6 Speed Freewheel - Why?
03-06-06 | 09:17 AM
#27
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
Bikes: 1979 Trek 510
Well, I'll toss in....
I think there are at least 2 streams of thought about vintage bikes. One sort of view likes to keep things historically accurate. Another sort of view likes the classic aesthetic but will reinterpret the classic. In terms of cars, this is the difference between a 1964 Mustang that is A-1 all original with matching VINs on the body and block and still original paint and a 1964 Mustang that has been turned into a hot rod. Both collectors love 1964s but for different reasons.
I think the problems come when these 2 views start getting intertwined and confused.
It's silly to suggest to folks with a love of vintage stuff to get out and ride more. That is so missing the point for some of us. But on the other hand, its just as silly to try to defend the technical merits of some of the old technologies as being on par with or better than current technologies.
I have and regularly ride a bike with 6-speed friction shift. I rode across country on a bike with 6-speed gearing and a half-step/granny set up. But the first thing I did when I got my hands on Trek 1979 510 was have the frame spread for 130mm spacing for a modern 8-speed drive train.
Now look, if people love 5 speed friction shifting and it makes them happy, that's just awsome. And I really, truely mean that. Same goes for wooden skis (I own a pair and love skiing them). But to say its as good or better than modern drive trains.... naw.
I think there are at least 2 streams of thought about vintage bikes. One sort of view likes to keep things historically accurate. Another sort of view likes the classic aesthetic but will reinterpret the classic. In terms of cars, this is the difference between a 1964 Mustang that is A-1 all original with matching VINs on the body and block and still original paint and a 1964 Mustang that has been turned into a hot rod. Both collectors love 1964s but for different reasons.
I think the problems come when these 2 views start getting intertwined and confused.
It's silly to suggest to folks with a love of vintage stuff to get out and ride more. That is so missing the point for some of us. But on the other hand, its just as silly to try to defend the technical merits of some of the old technologies as being on par with or better than current technologies.
I have and regularly ride a bike with 6-speed friction shift. I rode across country on a bike with 6-speed gearing and a half-step/granny set up. But the first thing I did when I got my hands on Trek 1979 510 was have the frame spread for 130mm spacing for a modern 8-speed drive train.
Now look, if people love 5 speed friction shifting and it makes them happy, that's just awsome. And I really, truely mean that. Same goes for wooden skis (I own a pair and love skiing them). But to say its as good or better than modern drive trains.... naw.
03-06-06 | 12:10 PM
#28
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
Hi Frits 1255--They did it because they could. R&D probably stayed up late at night trying to re-engineer their bike to fit in an extra gear, jsut to say they did, and to sell more. Tweek the frame, tweek the wheel, work on the freewheel. That bike was probably the end of the "vintage" era bikes. In contemporary thinking, "vintage" means before clipless pedals, cassette hubs, ugly paint. But mostly it also means good or worthwhile. Not just any POS. "Classic" means something else. But you're right on in your thinking that it's jsut for marketing, just like cars, laundry machines, etc.
