Vintage road bikes

ultrarunnerlee

Apologies but I wasn't sure where else to post this.
Newish to cycling as I have been going and coming back due to running related problems :-(
Anyway.....There is a weird and twisted part of me that likes the old road bikes from years past and all the kit that goes with it. Now before anybody shoots me down as this perhaps is a weird fetish to have. Are there other human beings that perhaps find this kind of thing acceptable and heaven forbid turn up to a sportive with their 30 year old bike?
Just a thought at the moment as I can either go down the route of trying to find a decent road bike second hand for 3-500£ or I can do something completely weird and go down getting an older bike and giving it a new lease of life and enjoy it for what it is.
I'm not interested in what I can and cant afford, believe me I know. I was just curious if there are groups, clubs, events that cater for this?
Many thanks

ugo.santalucia

Yeah sure... there are actually sportives specifically for period bicycles...
I have done events on my 1980s bike, there is nothing wrong with it... would not do the Fred Whitton or something where you need very small gears and big brakes, but otherwise fine...

I do the odd time trial on my 1980 bike, but it's just to take the piss out of the folks in aero gear and see how close I can get to them.
Merckx in the 70s regularly TTed at 30 mph... Martin and Wiggins do it at 31-32... there is not a lot of difference

shipley

Head over to RetroBike and you will find many people with the same fetish, a great gallery of users precious machines, and a classifieds section.

For accompanying clothing, Prendas is a good start.

And don't worry, it's not unusual to find the older bikes attractive !

ultrarunnerlee

Whoop!
Good news :-)
Ugo....to be fair thats kind of what I'd like to do is turn up on an oldie and beat the bloke on the 2000£ carbon bike....or get close to at least :-)
Shipley Retrobike just the job :-)

crankycrank

L'Eroica, the Mecca of vintage road riding. http://en.eroica.it/programs This is the official website for registration but do a search for videos and articles which give a better idea of what it's about. So no, you are not unusual in going nutters over vintage.

ultrarunnerlee

Cranky, funny you should say that as I read an article many years ago about L'Eroica and thought it looked amazing. Is it the one with all the dirt roads etc basically looks as dangerous as cycling can get

ugo.santalucia

I have done the Eroica three times... there are a couple of hairy descents, where the gravel is a bit deep, but overall is as safe as it gets on a bicycle. It's also as hard as it gets...

Today we met three gentlemen riding their 1920s bikes for a 90 miles stroll in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire...

ultrarunnerlee

I was going to ask.....I presume it makes life much harder doing 100 miles on say an 80's bike.....but if you got people doing 90 miles on bikes older than my dad......

ugo.santalucia

ultrarunnerlee wrote:

I was going to ask.....I presume it makes life much harder doing 100 miles on say an 80's bike.....but if you got people doing 90 miles on bikes older than my dad......

1980s bikes are modern and if you fit some decent tyres and a freewheel with adequate sprockets (i.e. not a 13-19 T) they are just as fast as a modern bikes... they are more forgiving over long distances, and I have done 120 miles rides on mine no problem

ultrarunnerlee

wow :-) thats good to know. My only stipulation is to get something cheap and cheerful to test the water and something I can do a few miles on. But even on Ebay steel bikes arn't going cheap!

Moonbiker

What size are you:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KTM-Formula-S ... 461b426d25

Nice frame to start of with if you around 5 10"

Monty Dog

There's a huge variation in prices for classic bikes - the days of cheap vintage Italian frame passes about 10 years ago. However, £120 should get you decent steel frame in Reynolds 531 from a British builder - or £250-300 for a whole bike with contemporary (probably Shimano) parts whereas a 1980s Pinarello, DeRosa, Colnago, Gios, Daccordi etc with Campagnolo will be nearer a grand. L'Eroica's a great event but getting a bit 'corporate' whilst Retroronde in Belgium is also developing as a great occasion.

ultrarunnerlee

I'll be a 57cm.
Justt been looking deeeeeper on ebay and came up with a few interesting ideas. Perhaps even a proper old school 30s 40s path racer to restore? So much to choose from :-s

simon_masterson

If I had to choose between a current grand tour racer and a comparable spec made 25-30 years earlier, with a frame in SL/531/753 and a full complement of Record bits (etc etc), the choice would not be hard.

But be warned, once you've experienced buttery smooth shifting that requires pretty much no maintenance at all, chains and sprockets that are cheap and last ages, and the lovely springiness of steel, your life won't be quite the same again.

