Originally Posted by
Amani576
Oh, I know Paris-Roubaix hasn't changed much. But, I mean as far as technology goes. Tires are better today, bikes are lighter, stiffer, and have substantially wider gear ranges, they don't miss much in their pedal-stroke, and I imagine overall rider comfort is better. Take all of that away, go back 30+ years in cycling tech. They were doing it then and still managed to walk away. I just can't see todays riders doing it. They're probably too spoiled with brifters, carbon, and 20-22 gears.
They'd kick my ***** either way. But I don't think they'd hang with the old boys on equivalent bikes. I think endurance and pain tolerance was much higher back then (though as has been said they did dope).
BTW, I'm 20, I'm not pining for the old days, I wasn't even thought of back then.
-Gene-
Greg Lemond's old saying about it "never hurts less, you just get faster" pretty much covers this. Yes, the equipment, pay, and living conditions (for the top teams) have gotten far better. But the riding is just as hard. And the work it takes to just be the worst rider on the worst pro team is phenominal.
Read Bob Roll's book or a great new one by Joe Parkin, "A Dog in a Hat". Pro bicycle racing is a tough sport, then and now.
If you think modern racers are ******* because they have brifters, you just don't get it.