Get of my lawn...

Yes this is correct for almost anything classic refers to model and condition when it comes to collectors value while vintage refers to age. Something could be classic and colectable and be only a few years old. While there are a lot of vintage things that may never become classic.

It's still a bit too new to be called a classic IMO, specially as it has "modern" specs mixed into it. Maybe it should be called "Neo-classic" instead. A modern interpretation of a "classic" bike?
Let it "cook" another dozen years or so and it's "classic" crendentials might not be challenged then.

Chombi.

Snapping fingers now and saying “shoot” with mouth. That makes me vintage, but uncollectable. I’m presently directing my cerebellum to overwrite my previously conceived understanding to your definition. See people; this is what open-minded people do. When new facts are presented, we are able to adapt and move-on. It may take a while, but I am turning my world back upright.

Like a few of my bikes, from 10+ years ago, I'm "aging" them.;)

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=232185http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=232186Nice bike! Someone told me the same thing a few weeks ago about my '02 Giro, and it's aluminum w/carbon fork! Guess cuz it's not the slanty "compact" geometry and it still has 1" threaded and not 1 1/8". Classic or not(which personally I doubt), aside from my Miyata this bike is one of the nicest rides I've owned:) Take good care of that bike, it's awesome!!

Yeah...anything steel with a "normal looking [i.e. round and same-sized]tubes" and a horizontal TT will
appear "classic." That beng said, your bike's DT is noticeable thicker than the TT and ST, which bespeaks
it being a "later vintage" classic...

I am not sure where some people draw the line but I see lots of CL postings for "classic" or "vntage" Bianchi and you open it up and there is some brifter equipped late '90s early 2000 bike staring at you. I guess if it isn't Carbon and 10+ speeds it is classic

If the cyclists in your area are like the ones in mine, the only reaction you get is a lot of space when they pass you. In a world where TIG'd steel is "vintage", someone riding a 50 year old bike is considered eccentric at best, and probably dangerous.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2585/3...cf23c3bb47.jpg
Well than it's off to the dump with you...you...you compact frame imposter you!

Classic is a completely subjective interpretation...I wouldn't consider your Bianchi classic personally, but there are aluminum and CF bikes I would consider classic. For me classic are the bikes that are going to be lusted after...they're the bikes we see, probably can't afford, and want when we're middle aged. They're the best of the best...the innovators.

Interesting! But there are a lot of opinions!

I think there's Old, Vintage, and Classic. Old includes everything past a selected age cutoff, regardless of condition. Any such system should account for stuff that is old but not worth collecting or upgrading. Vintage includes Old, but also stuff that is worth collecting or upgrading. The value judgements should consider history, use by famous people or at famous events, and unique and innovative design and execution. Classic is the same as vintage, but may include post-cutoff or contemporary items sharing those qualities. I don't think it should include items less than 10 years old unless it's a revival of past techniques, design, or technology.

I think catmandew's scale is interesting as a way to establish cutoff points on a timeline.

classic

as the trend towards the plasticizing of components i.e. rims cranks bars derailleurs etc.etc continues ... are there carbon chains yet?...your bike could be considered classic imo...for what its worth lugs rather than tig welding might be a cut off point in a lot of peoples minds....my only modern bike is a lugged bianchi tsx frame from early 90's not oversized tubes and the last version of the original 8 spd ergos from 97,record dual pivot brakes but still classic compared to todays' bikeshttp://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=232243 a few anacronisms though,had to go with my super record headset and bianchi's version of a turbo saddle...that black ritchey seatpost was replaced gratis from a generous soul on the ibob list with a campy c-record aero....but for a lot of like minded people like the classicrendezvous list the classic cutoff is 83 ,before aero brake levers and indexed shifting

Cool, so my wife's Taurus is just about up to "Post Classic." I thought it was just old. :P

The "what's classic/what's vintage/ what's worthy of collecting" threads seem to create a reality vortex in the space-mind continuem. This JT Rough Stuff fits all the above "it's not a classic" criteria with it's lugless compact frame, but for me and I think many others, it's truly a classic.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3435/3...26f_z.jpg?zz=1
I'm almost willing to bet that if it were built today, it might even have been done with.....brifters.........gasp............(followed by the sounds of stones striking flesh)

Well, just look at that C&V imposter! Why it is obvious that the sloping non-horizontal TT is "modern." And that
outrageously long seat post! Looks just like what would see on those carbonized Treks and (gasp!) it is a fixie...

No way could anyone consider this to be a "classic," let alone "vintage."

To your average roadie, bikes over 3 years old are classic. Year 2000? That's definitely vintage in roadie years.

Oh, 9-speed? I remember that stuff.

Note, that time references are not exactly fixed.
Each new generation tends to pick it's own time references.
"Classic" is often used for something that is suddenly made obsolete by a technological leap, yet is still embraced by the generation it was introduced to.
I am sure that there were some adds for "Classic" steel frame bicycles when alloy and titanium frames first made giant in-roads into the cycling community.
If there was to be another leap in techology (lets call it plastitianyite) to mfg. 2 oz, STIFF, aero frames, that you could run over with D9 Cat, then all those carbon frames could suddenly become "Classic".
So, if Bianchi switched all their production to plastitianyite frames in 2013, all the 2012's could suddenly become "Classic".
None of the time frames in my earlier post are engraved in stone. The time frames were set for judging classes in a motorcycle environment, and there was a lot of heated discussion to get there.
As I recall, the time frames pretty much matched some of the more prestigous organized motoring events, in North America, The UK, and Europe.
If somebody called one of my bikes a "Classic", I (personally) would take that as badge of honor and not as a slight.
Classic def. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic

Just read the OP...top off with a Brooks makes pretty much anything classic in the layman´s eyes - I agree. I would call your bike modern steel with classic features (colour & Brooks).

If we had a way to make a bike frame 2.0 ounces, stiff, and indestructible, I'd say we shouldn't waste it on bikes. Think of the technological advancements that could be made with this 'plastitianyite'. Space travel will become a think of reality, contact will be made with other intelligent beings, etc.

made my heart skip a beat....

Hell, I'm "historic" and have got "museum piece" well in my sights.

Forget the age. It's "vintage" or especially "classic" if the seller is attempting to get away with overpricing it.

And 40+ years old? To quote the guy at one of our local bike shops (Rowlett's), "Why are you still riding that junk?" Haven't been back there since.