Jamez008

I find the whole idea of "vintage" bicycles, sorry to say, ridiculous! Since I worked at a bike shop for a while- 15 years- I would say I am close to an expert. I know more about bike than I WANT to know. When I first started working at Nyack Bicycle Outfitters, a great shop I might add if you are north of NYC, Probably around 1984? I learned how to work on Univegas and when I stopped, I put together the TREK bike composite bike used in the Tour de France. What I found out is this. Bikes are very much like cars. How many cars from 1980 are considered "Vintage?" Not any that I know of? IN any case I saved up my money and bought a Bianchi. I think it was like 4 from the top of the line? It was made in Italy. I think I paid 600.00 for it at the time-1987(?), I sold it for half that. I would not call my old bike if I saw it today "Vintage..." Also if you actually WORK at a bike shop you will understand that every years the manufacturers always come up with something newer and better.. including how to make frames. It makes sense doesn't it? Using computers they know what type of material is the newest and latest and greatest, right? Better computers, telling the making that make frames how to make that stronger and lighter, without sacrificing safety? Just like cars the HAVE to make them better or next year people WILL NOT BUY THEM. Companies just keep making them better and better, but you pay a premium for a newer bike as well. You might as well incinerate your old parts on your "vintage" road bike. Now if you say well I want to buy a PRESTIGE bike, where are the ladies go ahhhhhhh, wowwwwwwwwww, ok buy a "vintage."
Ever try 1970's campagnolo parts with todays Shimano parts? Don't bother, there is no contest. FYI, Campy's introduction into the world(Japanese) "click shift" technology turned into a nightmare for them. I know the must have gotten better! lol!!
So I think people are getting ripped off ie-ebay, on this whole vintage nonsense. Why are they "vintage" because they were actually made in Italy? Sorry, it is just a fact that bike companies like TREK make much better bikes than they did 10 years ago. One last thing new people might forget about buying frame or vintage bikes is: PARTS by themselves ARE VERY COSTLY! So perhaps it WOULD be better just to get a new bike from a reputable dealer? A good dealer will give you free adjustments for one year. Also check around to see if riders in your area like the bike shop?
I guess some people will pay way too much for a "vintage" bike; I surely won't. Maybe if I came across one in a yard sale for 25 bucks I would? Those old bikes need a lot of work and I would NOT pay more than around a hundred. Anything else is a hold up. Don't believe the hype...

East Hill

Well, the rest of us like them, and there's not much point in you telling us that we are silly... .

East Hill

cudak888 

Trying to spread internet justification of the new CF bikes you have to sell every day, are you?

You do realize that by ranting off about your dislike of vintage bicycles in a C&V-friendly forum, you've opened yourself up to attack from all sides?

May I ask your purpose of doing so other then to set fire to gasoline? Do you have some kind of problem with people who like and enjoy things you do not?

-Kurt

P.S.: Do you own a shop now? Let us know the name so we don't waste your time with our business.

JunkYardBike

Take a breath, would ya?

cb400bill

Thank you for your unasked for opinion.

Now go back under the rock you crawled out from.

embankmentlb

I hear a banjo playing. Do you here a banjo? Squeal like a pig.

EatMyA**

OKAY!!!

(I don't know what else to that. Why would someone say that here?)

Siu Blue Wind

Hi uh.....Welcome to Bike Forums, Jamez008. Fantaaaahbulous thread for a first post.

Tell me please (for I haven't worked in a bike shop at all), what you think of the steel/alu/carbon/scandium/bamboo/ti debate? Since you have had the experience perhaps you can finally settle the argument.


Shhhh.............. everyone. Listen. Let him teach us.

unterhausen

what a troll. The '60s and '70s were the golden age of bikes as far as I'm concerned. The contrast with cars is not quite correct, 60's muscle cars have been selling for outrageous sums for a while. In the '70s, cars were built so poorly that it's probably not possible to resurrect any of them. Will be interesting to see how that works in 30 years after everyone forgets what a waste those cars were.

I started working in a bike shop 10 years before the OP. I'd say the only thing that has really gotten better in a significant way is rear hubs, particularly on a heavily loaded bike. I never really liked index shifting. I happen to think that Campy Record/NR/SR rear derailleurs are not as good as the current derailleurs, but for the racing gears they were designed for they were great. I've been told that components are made from better materials now, I couldn't say about that. It does seem like the general quality of rims has gotten better. They certainly make things a lot lighter.

cudak888 

I PM'ed this to him, but I figured it worthy of the public forum:

Is there some sort of problem that you have with our enjoyment of vintage lightweights that you believe thoroughly justifies your very first (and only) post in this forum?

