What do you hate seeing on a gorgeous retro bike?

[OT-mtbr]

All depends on how retro. But... for me
1. Any kind of bottom bracket other than square taper
2. 4 arm cranks
3. Riser bars (although as we all get older we may need them for comfort)
4. Disc brakes (who needs them)

 

[elPedro666]

Why on earth would any sensibly proportioned frame then need a 15degree+ stem? A longer headtube will resist twist and give a stiffer, more accurate front end anyway, so that's no bad thing, although I feel I wander from the point a little there...

So your only reason is that if you want a riding position way higher than the designer intended, buy a frame that's too small for you and extend the controls so that the top tube isn't so scary? And then presumably try not to roll it because it'll be way to short for you? I'm clearly not following...

The correctly sized/proportioned frame will give you all the standover you need, if you raise the bars more than the 'normal' range the designer had in mind you'll just unbalance the bike and lose front end grip.

I do agree gangly stems can look funny though

And it's my bell I have trouble squeezing on there, hence the beef with OS as well

Dammit - I have to go now, I'm enjoying this too!

 

[thecannibal]

Why on earth would any sensibly proportioned frame then need a 15degree+ stem? A longer headtube will resist twist and give a stiffer, more accurate front end anyway, so that's no bad thing, although I feel I wander from the point a little there...

So your only reason is that if you want a riding position way higher than the designer intended, buy a frame that's too small for you and extend the controls so that the top tube isn't so scary? And then presumably try not to roll it because it'll be way to short for you? I'm clearly not following...

The correctly sized/proportioned frame will give you all the standover you need, if you raise the bars more than the 'normal' range the designer had in mind you'll just unbalance the bike and lose front end grip.

I do agree gangly stems can look funny though

And it's my bell I have trouble squeezing on there, hence the beef with OS as well

Dammit - I have to go now, I'm enjoying this too!

I may have mislead by saying an 'absurdly high stem'. What I meant was that riser bars serve a very real and well-reasoned role on many bikes and that to achieve the same position by adding rise to the stem looks rubbish (ditto with having a quill stem extended up overly high or a lot of spacers on the steerer).

Given the choice between two MTBs that are identical apart from one has flat bars and an extra 1.5in on the headtube, while the other has risers and 1.5" less on the headtube, (from a purely functional standpoint) I'd choose the latter. This isn't about having a tiny frame with giant bars or stem - it's about getting optimum riding position with maximum off-road control and manoeuvrability, without any major compromises. I reckon that's why the vast majority of MTBers favour risers: they make sense!

 

[classen]

If threads like this put anyone off 'retrobiking', then they're taking it all a bit too seriously.

I couldn't agree more. It's just people having some fun. Because of the nature of a forum where everything is written down sometimes things seem less intimate/personal and are taken way too seriously.

Image you're sitting around a table drinking some pints with a group of your buddies talking about biking BITD and talking about what you hate to see on a classic old mountain bike.... It's all in jest.... just sit back, relax, and let the hatred flow.

 

[suburbanreuben]

If threads like this put anyone off 'retrobiking', then they're taking it all a bit too seriously.

I couldn't agree more. It's just people having some fun. Because of the nature of a forum where everything is written down sometimes things seem less intimate/personal and are taken way too seriously.

Image you're sitting around a table drinking some pints with a group of your buddies talking about biking BITD and talking about what you hate to see on a classic old mountain bike.... It's all in jest.... just sit back, relax, and let the hatred flow.

Yep, can the mods lock this for a few hours until we're all bevvied up?

 

[Neil]

If threads like this put anyone off 'retrobiking', then they're taking it all a bit too seriously.

I couldn't agree more. It's just people having some fun. Because of the nature of a forum where everything is written down sometimes things seem less intimate/personal and are taken way too seriously.

Image you're sitting around a table drinking some pints with a group of your buddies talking about biking BITD and talking about what you hate to see on a classic old mountain bike.... It's all in jest.... just sit back, relax, and let the hatred flow.

