Why do you 'do' Retrobikes?

[DM]

* I just like Retro stuff:
Bikes, skateboards, sneakers, vehicles, furniture;

* Aesthetics:
They look better than many modern bikes.

* Economics:
I can't afford a dozen new bikes, but now I CAN afford some of the bikes I wanted as a kid.

* Nostalgia:
If a bike has been on my "wish list" since I was a kid, I'd much prefer to buy that over some modern bike that will soon be superseded by next year's new fad.

* Ability:
I haven't got any better over the years, so why would I need a "better" bike each model-year?

* Eco-guilt:
I hate in-built obsolescence and hype. If something is good quality, it still works or can be fixed, why replace it with modern Chinese crap?

I don't see any point in keeping up with new technologies every model-year, because performance doesn't actually improve that fast.

And some "great ideas" turn out to be complete rubbish. External BB bearings etc. - Expensive, badly-engineered crap with a 3-month lifespan? No thanks!

 

[Mr Panda]

I hate in-built obsolescence and hype. If something is good quality, it still works or can be fixed, why replace it with modern Chinese crap?

I don't see any point in keeping up with new technologies every model-year, because performance doesn't actually improve that fast.

And some "great ideas" turn out to be complete rubbish. External BB bearings etc. - Expensive, badly-engineered crap with a 3-month lifespan? No thanks!

+100%

 

[Neil]

I'm here because i'm stuck in that time period, i'm still listening early 90's music on Mini-Disc, and driving an 80's car.

Mini-disc - I still have several portables, although it's getting to be much more occasional usage.

Used to think they were one of the coolest gadgets out there - almost a bit of a secret.

 

[LeeDevelopment]

Hmmm, I've been thinking about this and reflect most of the comments already posted.

There's this nostalgia 'bubble' where I/we think these are better parts, as they are what we lusted after back then. But are they really, I mean Kooka are notorious for breaking, Ringle Moby's have their clamps round off etc. Then it strikes me, modern parts are generally pretty damned good as well, exceptionally good in some respects, Thomson, Hope and Middleburn as examples, at the same time we also have the cheaper budget crap, same as we did back in the 90's. It is just that we don't have as many 'chi-chi boutique' part manufacturers these days and everything is more mass produced than done on a smaller scale. But that's economics in action, it's a bigger market these days. Put on your rose tinted glasses and everything back then was an ano-technicolour wonderland, take them off and most people had badly built Raleighs, Tensors, low end Saracens etc. It was only a select few who had the top kit, same as it is today.

I like the nostalgia though, I had a great time racing throughout the 90's and am lucky enough to have had access to a lot of top gear. Some of the aesthetics of the old stuff doesn't appear these days and that's good to hold on to and search for.

Having said that I love modern equipment, faster shifting, smoother suspension, better DH frame designs, i.e. the Spooky G2 proto as shown elsewhere on this website is cutting edge. Intense's 951 is amazing, Yeti still do what they've always done and keep pushing the envelope as well. Good design is still out there if you want it.

I guess I like both retro and modern in equal doses. I have a retro rig being built as I type as well as modern bikes, they each have their own unique identity.

 

[kaiser]

I'm here because i'm stuck in that time period, i'm still listening early 90's music on Mini-Disc, and driving an 80's car.

Mini-disc - I still have several portables, although it's getting to be much more occasional usage.

Used to think they were one of the coolest gadgets out there - almost a bit of a secret.

me too, still have separates unit, car unit and 2 portables. Unfortunately the ipod has killed off all of my hifi equipment.

 

[GoldenEraMTB]

I'm here because i'm stuck in that time period, i'm still listening early 90's music on Mini-Disc, and driving an 80's car.

Mini-disc - I still have several portables, although it's getting to be much more occasional usage.

Used to think they were one of the coolest gadgets out there - almost a bit of a secret.

me too, still have separates unit, car unit and 2 portables. Unfortunately the ipod has killed off all of my hifi equipment.

I'm sure there will still be a market for some of it at some point.

 

[kaiser]

I think I'm a bike geek, even since I was a nipper BMX/roadbikes/TT bikes/commuters have all taken up more time than is probably good. I'm not sure if the Retrobike faze would have passed by now if it wasn't for getting together and getting out riding with the MacRetro lot.

FWIW I have noticed a slight shift in my perspective though, I've nearly finished 2 moderns that will move my retrobikes into the collecting/fettling/occasional riding catergory.

 

[Andy B]

I like bikes

I don't mind if it's fully rigid, hardtail, full suss, retro or modern, single speed, or 27 gazillion gears, steel, alloy or carbon, you can have a right laugh on any of them.

Having missed out on most of the 90's biking wise, I don't have those aspirational bikes that most lust after, a Muddy Fox Courier was the height of my aspiration as a kid, there weren't many boutique or really high end bikes around in my town back then!

It's not what you ride, it's how you ride it

 

[DM]

Then it strikes me, modern parts are generally pretty damned good as well, exceptionally good in some respects, Thomson, Hope and Middleburn as examples, at the same time we also have the cheaper budget crap, same as we did back in the 90's.

Absolutely.
Most modern parts are very well engineered.
But a lot of "brands" are now just picked from a parts-catalogue and re-badged. So they lack any real identity.

The 3 you mentioned (Thomson, Hope and Middleburn) are exceptions. But all 3 are relatively small and continue something of the old-school image of "Small; Specialist; Well-engineered; Top quality".

Having said that I love modern equipment, faster shifting, smoother suspension, better DH frame designs....

Can't argue with that. My particular :idea: :shock: moment was modern hydro disk brakes. The simplicity, reliability and performance was just amazing, compared to anything I'd owned (and struggled to set up/ maintain) previously.

 

[outlander]

Every time I see a retrobike it brings back many fond memories. Thats why I've had the same bike for 20 years. I don't have the heart to buy a new one