So many bike sites seem to loathe "retro". Why?

[Tsundere]

90s MTB (which really refers to early 80s - mid 90s ATB/MTB) in particular makes the average consoomer bike website seethe, and the reasons are simple, they survive by selling advertising, they exist to hawk new kit, the fact that there are all these old bikes out there still being used and still working fine, the fact that most modern non racing bikes (commuter, hybrid, gravel etc) are effectively modern takes on the 90s MTB, well it embarrasses their patrons and makes people question whether paying through the nose for something just because it's new is really the smartest thing you can do.

We all know how durable and comfortable the early mountain bikes are, especially the better rigid steel framed ones with mid to high end groupsets, overbuilt is often used to describe them and that is about right, and because the sport was in its infancy during that time the bikes were yet to fully evolve into the specialist downhill/trials/jump bikes we see today, they still carry plenty of road bike DNA and are therefore perfectly suited for urban riding while still being more than capable on all but the most technical terrain, which less than 5% of cyclists ever encounter.

Retro makes a mockery of consumerism, it hurts the bottom line, in fact it seems to hurt the very bottoms of those who are fully plugged in to the consumer grid.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

90s MTB (which really refers to early 80s - mid 90s ATB/MTB) in particular makes the average consoomer bike website seethe, and the reasons are simple, they survive by selling advertising, they exist to hawk new kit, the fact that there are all these old bikes out there still being used and still working fine, the fact that most modern non racing bikes (commuter, hybrid, gravel etc) are effectively modern takes on the 90s MTB, well it embarrasses their patrons and makes people question whether paying through the nose for something just because it's new is really the smartest thing you can do.

We all know how durable and comfortable the early mountain bikes are, especially the better rigid steel framed ones with mid to high end groupsets, overbuilt is often used to describe them and that is about right, and because the sport was in its infancy during that time the bikes were yet to fully evolve into the specialist downhill/trials/jump bikes we see today, they still carry plenty of road bike DNA and are therefore perfectly suited for urban riding while still being more than capable on all but the most technical terrain, which less than 5% of cyclists ever encounter.

Retro makes a mockery of consumerism, it hurts the bottom line, in fact it seems to hurt the very bottoms of those who are fully plugged in to the consumer grid.

Well said

 

[grantoury]

I like retro stuff for two reasons: I like all bikes and bike history 2) I like the quality of older material like solid aluminium cranks and square taper BB, and steel as a material for a frame. But those last two things I don't nessecarily think of as retro. It is a high standard of quality for bicycles that was abandoned by manufacturers in order to maximise profit and further sales. But that doesn't diminish the merit of those materials. Were shimano to still make decent stuff, I would go out and buy it and be happy rather than find NOS stuff as I do now. I would prefer to ride a new bicycle with those qualities and keep older ones for their beauty.

 

[legrandefromage]

A young bike mechanic all but pleaded on Radio 4 for people not to do repairs or servicing at home as it was dangerous and 'there's over 120 moving parts on a bicycle and they shouldn't be touched by amateurs or well meaning but miss guided family members'

Most bicycle shops started out as 'amateur' mechanics so to hear this on the radio... Nearly spat out my granola

That's what you have to deal with these days, a separation from customer and product. What we bearded old farts see as a quick and easy fix is a confluxation of problems that the shop must fix - us beardies are now the same men in sheds that we in our youth mocked or at least allowed a titter to escape when wandering around classic car shows

Except for us, our hobby generally makes us a fitter and younger looking generation to those of 30 40 years ago. We are the usurper, an irritant to the cycling industry, we can operate independently without the need for social media attention, we can fix our own weird old shit as well as ride the tits off it.

And people don't like it

 

[Tootyred]

Here here! Well said LGF.

Can't agree more....i regularly pass off as 70 years old, when in fact im 15 years younger.....i put that all down to my hobbies.

 

[MattiThundrrr]

we can operate independently without the need for social media attention

Forums are a type of social media... BOTM competition could be construed as "need for attention". Heck if you want to dissect it, my entire personality is a cry for attention!
Other than that, spot on!

 

[New York Albertan]

Well said

Yes, indeed.

90s MTB (which really refers to early 80s - mid 90s ATB/MTB) in particular makes the average consoomer bike website seethe, and the reasons are simple, they survive by selling advertising, they exist to hawk new kit, the fact that there are all these old bikes out there still being used and still working fine, the fact that most modern non racing bikes (commuter, hybrid, gravel etc) are effectively modern takes on the 90s MTB, well it embarrasses their patrons and makes people question whether paying through the nose for something just because it's new is really the smartest thing you can do.

We all know how durable and comfortable the early mountain bikes are, especially the better rigid steel framed ones with mid to high end groupsets, overbuilt is often used to describe them and that is about right, and because the sport was in its infancy during that time the bikes were yet to fully evolve into the specialist downhill/trials/jump bikes we see today, they still carry plenty of road bike DNA and are therefore perfectly suited for urban riding while still being more than capable on all but the most technical terrain, which less than 5% of cyclists ever encounter.

Retro makes a mockery of consumerism, it hurts the bottom line, in fact it seems to hurt the very bottoms of those who are fully plugged in to the consumer grid.

This articulates my feelings, as well. My kids somehow got turned onto vinyl - they each got a turntable for their room that were being used on the in-laws farm in seriously-rural Saskatchewan. Now, they're spinning vinyl - and loving it! Their friends think they are so hip. And they are, like their parents!

My wife does lean towards "new" now, though early in our marriage, our home decor was all thrift/charity shops, or yard sales. It was cool - people loved hanging out in our eclectic home. And all that old stuff worked - even our rotary phones (we still have one!). I like the idea of these old bikes being brought back, and actually used. This site has been a real find for me. Whoever created it - thanks!

 

[rwm1962]

I'm 60, missed 90's MTB's as my mountain fix back them was all on 2 feet. Now as a keen cyclist I just prefer the bikes from the 90's & very early Y2K's to the modern ones - especially after a spell working in a bike shop recently. I had a brief dalliance with a modern gravel bike but I'm over it now. I'm a fettler by nature & ex-profession so love the building & tweaking of the the retro bikes. My son has a lovely carbon fibre top end Santa Cruz & rides the hell out of it. It's a lovely machine but for what I do any old Orange hardtail or full rigid bike is just perfect.

 

[Imlach]

Oh you're really tugging at the retro heart strings of all the old timers on here, warms my soul. This was their time to shine.

Being of the much younger category of Retrobikers, I have been brought up with aluminium BSO shite, then discovered that steel is real and ever since it's been a steady decline into the pits of obsession and financial multilation

 

[Imlach]

But all the other bike forums are phony and without soul. Retrobike is a family, I've disowned my real one.