Originally Posted by
jon c.
I'm not sure carbon frames with brifters will achieve the same classic appeal as steel tubing and DT shifters as long as they remain the dominant market model. It's hard to be old school without some significant distinctions from the modern.
Of course, there seems to be a move from aluminum levers to plastic levers, plastic wrapped with carbon fiber, and carbon fiber levers.
So, the brifters with aluminum levers are already headed to classic status, or being used in classic restorations.
8 Speed is also heading to Vintage/Classic, and perhaps 9 speed will be soon to follow as the 10/11 speed configurations now dominate at least the high-end markets.