Ewan Mcgregor's Mercian

[fossyant]

I was out with my new club recently, lots of picking up of my old bike to check weight, I.e. it's light, but I got asked when helping a guy to fix a puncture. "What's with the retro look, is it deliberate ?"

I just laughed and said nope, it is retro, it is 22 years old. His teeth nearly fell out. I am the same age as him, but have been cycling much longer.

 

[e-rider]

Bikes have not got quicker. Lighter, yes. Hand built bikes are something to behold. I have one. It's over 20 years old. I've never been beaten on my bike by a newer machine, its been the rider. You are the engine.

Steel bikes do have a fantastic ride. They eat up poor road surfaces, they zuzzz out poor surfaces very well.

lighter, stiffer and more aerodynamic does mean faster. I used ot race on a Mercian Superlight in the 1980s - at the time it was the danglies but I would never choose to ride such a machine today.