"Isn't modern bicycle technology absolutely wonderful?"😍

[FluffyChicken]

Dalby and likewise Sherwood are both everybody friendly reds. Children, people that can ride a bike, old farts on 30year bikes too, but want a bit more excitement and challenge.
It's just long if you do it all. Much is roads to get between sections.
It is what it is and should stay like that, go elsewhere if you want more, the Lake District and Scotland has some good none trail centre stuff, for example.

Both make a good Retobike trip and you'll be a bit knackered by the end (even when I was a lot fitter).

The hire bikes are why they are, example of modern bikes you can buy, for a nice easy day out in the woods.
Yeah it makes it easier, maybe make the fun less. It probably makes it easier to have chat and a drink if you're with people, maybe even look up and see the scenery on a modern bike, rather than the retro way of taking he buzz out with your fingers and legs... half stood up and absorbing that stone and tree root.

 

[bikeworkshop]

Modern mtbs should be better at the job than 30 year old designs.
But there are trail centres, groomed pistes, uplifts now,
not just bridleways and drove roads through the mountains...

You don't see many modern mtbs in use as town bikes anymore.

 

[MattiThundrrr]

But there are trail centres, groomed pistes, uplifts now,
not just bridleways and drove roads through the mountains...

In the 90s, I rode lift serviced (ski) trail centers on the thirty year old designs. The bike is still alive and kicking. Still loves trails, but sees all kinds of city action too. How many carbon bikes will be able to accomplish that? How is being less useful, for a shorter period, "better" at the job? All terrain in metal is superior to today's narrow focused designs in carbon

 

[brocklanders023]

Yeah, tbf the shoots of what became Dalby were making the press when I lived in Scarborough in 1999. Trail centres have been around as long as many retro bikes.

 

[Imlach]

I really think this thread would work better as a yes or no question.

 

[bikeworkshop]

I really think this thread would work better as a yes or no question.

The whole forum could be simply reduced to "retrobikes yes or no?"

We'd all save a lot of time

 

[brocklanders023]

It can't really be a yes or no though. Many parts of modern tech are wonderful but plenty of others aren't.

As long as there are people there will be disagreements. Full suspension was such a divisive topic bitd that they actually designed a whole system to act like a rigid frame most of the time!

Personally I have had a reasonably recent modern bike for the last 20 years so have seen things that worked and stuff that didn't (Rapid Rise was still correct btw, just not with the weird brake lever/shifters). Geometry stayed pretty static up to 2010ish so older kit still felt great but the acceleration of geometry since and my moving with the updates means steep head angle, small wheels, long stems and short top tubes feel all wrong. If that's what you prefer the modern stuff will feel odd.

Undoubtedly suspension has improved to a huge extent, dropper posts and hydraulic disc brakes improve off road riding and bigger wheels are better 95% of the time. Saying that, 1x gears are no real improvement (except for allowing geometry changes due to not factoring in a front mech), smaller wheels make for a livelier bike and even though the benefits that lead to higher weights are considerable, you still feel it when you're tired.

It's all academic anyway as E-Bikes are taking over so all bets are off!!

 

[Imlach]

Yes from me