Dating a frame set...
 

I want to write an article for my website, MY "TEN SPEEDS" that helps us all use frame characteristics to help date frame and fork sets. I am particularly interested in developing an understanding of what was popular and when. For example, braze-ons. When did each begin to appear - rear derailleur cable guide on chain stay; transmission guides brazed onto the bottom bracket; under bottom bracket transmission cable guides; shifter braze-ons, front derailleur braze-on; brake cable braze-ons on top, the side and underneath...

If I can assemble a reasonable concensus of information from this forum, I will publish an article on my website. I might add that I am thinking of making MY "TEN SPEEDS" free to all who visit.

I don't think the aging on such changes will be close enough. It will get you within a decade. Various manufacturers adopted changes over time, rather than overnight. Look how long it has taken to make the move from 27 inch rims to 700c.

I have modern bikes without FD braze-ons, and older bikes with them, from the same manufacturer.

Best way to date a frameset sometimes is to just look for a code on the fork. Many forks have date codes on the steerer tube. And if the bike has any original components at all (bottom bracket perhaps), they are often date coded as well.

You will see people postings on here often wondering whether their bike is a 1982 model versus a 1984. I have never understood this quest. On most bikes, there is no difference in value. I wonder what they do with that information?

They put it in their Ebay or Craigslist ads, so they have some resemblance of credibility when flipping the bicycle.

Great differences yet still the same...
 

I have pretty much concluded that the braze-on issue would do little to help nail vintage down exactly. I do still wonder if different styles of braze-on were more prevalent at certain times. For example, it would be nice to know when the chain stay braze-on first appeared and on what bicycle. Knowing something like this would prove to be a good starting place for a guy like me. Also...

Why select several different places to run the rear brake cable. On top, underneath, on the side, full casing, half casing. Is there any rhyme or reason to some of the choices the engineers of days gone by made?

Just something that interests me and there seems to be so little consensus present.