Hi.
Time for another pointless waffle :-) :-)
As you may already know ,I got back into cycling a few years back after buying a cheap but very sentimental old 80s Peugeot steel bike. After putting many miles on it I decided to splash out and buy a modern Specialized bike. The Peugeot got hung on the wall for most of the summer whilst I got to grips with the specialized bike. It was nice to have the lightweight and modern gears of the specialized allez elite and have thoroughly enjoyed using it over the summer building up my fitness, and seeing new places on it. Before I bought it though, I genuinely thought my cycling would be transformed by it's lightweight frame and modern gearing, but in truth it wasn't that much of the leap I hoped for. As much as the pros there's also a few con's. I think comfort was the biggest draw back of the Specialized. Don't get me wrong , I can ride the specialized all day long, but the old Steel framed Peugeot really does feel so much plusher on a long ride. Also as for thinking my new bike would propel along the road at lightening speed didn't really materialise either. I would say I cycle maybe 1 mph faster on average on it overall. The last few days gone I've decided to use the Peugeot over the coming winter months purely because it's now got full mudguards fitted. I haven't used this bike for a good few months now ,and the last few rides I've done so far have really brought home how nice old school steel bikes really are. Gears are always perfectly lined up thanks to simple friction down tube shifters ,and that muted resonance you get through the springy frame. It weighs in quite heavy compared to the Specialized but I still averaged a respectable 17 mph avg tonight on it. If you've always had new modern type bikes I really recommend you try an old school 80s steel bike. I think you would be pleasantly surprised at how nice they feel and ride :-) :-)
No doubt when the warmer dryer weather makes it's appearance again next year, the Specialized will be pressed back into service again.
All the very best,
Johnny.
Time for another pointless waffle :-) :-)
As you may already know ,I got back into cycling a few years back after buying a cheap but very sentimental old 80s Peugeot steel bike. After putting many miles on it I decided to splash out and buy a modern Specialized bike. The Peugeot got hung on the wall for most of the summer whilst I got to grips with the specialized bike. It was nice to have the lightweight and modern gears of the specialized allez elite and have thoroughly enjoyed using it over the summer building up my fitness, and seeing new places on it. Before I bought it though, I genuinely thought my cycling would be transformed by it's lightweight frame and modern gearing, but in truth it wasn't that much of the leap I hoped for. As much as the pros there's also a few con's. I think comfort was the biggest draw back of the Specialized. Don't get me wrong , I can ride the specialized all day long, but the old Steel framed Peugeot really does feel so much plusher on a long ride. Also as for thinking my new bike would propel along the road at lightening speed didn't really materialise either. I would say I cycle maybe 1 mph faster on average on it overall. The last few days gone I've decided to use the Peugeot over the coming winter months purely because it's now got full mudguards fitted. I haven't used this bike for a good few months now ,and the last few rides I've done so far have really brought home how nice old school steel bikes really are. Gears are always perfectly lined up thanks to simple friction down tube shifters ,and that muted resonance you get through the springy frame. It weighs in quite heavy compared to the Specialized but I still averaged a respectable 17 mph avg tonight on it. If you've always had new modern type bikes I really recommend you try an old school 80s steel bike. I think you would be pleasantly surprised at how nice they feel and ride :-) :-)
No doubt when the warmer dryer weather makes it's appearance again next year, the Specialized will be pressed back into service again.
All the very best,
Johnny.