They psychology of change

[winjohn]

I think I know how you feel. I have had and still have similar issues. It started with mountain bikes 20 years ago when I got back into cycling via riding the trails around here. It ended with me riding the South Down's Way in one day almost 20 years ago now. That was on a Kona Fire Mountain hardtail although I had started my off roading a few years before on my 1991 Rockhopper.

I then started to see a load of really nice retro mountain bikes being sold for anthing from a fiver to 25 quid and could not resist buying them. In the meantime I had bought a "modern" (2010ish) Cube with XTR disc groupset and Fox forks to ride. Then I stopped riding so much but carried on buying, fixing and selling the 90s mountain bikes. But keeping the "best" ones.
I still have two Zaskars, two Cindercones. a team Marin, and two Stumpies, as well as the original Rockhopper, Fire Mountain and Cube. I have only ever really ridden those three for any distance. I recently gave away six MTBs, four Saracens and 2 Marins, to a charity.

About five years ago though I returned to road cycling and started collecting and restoring 80s road bike starting with A Galaxy. I now have about a dozen road bikes of the 80s, Raleighs' 2 Dynatechs, a RRA and Royal, 2 Carltons, a Codex, a Mercian, an Evans, a Roy Thame then more modern ones I actually ride more often, a Cube disc gravel, a Specialized Tarmac and Allez.
So I'm in deep!
The first phase of my plan is in collaboration with GIGFY, I'll let him elaborate in due course if he wishes.
The next phase is selling all the retro MTBs except the Team Marin, the original Rockhopper and maybe a Kona.
I intend to get down to less than a dozen bikes from the present 41! Well see how that goes!
Sorry I can't help you....

 

[Tootyred]

Dont bend well any more. Completly knackered back. Vertebra welded.

So bars, stem....up a lot! Plus my reach is now limited...so short stem....but hight reach...it all adds up to a bit of a horribly ungainly cockpit..

 

[Takingabreak]

Swap the "Gav stem" type parts across from your "riders" to the bikes that hold sentimental value then sell what are currently your riders.

 

[Tootyred]

Ive sold off a lot of old kit, but i just don't want to part with these two bikes. One has serious history with me.

I think its kind of a loss....you know admitting you can't do something. Im not stupid, i know im not 19....i know that I've changed (thank god in some ways) and i know my backs in bad shape.... ive changed my mattress, car i drive, motorbike, work, everything to make allowances for that....as we all do as we age to some degree.

Im just really struggling as I think this is pretty engrained in my life and mind. Changing them seems oddly like a defeat too far. But i cant see why over the other changes.

 

[Tootyred]

@Takingabreak sadly they dont fit.

Its more that even if they did putting that stuff on, with riser bars etc is just going to look wrong...and admit some kind of defeat....more to the point.

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

I’m the same I think. I hardly ever go mountain biking anymore. Two or three times this year. This is largely down to the fact I haven’t kept a retro ride for occasional use and use something more modern for riding.
It isn’t particularly a money issue, I could afford a new bike or two.
No, it is my brain and eyes saying, “Don’t do it!”
To me mountain bikes look a certain way. Saddle higher than the bars, longish stem and preferably, chainrings that overlap the rear tyre.
I really do want to try modern (I think they even fit it to the back of the bike) suspension and brakes. I have never tried disc brakes. I’m reasonably tall so even being made to use wrong sized wheels isn’t a deal breaker.
I just can’t see past the 1 x gearing. Tiny chainring and huge sprockets make bikes look like something Jet Avery would be hopping around on back in the day.

 

[KermitGKona88]

 

[Tootyred]

Its partly....

"This is what i did and how i did it when i was young"

Now i can't

That's a big defeat to accept.

Im struggling to see over it.....although ive done it in many other aspects.

Stupid really.

But i suppose if it was something crucial like a car, i would just get on with it. Because its a hobby and non critical, im not as minded to compromise.

 

[Takingabreak]

@Takingabreak sadly they dont fit.

Its more that even if they did putting that stuff on, with riser bars etc is just going to look wrong...and admit some kind of defeat....more to the point.

Sell them and be rid of the mental baggage, otherwise everytime you look at them,you will be reminded that you can no longer ride them.

 

[MattiThundrrr]

Im annoyed I can't ride the style I love from my past, sad that im moving away from something I love and frustrated by my own lack of willpower to start making changes and get over the issue

I recently made dramatic changes to an old friend. After a few rides, the attachment to the old ways faded, I was just happy to be spending time with it again. Now, I'm ready for even more drastic alterations