I did a search and could find no FAQ, so I guess I'll throw it out to the members.

Does an early 90's bike qualify?

Do you want it to? If yes, then yes.

We'll know it when we see it. Post a photo.

I posted a poor iPhone photo in the Univega appreciation thread - will have better pics after they are out of the shop tomorrow...

the CR list (Classic Rendezvous) holds to a very firm rule: 1983 (oops, my typo, thanks for the cx, Zorro) and prior, with only exceptions being modern "keeper-of-the-flame" handbuilt steel frames (and KOF status is a bit of a gray area).
Luckily (IMHO) we here at C&V aren't that hidebound.
If you think it's "Classic" and/or "Vintage" I'm not going to shoot you down.

1983 actually. But like you mention, we're quite a bit more tolerant here.

1986 or older... That way my 1986 Schwinn Voyageur qualifies, but I otherwise keep the term as restrictive as possible. .

1984 or so was the end of Nuovo Record and the start of mountain bikes, index shifting, aluminum frames, hidden brake cables, clipless pedals and all that other nasty unnecessary high-fangled technology...

But heck, ride whatever you like!

In my mind, anything that came into the industry since I last worked in a bike shop is "new." The bikes we used to work on back then, those are "classic." Except for the cheap junk, of course.

And no, I'm not going to spoil the fun by telling you when that was!

Hardcore (Vintage) like Classic Rendezvous stop at the Aero brake lever. Less hardcore (classic) say indexing. Wimps, like me (retro) stop at brifteurs. Lugs are probably mandatory, whether steel, aluminum or carbon fiber, except for the rare impossible to lug styles like funny-bikes and such.

That's my theory anyway.

I've always looked at vintage as being a sliding date, after a certain age it becomes vintage. I'd look at anything of 25-30 years old as vintage.

Classic is a bit harder to define with clarity, and depends more on quality then age. Some bikes are classics, while others of the same year or from the same maker are vintage, or just plain old junk.

Many cars bikes and other things follow a definate curve, from new to used, then just old and cheap, to fairly hard to find, and then back into high demand with high prices.

Ken.

3.50

I say STI/Ergos which would be prior to '91 and older.

For me, the Classic period ends right around the time Look pedals came out.

Specifically the Mavic Look pedal as I have the Mavic pedals on my bike and nothing else but Campy Nuovo and Super Rercord and Superbe brakes...

Here is your pic.

BTW, we did a Classic and Vintage hybrid thread a while back and nobody complained about my 1993 Raleigh. So your Univega is fine. And, I think, your Univega is a cousin to my Raleigh.

It really makes me feel really old to hear someone describe a bike from the 1990s as "vintage"!

Neal

me too.

I gotta think the cutoff date is somewhere in early 80's...Anything with a compact geometry is out In my Opinion. Keep those damned sloping top tubes out of my sight!

I've got a Skykomish MTB from '91 and I'd never consider that Classic or Vintage.

So basically I'm pushing the definition. *sigh*

ok, that's cool. Still trying to verify the manufacturing date. Stopped by the bike shop at lunch and couldn't find a serial number in the normal spot. I did, however, find "Made in Taiwan" stickers, which surprised me a bit. That might work against my 'vintage' idea as well...

"Vintage" is properly used with a year or era, for example "a 1960's vintage guitar". So if you would like you can proudly display your 2009 vintage Trek and be correct. Classic is a combination of design, time and popularity. Neon fades can be referred to as "classic". Ironic!

vjp

For motorbikes, the UK's Vintage Motorcycle Club reckons anything that's over 25 years old qualifies as vintage and pre 1915 is Veteran (my dad does both - his oldest James motorcyle dates to 1911 and the newest to 1959).

e2a: there was a bit of heated debate in the late 80s when it became apparent that they'd have to let Japanese bikes into the Vintage fold

from Sheldon Brown's web site:

"They were generally pretty decent bikes from various sources, mostly in Japan, later/lower end models were from Taiwan."

well crap

lower-end doesn't always = Crap bike. Often times the frame is nearly identical to bikes a little higher up in the line, just with cheaper components.

on the other hand Taiwan is generally seen as the fountainhead of cheapo stuff.

Anything that uses a chain drive is too new.

Good my 1986 Schwinn Voyageur qualifies also!

I'd say an original rear dropout spacing of 121.5mm, a 5 speed freewheel, and downtube friction shifters would qualify as vintage in just about any book.

If your Univega has a serial number beginning with R on the bottom bracket, it was built in Kent, Washington, by Derby, alongside Raleighs and late Nishikis. Almost vintage. Hang onto it about 3-5 years you'll be in.