What classifies a mtb to be retro ?

[jonnyboy666]

that actually made a bit of sense to me!!

 

[feetabix]

Epic mark......just epic!.....Tolstoy has doffed his cap in respect to your work!....

 

[Barneyballbags]

Please, please, PLEEEEEAAAAASSSSE search the forums before asking questions like this! I'm a relative newbie compared to others on here and even I've seen it asked more times than I can remember!

If this happens in future, could the mods perhaps put a link to one of the previous threads, and then lock it?

 

[makster]

Pretty sure a Raleigh firefly falls into the WDS category??

 

[mikee]

i was avoiding that one too :?

 

[pete_mcc]

If you get over taken by someone while on a ride and you don't mind because you can justify it by saying 'well, he only overtook me because my bike is so much older than his', then your bike is Retro.

The day you find that it costs less to buy a modern replacement part than to buy a period correct part your bike is Vintage.

The day you get an email from either a Japanese or a German person offering to buy your bike then you have a Classic.

 

[Ductape]

Around 1979, there was the 'new, new' - it was 'new' based on some 'old' ideas quantified and turned into a business principle and most importantly, a sport.

Around 1986 - The 'new,new' carried on being new for a few years but then some thought the 'new,new' was 'old' and came up with their own version of 'new' making the then barely old 'new, new' old and, wait for it 'retro'.

Around 1994 - The 'new,new,new' rapidly replaced the 'old,new,new', went global and big business took over. Many small new 'new,new,new' companies appeared, many famous names from the now 'old,new,new'. They themselves became big brands and were absorbed into even bigger brands.

These bigger brands then pretty much swamped the sport from the late '90's onwards, dominating and forcing trends that didnt need to be there. Any new 'new,new,new,new' small companies had to follow the big global brands to survive. As before, the big global brands absorbed the ideas of these 'new,new,new,new,new', suppressed some and forced more unwanted trends upon the sport.

So in order for anything to survive, it has to follow the 'new,new,new,new,new,new' otherwise its seen as 'old' and immediately unfashionable (a bit like us) and laughed at in certain magazines.

Now, there has been a bit of a sea change since the this site was set up in 2005 - whilst there is a hardcore of people that still insist that 'new,new,new,new,new,new' is fantastic and anything else is just bunk, there are those that suddenly remembered that the 'old,new,new' (the 'retro' stuff) was actually perfectly ok and mostly up to the job of what was started back in 1979.

Unfortunately, 'retro' has inadvertently become fashionable and is in danger of becoming the new 'new,new,new,new,new,new' which is starting to make those in the business of selling 'new,new,new,new,new,new' nervous so they have started cashing in on the 'retro'. This dilutes the whole point of 'retro' ending up with very poor examples of 'old' but not 'retro' being touted as genuine 'retro'.

A few point and laugh but here exists one of the best sources of information as to what is retro with many of the founders adding to that source and often answering questions or confirming/ denying urban myths.

So, spend a few hours searching the site, forget the marketing man's 'new,new,new,new,new,new' and have a bit of fun with the 'old'.

Good luck!

It takes a little while for it to settle in, but I'm sure you get there in the end.

Pretty good!

 

[Ductape]

If you get over taken by someone while on a ride and you don't mind because you can justify it by saying 'well, he only overtook me because my bike is so much older than his', then your bike is Retro.

The day you find that it costs less to buy a modern replacement part than to buy a period correct part your bike is Vintage.

The day you get an email from either a Japanese or a German person offering to buy your bike then you have a Classic.

Yes!

 

[hova]

If you get over taken by someone while on a ride and you don't mind because you can justify it by saying 'well, he only overtook me because my bike is so much older than his', then your bike is Retro.

The day you find that it costs less to buy a modern replacement part than to buy a period correct part your bike is Vintage.

The day you get an email from either a Japanese or a German person offering to buy your bike then you have a Classic.

Yes!

+1,000,000. Brilliant!

 

[mudokon]

cheers, lots helpful answers off to search what

WDS category

is now.

thnxs