Bet it wasn't adorned with computers, sat navs, cameras or electronic effing shifters. Bet it wasn't made from carbon flubber either.
And some people on here change their bikes more times than I change my undies....
It's great to here how long a bike can go on, It's a bit like Triggers broom.
I hope i am still riding in my eighties, only 14 years to go.
Boardmanwhat would be the equivalent of a Claude butler today then?
cervélo; it's what the top amateur racers would have usedwhat would be the equivalent of a Claude butler today then?
Indeed; a depressing trend / mindset fostered in the minds of consumers to maintain consumption. I very much doubt many riders will still be riding bikes of such vintage in the future thanks to ally's fondness of fatigue cracking and CFRP's unpredictable nature.If it's a quality bike like a Claud Butler, and built around 1950, I'd say it's a fair assumption the frame is made of 531.
The difference between cyclists back then and cyclists today, is that a bike was regarded as a major purchase and was treated seriously, as long term ownership was regarded as normal for any type of durable goods. By contrast, take a look at a lot of the "what bike should I buy next?" posts on this forum now, and a bike has become a short lifespan commodity which is treated as semi-disposable and replaced every couple of years for no reason other than the fact that it is no longer the latest model. I wouldn't mind betting that the average lifespan of a modern road bike is less than the lifespan of a modern car.