A regular occurrence on Cycle Oregon rides where chip seal and other less than "great" pavements are common - the pavement goes form good to chip seal (perhaps as we turn onto another road) and riders on modern bikes slow down. The joke among those of us on steel or titanium is that we have to be on the brakes for those pavement changes so we don't hit the riders ahead. Chip seal ends and there is always a chorus of "ahh!!"

This isn't a fair test. Those of us on the old school bikes tend to be riders of a lot of experience and at Cycle Oregon the vast majority of the new bikes are less than the top models being ridden by relatively inexperienced riders. (The experience riders on the good stuff left earlier than I am willing with my knees that love warmth.) Still, it's pretty funny.