Is Retro faster?

[velomaniac]

Retro just feels faster as everythings rattling, grip through lack of suspensions sketchy, brakes dont work to modern standards and if in 90's xc stance your leaning forward over the wheel feeling imediately at the pointy end.

Motoring comparison, a beat up Escort 1100 circa 82 trying to overtake a lorry on the A1 feels like its tearing itself apart with sheer effort v a 2013 Focus 1.4 that doesn't blink and thus seems effortless and thus slow when in fact its the opposite.

 

[We_are_Stevo]

Retro just feels faster as everythings rattling, grip through lack of suspensions sketchy, brakes dont work to modern standards and if in 90's xc stance your leaning forward over the wheel feeling imediately at the pointy end.

Motoring comparison, a beat up Escort 1100 circa 82 trying to overtake a lorry on the A1 feels like its tearing itself apart with sheer effort v a 2013 Focus 1.4 that doesn't blink and thus seems effortless and thus slow when in fact its the opposite.

Probably the definitive answer, my own now made redundant...

 

[kingoffootball]

I tend to find I'm faster the more comfortable with and used to the bike I am. So in some respects it would make sense to be quicker on a bike you've ridden a lot more times in a lot more conditions, though obviously there are changes over time with tyres etc.

 

[jaypee]

I rode... to work

On road? Retro is probably faster on road - retro rigid is probably closer to a road bike than a modern mtb

 

[racer x]

really need to get a top pro rider to try this out on 2 well set up bikes to his riding style then get him to go really flat out on a race track to find out

i think yes older is fast if there both hardtails

Ritchey P21 TEAM works bike VS 2013 scott scale hardtail carbon team works bike? love to see that with raced round the Mayhem track...by say someone like Nick craig

 

[highlandsflyer]

If you have a limited budget, say £500, you can certainly get a high end 'retro' that would be hard to match buying new.

 

[legrandefromage]

I once raced my manager, he was 26, a roadie on a 2011 Scott Scale and about 11 stone. I was 38, 14 stone and on a bike some 18 years older.

It was very very close, my brute force against his athleticism. The 19 year old that was also riding with us on a top end hardtail carbon Moda was left behind.

It still really depends on the rider. If you could find one that isnt biased, you could certainly have some fun finding out.

 

[Kona lover]

You could blindfold the rider so they don't know what they are riding - oh wait a minute......

 

[Russell]

I'm faster on my moderns than on my retros.

Same rider, same trails, only difference is the bike beneath me.

 

[We_are_Stevo]

It would be interesting, as others have similarly suggested, to have a RetroBIKE meet at a trail park and time each other down a particular run on both retro and modern bikes (as a large contingent of members have both?)...

...that would prove pretty conclusive