Nice saddle.
Good spotNice saddle.
My experience of this subject is almost identical to classic cars...
My classics were used on high days and holidays, taken out and given a gentle beasting, then cleaned and put away again ready for the next special occasion...Same as my retro bikes are.
My 2 29er's (a carbon stumpy HT and a carbon epic FSR) are used for shredding and generally hard riding and enable me to keep up with my pals on their 29ers...There isn't the emotional attachment to them like I have for the retros, they're more seen as tools to do a job, however they are a lot more resilient to punishment than the retro bikes, with those always needing something doing after a ride, whether that be a wheel true, nut and bolt session or just a mech readjustment...I can never seem to just pop one away and be sure that I can drag it straight out the next time and put it in the car ready to go!
With all that said, I can keep up with guys on their HT 29ers when out riding 26", I just have to work a lot harder and end up blowing out of my arse sooner!!!
There is also the attention the older bikes get...The 29ers just get walked by when getting them out of the car or stood up after a ride whilst getting a coffee...My Retro's always get some great comments and usually a couple of guys stood around them asking about them and reminiscing!!!
Ultimately, as with everything...the modern stuff becomes the workhorses and the retro stuff becomes the treasured pieces...
View attachment 769523
I bought an Orbea Alma 29er in 2018 and wasn't immediately impressed, a lot heavier than a 90s MTB. Only recently started using it at local trails in Cwmcarn and can see the benefits now, especially XT disc brakes!Just wondered if anyone else here has gone up a couple of wheel sizes recently?
It’s not a decision I’ve made lightly, I worked really hard last year and work have been generous with a decent bonus in my December pay packet. My initial thoughts were to use it towards a ‘bucket list’ bike, I have a few that I’d like to build and ride, but..
I’ve got a garage full of exclusively 26” bikes, none have disc brakes. I love them all but trouble is - when the weather is like this I’m reluctant to use all but a couple of them for worry of getting them dirty or wearing out components which are getting harder to source for sensible money..
My New Year’s resolution is to ride more and tinker less and I’ve owned a hardtail 27.5er and full suss 29er (both Norco’s) in the past, both of which ate up miles with ease. I want to do that again, but with a foot still in the retro camp; I’ve opted for a Marin Pine Mountain 1. It’s steel, seems well specced and reviews suggest that with the upright riding position it’s designed to be ridden for miles at a time.
I’ll probably sell off a few retro bikes and parts in the spring to make space and free up some cash but slow down on building and ride some more.
Anyone feeling the same?
Yep, 62 last month and I have shifted tons of stuff,my garage is now empty of clutter and I have only 2 bikes a Ducati TK01-RR Mullet ebike,and a very nice almost retro Castellano silk Ti soft tail,and I have to say it has made life simpler.You'll be buying a ebike next. I appreciate there are a number of forum posters who still ride rigid 26ers down double blacks and beat the pros to the bottom, but for the rest of us 20+ years of (mostly) improvements and innovation are hard to ignore.
For nearly 20 years this was my main ride and it hardly ever got a second glance.If it did it was by true retro geeks,my mates bikes were much more ordinary and got the looks,it has now been sold (on this site).Now the new hotness gets the looks,My experience of this subject is almost identical to classic cars...
My classics were used on high days and holidays, taken out and given a gentle beasting, then cleaned and put away again ready for the next special occasion...Same as my retro bikes are.
My 2 29er's (a carbon stumpy HT and a carbon epic FSR) are used for shredding and generally hard riding and enable me to keep up with my pals on their 29ers...There isn't the emotional attachment to them like I have for the retros, they're more seen as tools to do a job, however they are a lot more resilient to punishment than the retro bikes, with those always needing something doing after a ride, whether that be a wheel true, nut and bolt session or just a mech readjustment...I can never seem to just pop one away and be sure that I can drag it straight out the next time and put it in the car ready to go!
With all that said, I can keep up with guys on their HT 29ers when out riding 26", I just have to work a lot harder and end up blowing out of my arse sooner!!!
There is also the attention the older bikes get...The 29ers just get walked by when getting them out of the car or stood up after a ride whilst getting a coffee...My Retro's always get some great comments and usually a couple of guys stood around them asking about them and reminiscing!!!
Ultimately, as with everything...the modern stuff becomes the workhorses and the retro stuff becomes the treasured pieces...
View attachment 769523