Is it that you believe the world should the world revolve around your perfect neo-Nazi conformity? That the people you perceive as inferior ______ should condescendingly sit tight and listen to your public attacks towards our happiness until we come around to your way of thinking, whether or not we like or enjoy it?

That is not the way the world works, buddy. You may have a problem with us - that is fine and dandy - but unless you want to be shrouded in enemies (and a few friends of your same inexcusable ideas and mouth) for the rest of your life, keep negative thoughts to yourself unless you are speaking with those who share them.

-Kurt

RobbieTunes

Wow...welcome to C&V, "Sunshine."

I didn't realize I was so wrong about everything.
I forgot to read StyleMan and the latest Bicycle Guide.

Now what do I do? I guess I'll just go for a ride on my ridiculous bike.
And think about Joan Jett, a bottle of Boone's Farm, and a '68 Camaro (all at one time)

rugerben

And at this point, the the opinion loses its weight. In my experience, people who refer to themselves as experts, rarely are. Someone who truly has expertise, doesn't need to flaunt it.

As for the quality of older bikes...lemme tell ya. I've ridden the modern stuff. My best buddy manages the LBS, so I get to take the latest and greatest for 10 mile test rides at the beginning of each season when he is testing out the new equipment.
He also gives me employ pricing (approx 55% of retail.) and you know what? I only have one new bike, and it's my commuter. I didn't have the heart to beat up a nice vintage bike, so I got a modern aluminum one.
All my road bikes are vintage. I like the rides and I like the history.

Little Darwin

It is so nice to have someone go through the effort to join the forum and correcting us.

I wonder if he bothered to even read anything here to see that even we think that a lot of stuff that people label as vintage is overpriced, or if he figured he would just rant strictly based on the name of the forum.

I wonder if he realizes that some of us have never paid more than $200 for a vintage bike?

Or that we don't all necessarily worship at the altar of Campagnolo...

But, he obviously has no interest in dialog... but it is interesting to see that there are people that will be bigots about almost anything.

Maybe I should go over to the Road Cycling forum and post about he evils of modern bikes now.

iab

Troll.

StephenH

Jamez, you hit the nail on the head. I wouldn't ride any of this vintage crap, either. Bikes have gotten better and better, and only the latest models are good enough for a discerning rider such as myself. My two main bikes are new, less than a year old, and one other one I have I'm not sure. But here's my new bikes. You didn't see anything like this in your bike shop in the 80's, did you?

RobbieTunes

He's not evil. He just knows the wrong things.

cudak888 

While you're telling me that the Paramount in my hands is junk and that my Brooks saddle is outdated, would you also like to criticize the fact that men's high-rise trousers have been out for 30 years as well?



I slap modern trend in the face and love it!

-Kurt

East Hill

Kurt, I can out-Fred you any day of the week .

Now, which bike should I use to demonstrate?

East Hill

RobbieTunes

Hey, this is a family forum, and you showed him both your gum walls and your gum hoods!

East Hill

And I'm showing some legs!

East Hill

KarmicPedals

And some people will spend way too much time trying to tell other people what to do via the internet.

I'll go with the vintage bike, myself.

Suttree

OP Just try and find me a steel bike that rides as well and is strong
as a Miyata 912, 1000, Pro etc. for the same price. If you want light then CF is the way to go
if you want durable, strong, comfy and well finished I dare you to find
a new steel bike for the same price as a used Miyata. I can't hear you. . . .
cause it ain't there. You can pay 1k for a Mercian new frame that is not
finished as nicely as my 912 which I got complete for 3 hundred bucks.

3 hundred bucks. Runs great.

put that in yer pipe and take a deep toke.

RobbieTunes

Kurt in polyester.
Naked gums.
East Hill.

Anti-steel. jeez Louise.

The world is spinning....
Out
of
Control.

Ain't it cool.

RobbieTunes

+1
Miyata 210 complete w/rack $160. Find a better new complete tourer for 10x as much.
And check back in 24 more years and tell me how it's holding up.

Suttree

OP does have some knowledge of bikes but there is an argument against
always upgrading based on the environment. Resource extraction is costly,
and energy intensive--so is manufacturing shipping, etc. If you take
care of a lugged steel bike (paint over bare metal, spray LBS in it etc.) then
it will last a long time in most instances. And it can be repaired easily.
Brazing is a very wide spread technology.