Originally Posted by
SkyDog75
Theres' really not a hard cutoff, as far as I can tell. It's more of a sliding scale, and the more that isn't current, the more "C&V" it is. Horizontal top tube? Lugged steel? Quill stem? Downtube levers or bar ends instead of brifters? Friction shifting?
But overall, we're a pretty welcoming group. So as long as you're not asking about a carbon fiber wonderbike with electronic shifting, we're probably open to discussing it.
I agree, everything is subjective. And, in fact, L' Eroica Italia, apparently welcomes new bikes with vintage parts & characteristics.
But, over the years there have been many fundamental shifts.
For MTBs, the older "vintage" ones ad a fairly square double triangle frame, horizontal top tubes, etc. The new ones are quite different.
Road bkes, one thinks of vintage lugged steel, but even Carbon Fiber frames have significantly evolved. There has been a move from round lugged tubes to shaped "monocoque" (or smooth assembled to appear as monocoque). So, I'd include most of the early lugged CF, including CF lugs as "vintage". Even some of the early monocoque frames had fairly straight tubes, plus a unique aero form that isn't seen with new frames.
Likewise, aluminum frames have evolved from basic round tubes (sometimes slightly bent) to hydroformed tubes resembling the CF frames.
Anyway, if it is "vintage" to you.. then who cares?