and give them innuendo trash, especially at the trail heads. Ex: These punks forever are comparing their bikes, ALWAYS showing off their latest component, from silly grips (who really cares?) to the gold chain because ya know it makes ya faster and YOU should get one too..... jeez. Then, they're ALWAYS tweaking suspension this, brakes that, etc. and I'll ride past telling them they need another anodized $200 water bottle cage for that pos...haha.

crank_addict

There's also another group I occasionally ride with. Its a no drop but with some who do compete in road race and or tri events. The no drop is fun to ride with and less about hammering all out. Probably a half dozen are woman with some quality higher end new bikes. Even though the older bikes are not their thing, they dig it. If I show up with a late model bike, I get the 'where's the old bike' and my modern is just blended as if its drywall tape and mud.

Majority don't have a clue whatever steel this or that means, what those levers do on the downtube... (seriously - lol) but the comment of 'cool bike' is often heard.

Really though, the reason I mention woman is they seem very receptive and chatty. They're the competitive type as well. Just a hunch but probably because the men on new high zoot intimidate them and the dude on the old whatever bike is less of a threat. Its always fun.

rootboy 

Steel envy.

Wildwood 

When I ride with a group, several of my friends will be there too - we seldom talk about bikes.

09box

I've never gotten any bad comments about my previous bikes. I've gotten 'hey I used to have one of those' or 'cool bike'. People of both sexes and all ages seemed to like the celeste green as well.

The Golden Boy 

Heck, even the Vintage Retro and Classic forum at the MTBR forums is a little... exclusive.

crank_addict

In defense and regards of mtb riders, much has changed in bikes and have pushed the type of riding and capabilities. I know to joke about the attitudes of some, but rightfully so, really old ATB bikes don't belong in some areas where these guys are jumping, big air flying, high speed downhills with ever so important hitting only one correct line thru a corner, etc.

Many of these riding areas have been built up for extreme riding and weren't even thought of years ago. An old ATB could jepordize a rider attempting to challenge some of these extreme trails. The old bikes just can't handle them.

This is contrary to any age road bike on the same old smooth surface going from point A to B at any speed.

rhm

On rides, my bikes rarely attract much attention beyond something like "that's an old one."

At rest stops --i don't do organized rides, but I often overlap with organized rides at popular rest areas like Budd Family Farm Market near Pemberton NJ. There, people stand around talking, and my bike becomes a subject of discussion. This has happened several times. Oddly, men tend either to ask relatively technical questions or reminisce about a similar bike they used to own, while women only remark about how pretty it is.

Shp4man

Riding a 1964 paperboy bike along the same routes as the spandex crowd, I've noticed a sort of respect- and no questions as to why do you ride such an old turd? and "it must be hard?" The answer is: Well, it's a mellow ride at 10MPH, and I'm not racing.
Would you think less of an old cantilever Schwinn?

qclabrat

I think it depends on the crowd, I live in a rather affluent section of NJ with a mixed crowd. I've found charity rides with many over weight folks in spandex on 5-10K Pinnies and Colnagos are my least favorite. Virtually no appreciation when I ride my classics or Bike Friday. Actually gotten snares when I've rolled up with my Pocket Llama. Next year, I'm taking the mixte which is I'm currently shopping around for a frame.

JamesRL

I ride with a bunch of older gentlemen, who for the most part ride hybrids. One rides a mountain bike. Typically rides aren't long - 25-50 kms. I'm the only one on a vintage road bike, the only one on steel.


One of the riders did want to pick up my bike to see the weight and was impressed. But he is aiming at a CF road bike for next year.

The mountain bike rider gets sympathy, we all know he is working harder than the rest of us. But they do encourage him to get something else.

jimmuller 

Interesting responses here.

Our tandem gets noticed pretty often. When I'm riding solo my bike sometimes gets noticed whenever I stop at a popular watering hole. Mostly it gets ignored, which probably says the other cyclists at the hole aren't interested if it isn't a Cervelo or Seven. We have lots of Cervelos and Sevens around here so they don't seem to notice them either. Probably wouldn't notice if I rode one. I often praise or ask about a particularly interesting bike I see at a stop, and that starts up a conversation. Quite often the conversation reveals just how little they know about what I'm riding.

When they do notice I enjoy it. When they don't it gives me a chance to feel smug.

crank_addict

Hah, the mixte.... brilliant! You have me thinking now about a sleeper lightweight womans frame with drop bars and select lightweight components, down tube shifters. Source out some road rashed DA derailleur group and disguise it all. Paint the bike pink. Make it look official with Murray decals and some chrome tape applique. Vintage lightweight tubular wheelset.

Velocivixen

I was at a paved trailhead when I ended up chatting with a guy, not much younger than me, who was all kitted out. As we discussed the trail, the weather, he told me all about how he was getting into cycling, etc. When I mentioned something about my Motobecane was a 1974 steel lugged frame..., he corrected me and said, "You mean aluminum", and I quickly corrected him and said, "No, it's a Reynolds 531 steel frame". He had no clue what I was talking about.

zeego

I added a Gazelle frame/fork to my list. An "underground" bike.

jimmuller 

What? They make bike frames out of steel?

Velocivixen

His bike actually said "Aluminum" in large print on the frame. Not that aluminum is bad. It was more his "know it all" attitude then has the inclination to inform me that he's just getting into or back into cycling.

Pars 

Well, Reynolds, that's aluminum foil, right? Sheesh

lotekmod

I did a large charity ride this summer in NJ with maybe 5k-6k riders. I was in the starting area on my Merckx surrounded by a sea of carbon and aluminum. A guy next to me kept looking down at my bike, then he'd look up at me and smile. He did that a few times then finally said "Wow man, you're riding steel? Right on!" We talked a bit and he seemed to have some amount of awe over the fact I was riding a steel bike. The funny thing is the entire 150 mile ride was nearly completely flat.

bbattle

The only negative things I've heard about bicycles on group rides were concerning riders with aero bars. Well, there was that guy with the dry as a bone rusty chain that made enough noise to wake the dead.

Nobody gets excited about a carbon fiber frame anymore. They do compliment me on my '84 Pinarello(special paint job) or '90 Gardin(weird seat tube).

photogravity

+1. They also said my Carradice saddle bag was holding me back. The dude failed to remember that I was leading the charge for the first third of the ride. I paid for it later as I tired out quicker than I would have liked. That was two years ago, now it would be a different story as I doubt I'd hang even on the lightest CF bike out there.