So it's true after all - modern bikes *are* better

[swee'pea99]

For years I've been insisting that my classic Vitus 979 was a match for any o' they new-fangled carbon type beasties. But a few weekends ago I went out with a couple of friends on a hard-riding 40 miler, and the sad fact is, I found myself left behind on a couple of the hills. Just couldn't keep up, no matter how hard I tried.

Well miffed, I decided to at least try a modern bike (give or take) and ended up getting myself something called a Principia 700. A Danish boutique firm no-one's heard of, but it looked the nuts and...

Transformation! It's lighter - not much, but it makes a difference. It feels tighter. And - crucially - the closer gear ratios (9 cassette, as against 7 on the Vitus) and sti shifters mean I can quickly and easily get and maintain the ideal cadence for those long uphills. Where before I'd lose a bit of oomph while reaching down to the downtube, and not be able to get just the right gear - either be too high - pedalling too slow - or too low - can't really get a good pressure on - now I can always find a mummy bear gear.

So that's that. I was wrong. Bike technology *has* come on in the last 30 years.

(Mind, I still prefer my 20 year old fixie for zipping round town...)

 

[Globalti]

30 years ago I lived in London and rode an old steel-framed 10 speed racer to work and back every day. It was horribly uncomfortable, slow, heavy and unrewarding. That bike was responsible for putting me off cycling for pleasure until I tried my first mountain bike 23 years ago and it gave me a prejudice against road bikes, which lasted until I tried my first carbon bike 3 years ago.

 

[Crackedheadset]

With all due respect, modern bikes are shoot.

Designed over 100 years ago with no thought giving to human kinetics and efficiency what so ever. The only reason they are still here is because of the UCI being like a puppy not changing the rules on what defines a bike, and being too shoot scared to stop the capatalist train that is Trek, Spesh, making shed loads of money to be used in races that keep the UCI going.

You want to try a 'modern bike' go ride a recumbent and see all before you become mere specks in your mirror as you power down the road doing roughly 25mph on the flat without any real effort.

 

[vernon]

You want to try a 'modern bike' go ride a recumbent and see all before you become mere specks in your mirror as you power down the road doing roughly 25mph on the flat without any real effort.

I'm too fond of the views over the hedgerows ever contemplate using an over complex contraption masquerading as a solution to cycling's problems while giving me intimate views of motor vehicle exhausts.

I also enjoy the hassle free travel with my bike on trains to take the retrograde step of purchasing something that needs three bike chains' worth of transmission.

 

[Crackedheadset]

I'm too fond of the views over the hedgerows ever contemplate using an over complex contraption masquerading as a solution to cycling's problems while giving me intimate views of motor vehicle exhausts.

I also enjoy the hassle free travel with my bike on trains to take the retrograde step of purchasing something that needs three bike chains' worth of transmission.

Over complex? How exactly? And I doubt recumbent riders feel like they're masquerading anything when riding a bike, merely seeing from a POV of human kinetics and ergonomics that a recumebent is a better piece of machinery.

I've seen recumbents on trains and you forget that three chains means lasting three times longer. Don't be scared Vernon of looking to the future of bike riding, here take my virtual hand and let me show you the way.

 

[Beebo]

bents may be good for day rides, but for commuting in traffic they are akin to a Sinclair C5. and no one needs to be reminded what happened to that space age design.

 

[vernon]

I've seen recumbents on trains and you forget that three chains means lasting three times longer. Don't be scared Vernon of looking to the future of bike riding, here take my virtual hand and let me show you the way.

I've looked into the future and gone for the belt drive and hub gears combo.

Three chains lasting three times longer is no advantage. It merely maintains the status quo.

If i want to take up smoking again I'll buy a recumbent and do it passively courtesy of the particulate matter ejected at face level.

 

[tyred]

But steel is real.

 

[swee'pea99]

653 my friend. That's why I lurve my fixie...

 

[accountantpete]

Earth to Swee'pea - that Principia will be almost as old as your Vitus .

You want a real modern bike.

 

[asterix]

Whilst I am not a luddite*, I am very happy with my 27 year old British Eagle. It's true it has been updated to 18 speed (it doesn't need a triple) and I now have bar-end shifters instead of DT's but the frame was so comfortable and such a good fit, it was worth it.

My other bikes are a Bob Jackson (2000), Ellis Briggs (2008) and Roberts (2003), all steel. On the Roberts in 2010 I completed the Raid Pyrenean, the third to arrive at Cerbere out of 18 riders. The Roberts was one of 2 with:

a saddle bag
mudguards
a steel frame

Nearly all the others were racers with carbon fibre. It's true I was slow up the hills (personally weighing 10 to 20 kilos more than the competition) but my Roberts enabled me to make that up on the way down. I don't buy the notion that modern bikes make much difference.

*have joined Vernon in ownership of a belt drive, hub gear bike.

 

[biggs682]

But steel is real.

not a truer word said my old friend

 

[mcshroom]

Having just built up an old 501 frame, even with not particularly high spec stuff, steel beats the ride comfort of my alu framaed bikes all ends up. I still like STIs though.

 

[PpPete]

Never ridden an aluminium bike, but I can tell you that carbon fork/titanium frame combo is more comfortable than steel (531), whereas the one all carbon jobbie I rode for a couple of days (Spesh Tarmac) soaked up the bumps ok but felt rather "dead".

 

[DCLane]

Well miffed, I decided to at least try a modern bike (give or take) and ended up getting myself something called a Principia 700. A Danish boutique firm no-one's heard of, but it looked the nuts and...

You don't want it, honestly.

I'm trying to persuade SWMBO that I do need a Principia.

So ignore the 'better' thoughts and sell it ...