Originally Posted by
pgjackson
Not too long ago professional riders were riding 30lb steel bikes in the super races of Europe at speeds that would STILL crush 99% of us on our high-speed, super-light, laterally stiff and vertically compliant super-bikes.
I see old pics of these guys, years ago, running around on "true" 10 speed bikes, made of steel, 1 1/4 tires, riding on gravel, mud, some of the worst conditions conceivable to many of us...smoking, drinking...and were the greatest riders this sport has ever known. Paris-Roubaix is one of the only races I know of left that actually tests riders to that extent.