I'm currently sitting on a dozen bikes that I don't want to part with at this time in my life (Ross 292S Signature and Bridgestone MB4 may get cut before too long however), and only my 2004 Specialized Sequoia Elite is what I would consider modern. Nothing else is newer than early '90s vintage and the only other non-steel bikes are my 86 and 90 Cannondales.

I gravitate towards bikes that can be used for touring and there is nothing new on the market that can best any of my '80s beasts of burden and even remotely tempt me. My riding style is recreational and not racing so any modern full carbon bikes really don't interest me in the least. I have never ridden one and subconsiously I think I am afraid to because it may spoil my the times I want to take a fast ride on one of my vintage bikes :-)

I have to add a note that the 2004 Sequoia was a present to myself when I turned 50 before I got into a little flipping and began acquiring vintage steel bikes and appreciating them more. It filled a need between the only bikes I had at the time (Bridgestone 400 and Specialized Expedition) and is still a very nice bike but if I had a do-over I probably wouldn't buy it.

This summer has been the first time I have put significant miles on a vintage bike. Most of my vintage collection are wallhangers that get ridden pretty rarely but I finally built up a very practical vintage bike last winter based on a Melton touring frame and have been riding it quite a bit this summer and finding it very enjoyable. It works extremely well for the rail trails and dirt roads I do a lot of riding on.



The semi-modern thumb shifters make a big difference as I just can't make myself go back to downtube shifters. Otherwise I put the most miles on an aluminum Specialized Stumpjumper mountain bike and a CF Giant road bike. I am currently trying to cut back the vintage bike collection a bit and plan on keeping the ones I really love and getting rid of a few that are nice but not truly special for me. I still have 4 or 5 projects in various stages of completion so I haven't stopped acquiring, just slowed way down.

My latest bike is steel, tig'd Columbus tubing from Taiwan. I haven't been this excited about a bike...ever. It will be finished this week, after I cut the steer tube and install the BB30 crank (after I figure out where they put the square tapers). Only 2 vintage bikes left, my 74 Romic and 83 Mongoose Expert, and truth be told the Romic might be on the chopping block next.

I kind of split the difference and built a vintage inspired new bike. I build the frame with OS True Temper Verus and Long Shin lugs. Sourced the Tange fork and VO fenders and had everything powdercoated. Built with a mix of new VO parts and some vintage parts and a first gen Rival group. Still making small adjustments and need to wrap the bars but it's sitting in my cube and I can't stop looking at it so I snapped a crappy photo.

Very nice work sir...

Thanks . This was my 40th birthday present to myself. Been a really fun project.

What the heck kind of "confessions" are these.... three pages already and hardly any C&V or modern CF so far??.....Boc boc boc boc bac boc (chicken sound).....

I'd post a photo of my carbon Cannondale but I've never taken one of it. That pretty much says something right there. But here is a photo of my modern steel cross bike.

I have a 1990 carbon w/alloy lug and alloy stays Miyata I rode to work today. I built a 2000 TREK full CF (relabeled Lemond Veloce team) this spring. I just built a late 90's Giant CFR-Team which is also aluminum lugged last month.

The Miyata has a carbon bullhorn/stem/aerobar setup with bar end shifters. The Giant has bar end shifters on the drops. The Lemond has 9 speed brifters.

Good thread. In 2010 I was set to get a new road bike. First one since 1986 other than the frame I made myself in 2000. Had the chance to go to Specialized for a dealer event in Morgan Hill. Of course, we road bikes! The ones I was interested in were the S Works Roubaix and Tarmac.
After riding both about 20 miles each it occurred to me they don't offer anything better than my current crop of vintage bikes. I ain't fast and these things didn't help me go faster, climb better or feel more comfortable.
Picked up a titanium frame from Habanero in 2012, put my NR group on it and have put on thousands of great, scratch and rust free miles.

I'm thinning things out , slowly , but still tinkering a bit . Just about done with an Ironman Expert (STI conversion) and a Trek 1220 (bad mistake, it was ridden hard and put away wet) . Mainly ride modern , really love my CAAD 9/105 , just a great bike.

Does Ti and carbon count?

Here is my story and I am sticking to it. I have been into bikes my whole life...first real bike at 8 was a purple string ray, pearlescent banana seat...rust and all..loved it. Worked weeding a hill all summer and bought from Highland Schwinn a silver Schwinn scrambler. Life moved on and really my first road bike was an 1983 Centurion Accordo. Got me from here to there while lost my license to speeding tickets....loved the bike...loved riding...but life moved on. Now in my 40's bikes are back on my radar. I looked at alum, carbo, everything but fell in love with a 2009 Bianchi Volpe...STEEL. All that did is bring me full circle...Schwinn Paramount 1978, Trek 700 1983, now arriving soon 1983-84 Tri-Color Schwinn Paramount (Waterford build). Thanks to a modern machine...I have found my roots once again....+1

My modern bike will be C&V inspired...

I'm a road/paved trail only rider, my Raleigh is a 68cm and far from collectible but I love it and it does ride fabulously.

OK, I'll cross the road..... and in this scinelliario, iab is my hero.

I've still got mostly C&V bikes (half a dozen lugged steel frames of various origins) but my favorite riders lately have been 2 titanium road bikes with carbon forks and 9 and 10 speed brifter drivetrains and my titanium mtn bike with old fashioned thumb shifters. I've got one Eddy Merckx frameset I've reserved for a future build and just acquired my first Campy (Centaur drivetrain) to mount on it. We'll see if that gets me riding steel more frequently again.

I would love to have a Cyrene. That bike is truly a work of art.

Didn't know you wanted pics...



As usual, these are post-build, not final shots...trying out different wheels, etc...both appear a little different now.

-Mark in St. Louis

Nice saddle!

Two of my 'modern' bikes (if that is what we are confessing)

I confess that these were sold.

My modern bike. I think it is actually pretty hideous but I confess I really like the ride. It is pretty much top of the line in the "plush" or "comfort" category of modern CF bikes.

I like my steels, but I have to admit; that frame, that group, would be hard to suit up for a long ride on anything else.