Yelbom15

I recently bought a 1985 Colnago Super with Campagnolo attached and ride this beautiful thing as if it were a cheap fixed gear through out my city streets. Jumping side walks, passing up cars on streets who are too busy texting, adjusting my headphones and going with the flow. There seems to be a culture or even cliques within the biking community who would frown upon such actions.

Out of all curiosity, what are your opinions when it comes to riding certain brands and models. Is there a life style responsibility when owning a brand?

jet sanchEz

Ride it like it was meant to be ridden.

I took my Pegoretti down into a muddy ravine this afternoon and yesterday I rode my De Rosa through a field with goose craap all over it.

Had fun doing both.

CargoDane

You should have as much fun on your bike as you want. Unless, of course, you feel that following etiquette is more important. In that case, it just seems pointless to me.

Edit:

I hope not. Regardless of vintage or modern. Are you asking if you should conform to peer pressure and how best to do that?

Drillium Dude

I answer to myself when it comes to responsibility for my lifestyle. Couldn't give a whit about what others think. Ride it like you stole it if that's what the bike compels you to do. I would add, however, for practicality's sake, jump sidewalks sparingly to ensure an extended service life of your rear axle.

DD

gugie 

So, texting and driving is a no-no, but riding your bike with headphones isn't?

Ride any style you want on any bike, just do it safely.

Random Tandem

Only rule I follow is: only ride bikes without fenders when it is dry and only ride bikes with fenders when it is wet. Moral: best to have lots of bikes.

-Will

merziac

Your bike, your rules, ride, build, do as you like.

You may/will get advice, ideas, thoughts, etc., again, do as you like.

squirtdad

Life is to short not to ride the the best bike you have as much as you can. Of course the other bikes get jealous and need to go out now and then

If you are smiling all is good

thook

texting while driving means you aren't even looking at the road. atleast with headphones you can. just sayin....

Happy Feet

Try to wear matching socks.

Drillium Dude

You know, there's a lot of evidence out there that suggests the remaining senses become elevated when others are lost. A deaf person, all other senses being intact and being of sound body (not necessarily mind - look at you lot), should expect to continue cycling but compensate for the hearing loss. If it were me, I'd be spending the ride with my head on a swivel and checking my six were I to become deaf - or don headphones. As long as one compensates (actively elevating their own attentiveness, for example), a safe ride can include headphones in my opinion.

That stated: never, ever in a group - that's just common sense.

DD

SurferRosa

It comes when another cyclist rides up and says, "hey, nice bike." I respond with the year and answer any of their questions. If I have anything nice to say about their own ride, I do that, too.

DMC707 

I wouldnt rde a Colnago Super the same way i would ride a vintage MTB with slicks on it myself

to use an automotive analogy, You are riding a nice vintage SL Mercedes (bicycle equivalent) , you wouldnt drive it the same way you would drive a vintage Daihatsu Charade with a donut spare installed, risted out rocker panels and muffler, and 7 friends aboard as you navigate the streets of Tijuana

Prowler 

Excellent point so, given the OP appears to be just a recently joined member, I'll expand this a bit. Vintage rear wheels have vintage hubs with free wheels. That design places the DS wheel bearings nearer the center of the axle, well away from the DS dropout. Just fine for most uses and we've ridden millions of miles on such a design. However those hub designers did not consider jumping curbs or steps or jumping off loading docks. With so much weight cantilevered off the ride side of the axle, those axles can crack then eventually break from heavy impacts.

Later bikes, mountain bikes, even BMX bikes went to much stronger hub designs with the DS bearing assembly over next to the DS dropout, like the NDS DO side. Designed to launch heavy riders off rocks, curbs, front porches, loading docks, truck trailers. No problem. So be careful with how much bashing of the back wheel you do. Could be expensive.

note: DO is dropout. DS is drive side of the bike, with the derailleurs and chain rings. NDS is non drive side with the kick stand😝

JaccoW

Or don't. Happy socks for happy feet.

SJX426 

Big proponent of individual freedom here. Don't be the root cause of harm to anyone else but yourself. If you harm yourself, ensure no one else has to pay for it in time, money or emotional stress. In other words, the flip side of freedom is responsibility. Be accountable.

nlerner

I make sure to keep my pinky finger pointed straight out whilst drinking tea whilst riding my bike.

fishboat

There are much better bikes for that type of riding, but..do what you want.

If you wrap the bike around something or it has a severe failure for some reason..it'll make for a great thread here about should have, could have, would have......

Phil_gretz

I visit Tampa once a year at least. I have no doubt that the OP rides as he says. Tampa is a town filled with thugs, hooligans and ne'er-do-wells. Ride on!

Spaghetti Legs 

Cutting off derailleur hangers and braze on bits irks me but otherwise ride it however you want. Leaving a bike out in the rain to rust also annoys me, but that applies to even cheapo bikes.

rhm

That tends to be the case with cars, or at least some car brands. BMW drivers have a certain reputation. But I can't say I've ever noticed it with bikes.

There are lifestyles associated with types of bikes, of course.

RobbieTunes 

It was meant to be ridden.
I have no problem assuming you know all the risks of any kind of riding.
Others, of course, will tell you, assuming are stupid.
That would be rude of me to assume. Go ride your bike!
I don't frown on this at all, though I don't do it. I can't hear much, anyway.
Your riding, your risk.
Self-accountability is good, as long as no one else gets hurt.
If they do, own it, no problem.
If there's a mishap, still good.
We need organ donors, and of course, there's that evolution thing.
Freedom is not a bad thing, and being able to choose it is even better.
Good on you.

Dylansbob 

I haven't taken the Pinarello through yet and only .5 laps on the new carbon roadbike, but everything else has been around in the dirt. It's fun following a group of fully kitted out mtb riders on something with '25c and drops. Even more fun to drop them on a similar bike with a basket on the front. I wonder what goes through their minds, after spending upwards of $2k for a bike and armor, when I hound them on the downhills on an antique.

Mogens

Ride your white bike after Memorial Day.
When dining, make sure the fork is to the left of your plate.
When riding side by side with a lady, always be on the outside, toward the street.

RobbieTunes 

Watch out for the Lincoln going 15mph under the limit in the fast lane, blue or silver hair.