Yep, can the mods lock this for a few hours until we're all bevvied up?

That sounds a bit snobby, to me...

Elitism coming to the fore? What about those people fully bevvied up at 10:30 in the morning? Surely we shouldn't exclude them?

I'm just saying...

 

[jamabikes]

yeah too late for me. right must put the tea in the bath and get the kids out the oven..

 

[elPedro666]

I may have mislead by saying an 'absurdly high stem'. What I meant was that riser bars serve a very real and well-reasoned role on many bikes and that to achieve the same position by adding rise to the stem looks rubbish (ditto with having a quill stem extended up overly high or a lot of spacers on the steerer).

Given the choice between two MTBs that are identical apart from one has flat bars and an extra 1.5in on the headtube, while the other has risers and 1.5" less on the headtube, (from a purely functional standpoint) I'd choose the latter. This isn't about having a tiny frame with giant bars or stem - it's about getting optimum riding position with maximum off-road control and manoeuvrability, without any major compromises. I reckon that's why the vast majority of MTBers favour risers: they make sense!

From a purely functional point of view you'd choose the one with the flexier front end and heavier components? Because it looks nicer?

If you're adding and inch and a half to the front end of an old bike it's going to handle horribly, wheelie on the climbs and steer really vaguely, even 5mm makes quite a pronounced difference (I was surprised that little does but was playing around recently), but needing to add 35mm? We're back in wrong frame territory I think.

I really do have to go this time...

 

[thecannibal]

I may have mislead by saying an 'absurdly high stem'. What I meant was that riser bars serve a very real and well-reasoned role on many bikes and that to achieve the same position by adding rise to the stem looks rubbish (ditto with having a quill stem extended up overly high or a lot of spacers on the steerer).

Given the choice between two MTBs that are identical apart from one has flat bars and an extra 1.5in on the headtube, while the other has risers and 1.5" less on the headtube, (from a purely functional standpoint) I'd choose the latter. This isn't about having a tiny frame with giant bars or stem - it's about getting optimum riding position with maximum off-road control and manoeuvrability, without any major compromises. I reckon that's why the vast majority of MTBers favour risers: they make sense!

From a purely functional point of view you'd choose the one with the flexier front end and heavier components? Because it looks nicer?

If you're adding and inch and a half to the front end of an old bike it's going to handle horribly, wheelie on the climbs and steer really vaguely, even 5mm makes quite a pronounced difference (I was surprised that little does but was playing around recently), but needing to add 35mm? We're back in wrong frame territory I think.

I really do have to go this time...

OK, we're gonna have to agree to disagree then, because I'd say 90% of early '90s MTBs are MASSIVELY improved by fitting a shorter stem and a set of low/mid risers. I'm talking function and actual mountainbiking, not aesthetics and car park posing.

I never said that I prefer risers because they look better (I only said they look better than a jacked-up stem). Added weight and flex are clearly not a given either, as I'm comparing using risers with having a longer headtube (and therefore heavier, flexier frame).

 

[suburbanreuben]

If threads like this put anyone off 'retrobiking', then they're taking it all a bit too seriously.

I couldn't agree more. It's just people having some fun. Because of the nature of a forum where everything is written down sometimes things seem less intimate/personal and are taken way too seriously.

Image you're sitting around a table drinking some pints with a group of your buddies talking about biking BITD and talking about what you hate to see on a classic old mountain bike.... It's all in jest.... just sit back, relax, and let the hatred flow.

Yep, can the mods lock this for a few hours until we're all bevvied up?

That sounds a bit snobby, to me...

Elitism coming to the fore? What about those people fully bevvied up at 10:30 in the morning? Surely we shouldn't exclude them?

I'm just saying...

No they can just keep drinking. It's when you stop that it all falls apart.
Sorry if I'm a lightweight; i'll do my best to catch up.