Simple question really, but maybe not that simple.
I picked up a '92 Scott Windriver last year. Pretty much original, one XT shifter pod has been replaced but I think that's pretty much the only change from stock.
Riding it for the first time a couple of months ago brought back lots of memories, and also reminded me how far bikes had come. No longer could I go smashing through a trail, relying on the suspension to deal with the surface underneath. I had to read, and re-read the trail continuously, calculating the best line. The elbows went out, the head went down and slowly my body remembered how to ride a rigid. After my first ride my wife asked 'how was it'. I replied 'terrifying and exhilarating in equal measure'. I now seem to have a perverse pleasure in riding this old bike, favouring it more than my (comparatively modern) Whyte 46. It scampers up hills, the joy of that being tempered by trying to stop my eyeballs falling out on the descents.
I live but 2 minutes from the Swinley trails in Crowthorne so have been bashing round there for a number of years. On Saturday I rode the Scott end-to-end on the red trails. The recent spell of dry weather has had an impact on the trails. They are very dry, dusty and are developing holes and scars where previously none existed. On a couple of occasions the front wheel dropped into a hole and I had to wrestle it out. On another it made a horrible bang, almost metal on flint and for a moment I thought I had taco'd the wheel.
The point to this rambling, is a question. How much do you trust an old bike? The recent joy of this old (steel) Scott has me thinking about upgrading to a better rigid (maybe hardtail) and my eye is drawn to many things. The odd Pace, Klein or even an AMP (which I have owned before) have passed through my watchlist, but I continuously remove them fearing that they would inevitably lead to a trip to A&E when the old alu fails.
So, how much do you trust an old bike, and given the riding I am doing (if any of you know Swinley you will have a better understanding of the environment) is it better to stick to Steel/Ti than Alu/Carbon?
Look forward to your thoughts.
Ade
I picked up a '92 Scott Windriver last year. Pretty much original, one XT shifter pod has been replaced but I think that's pretty much the only change from stock.
Riding it for the first time a couple of months ago brought back lots of memories, and also reminded me how far bikes had come. No longer could I go smashing through a trail, relying on the suspension to deal with the surface underneath. I had to read, and re-read the trail continuously, calculating the best line. The elbows went out, the head went down and slowly my body remembered how to ride a rigid. After my first ride my wife asked 'how was it'. I replied 'terrifying and exhilarating in equal measure'. I now seem to have a perverse pleasure in riding this old bike, favouring it more than my (comparatively modern) Whyte 46. It scampers up hills, the joy of that being tempered by trying to stop my eyeballs falling out on the descents.
I live but 2 minutes from the Swinley trails in Crowthorne so have been bashing round there for a number of years. On Saturday I rode the Scott end-to-end on the red trails. The recent spell of dry weather has had an impact on the trails. They are very dry, dusty and are developing holes and scars where previously none existed. On a couple of occasions the front wheel dropped into a hole and I had to wrestle it out. On another it made a horrible bang, almost metal on flint and for a moment I thought I had taco'd the wheel.
The point to this rambling, is a question. How much do you trust an old bike? The recent joy of this old (steel) Scott has me thinking about upgrading to a better rigid (maybe hardtail) and my eye is drawn to many things. The odd Pace, Klein or even an AMP (which I have owned before) have passed through my watchlist, but I continuously remove them fearing that they would inevitably lead to a trip to A&E when the old alu fails.
So, how much do you trust an old bike, and given the riding I am doing (if any of you know Swinley you will have a better understanding of the environment) is it better to stick to Steel/Ti than Alu/Carbon?
Look forward to your thoughts.
Ade
