"Thank you for listening to my FRED talk."

[slow horse]

View: https://x.com/bikesnobnyc/status/1858199452009337072

Any thoughts about the following?

"We destroyed the road bike in 20 years...

"By 1996 we have Dura-Ace 7700. Integrated shifter as good as anything today, or bar-ends and even downtube shifters also available. Came in triple and even worked with MTB derailleurs.

"Brakes are powerful, can be fine-tuned even while riding, and even in short-reach will clear a 28mm tire.

"By early 2000s you have your choice of frames in steel, aluminum, carbon, or titanium--or any combination thereof.

"Also, thanks to those brakes and a decades-old invention called the "quick release," wheel changes took about nine seconds.

"Cranks come in standard, triple, or compact. Stems, headsets, seatposts, etc. were largely cross-compatible between road frames, and even between road and mountain.

"So what have we gained since then?
--Disc brakes that really only exist because rim braking sucks on the carbon rims 95% of people don't
need
--Proprietary cockpits, proprietary bottom brackets, proprietary seatposts, proprietary everything
--Shifters that need to be charged (!)

"Oh, wider rims and tires I guess...which will generally work fine on your 30-year old bike anyway.

"And if course modern road bikes look better...if you are completely insane.

"Thank you for listening to my FRED talk."

 

[Smokin Joe]

Even nostalgia ain't what it used to be.

 

[Drago]

I don't see the problem. If the new bikes aren't your thing then ride old bikes.

 

[mickle]

Yep. All my bikes are chromoly, square taper, rim brake, nine speed (or less). I guarantee that i will never own a bike with internal cables/hoses that run through the headset.

 

[Alex321]

View: https://x.com/bikesnobnyc/status/1858199452009337072

Any thoughts about the following?

"We destroyed the road bike in 20 years...

"By 1996 we have Dura-Ace 7700. Integrated shifter as good as anything today, or bar-ends and even downtube shifters also available. Came in triple and even worked with MTB derailleurs.

"Brakes are powerful, can be fine-tuned even while riding, and even in short-reach will clear a 28mm tire.

"By early 2000s you have your choice of frames in steel, aluminum, carbon, or titanium--or any combination thereof.

"Also, thanks to those brakes and a decades-old invention called the "quick release," wheel changes took about nine seconds.

"Cranks come in standard, triple, or compact. Stems, headsets, seatposts, etc. were largely cross-compatible between road frames, and even between road and mountain.

"So what have we gained since then?
--Disc brakes that really only exist because rim braking sucks on the carbon rims 95% of people don't
need
--Proprietary cockpits, proprietary bottom brackets, proprietary seatposts, proprietary everything
--Shifters that need to be charged (!)

"Oh, wider rims and tires I guess...which will generally work fine on your 30-year old bike anyway.

"And if course modern road bikes look better...if you are completely insane.

"Thank you for listening to my FRED talk."

Mostly rubbish.

Particularly "Disc brakes that really only exist because rim braking sucks on the carbon rims 95% of people don't
Need".
Disc brakes came about through mountain biking, nothing to do with carbon rims.
Once present for MTB, it was found they imrpoved performance in the wet even on road bikes, without much downside.

There are plentry of people against disc brakes because they add weight and (some people think) complexity. But the adoption of disc brakes has never been about carbon rims.

 

[a.twiddler]

Grumpy old man moaning about change.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I've never owned any of these things and there are tons of bikes available without them.

Disc brakes actually appear to be pretty good - loads of people use them and like them. I've never tried them but I'll take it on trust. Who knows, I may get a bike with them some day. Ditto electronic shifters.

Proprietary cockpit? WTF? You need to be buying a rather niche aero race bike for this to be a problem.

You forgot to complain about tubeless tyres, btw. They've ruined everything.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Grumpy old man moaning about change.

 

[a.twiddler]

I'm pretty old and grumpy, but obviously not old enough and grumpy enough yet. Such things as "road bikes" are a bit outside my experience, and I'm happy with "old tech". But old tech now includes aluminium frames, cable discs and decent LED lights that you can see with and I've enjoyed all of those, so who knows what the future might bring? At least he didn't moan about recumbents.

 

[simongt]

As with any techno developments across the board, if that's what floats your boat, then fine, go ahead.
If not, stick with what you're happy with. The caveat being as long as works for you and it's still available.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

These new dangled bike technologies are not necessary or wanted

 

[Oldhippy]

It is all about marketing these days I think. Years ago you had racing bikes with drops, home built and everything else. My tourer does road, gravel, mud and everything else I've needed. It is all being made niche now it seems. Personally I don't get it but appreciate those who have the desire to have a 'specialist' bike for every ride. Ultimately, any bike is only as good as the engine that makes it roll along.

 

[Drago]

I presume @slowloves in a cave and rides a sabre tooth tiger to work?

 

[simongt]

Ref your post Oldhippy, quoted from the sales 'brochure' of the Coventry Eagle Cycle & Motor Co. Ltd.. probably late 30s - early 40s; for their Flying Ace Sports Model 84;
'Russ pattern forks with plated ends & braze ins. Dunlop Sports tyres, Marsh celluloid covered North Road handlebars, mudguards white celluloid, Monitor caliper brakes, TriVelox 'B' 3-speed or Cyclo Deraileur, leather saddle, celluloid inflator & reflector, large touring bag, tools & oilcan.'
All this for £6-12-6, which I would consider to be around £400 - £500 now.
But look at the list of goodies provided as standard.

 

[a.twiddler]

These new dangled bike technologies are not necessary or wanted

View attachment 753012

I'm all for retro technogy, but I'm sure the owner of that device was far happier once someone invented the ultimate accessory for one's gentleman's conveyance, to whit, handlebars!