It takes a weird fetish to find a lot of recent carbon bikes aesthetically pleasing, though.

bigjim

Ahh the steel bike. I'd take mine anywhere. Club runs especially. Doesn't get left behind.


I tour on an early 1990s Steel bike.

JayKosta

A concern with older bikes is that their 'small parts' can be hard to find because the groups have changed so much. E.g. freewheels are available, but not in a wide range of choices. But because the chains, rings, freewheels are a larger gage (thicker metal), they don't wear as fast as modern '10-speed' stuff.

I'm still riding a Peugeot UO-8 and Fuji Newest from the early 70's - they both work fine, but need periodic attention.

Jay Kosta
Endwell NY USA

marcusjb

ultrarunnerlee wrote:

I was going to ask.....I presume it makes life much harder doing 100 miles on say an 80's bike.....but if you got people doing 90 miles on bikes older than my dad......

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-25238228

See Drew Buck for putting big distances in on bikes over 100 years old. A lovely chap and hard as nails.

Bobbinogs

...and the good news is you don't need to pay UK sportive prices to have an enjoyable ride with folks who like cycling heritage:
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... 589e02348e

You don't need to have a retro bike, just like them!!

dinkdankdo10

Hi guys. I'm looking for a vintage too. As I'm doing L'roica this year. It's the first year it's in the UK http://www.eroicabritannia.co.uk

Any advice as I've found some real shocking vintage bikes up to now.

ugo.santalucia

Simon Masterson wrote:

It takes a weird fetish to find a lot of recent carbon bikes aesthetically pleasing, though.

It's probably the same people who would like the look of a Porsche Cayenne, BMW X 6 or a Mitsubishi EVO...

Monty Dog

dinkdankdo10 wrote:

It's the first year it's in the UK http://www.eroicabritannia.co.uk

I think you'll find the majority of die-hard retro-bikers won't be at L'eroica Brittannia - at least in Italy you have fantastic scenery and a cycling heritage to enjoy, not paying through the nose to share the road with chavs. I'll be in Belgium the following weekend for Retroronde - little traffic, a great atmosphere and plenty of good beer.

earthvspace4XTuUWcX

Another advantage of a vintage bike is that youll get a proper threaded BB instead of all this modern pressfit nonsense.

pinno

They look excellent. Buy retro clothing to fit too!

andy---doe

Monty Dog wrote:

dinkdankdo10 wrote:

It's the first year it's in the UK http://www.eroicabritannia.co.uk

I think you'll find the majority of die-hard retro-bikers won't be at L'eroica Brittannia - at least in Italy you have fantastic scenery and a cycling heritage to enjoy, not paying through the nose to share the road with chavs. I'll be in Belgium the following weekend for Retroronde - little traffic, a great atmosphere and plenty of good beer.

Blimey that's a sweeping statement.
It is an expensive event and I have no idea how many die-hards or chavs will be there, but I would guess less than you think.
Are you aware of the route? The scenery is breathtaking.
There is also beer and I would imagine a great atmosphere.

rolf_f

andy---doe wrote:

Monty Dog wrote:

dinkdankdo10 wrote:

It's the first year it's in the UK http://www.eroicabritannia.co.uk

I think you'll find the majority of die-hard retro-bikers won't be at L'eroica Brittannia - at least in Italy you have fantastic scenery and a cycling heritage to enjoy, not paying through the nose to share the road with chavs. I'll be in Belgium the following weekend for Retroronde - little traffic, a great atmosphere and plenty of good beer.

Blimey that's a sweeping statement.
It is an expensive event and I have no idea how many die-hards or chavs will be there, but I would guess less than you think.
Are you aware of the route? The scenery is breathtaking.
There is also beer and I would imagine a great atmosphere.

He's from Fleet. He thinks all the UK is like that!

Terrible organisation and silly prices put me off The Eroica Britannia - shame as the idea appeals. Hopefully similar, but better events will come along in due course.

ugo.santalucia

Rolf F wrote:

Terrible organisation and silly prices put me off The Eroica Britannia - shame as the idea appeals. Hopefully similar, but better events will come along in due course.

Likewise, but I am happy to change my mind following enthusiastic reports... I can spend 70 quid for an event, but it has to be something truly memorable... if it's just a load of people on old bikes tottering around the Peak District in the summer weekend traffic, I can do without... if instead it manages to bring some of the magic of the real Eroica (or the Retroronde) to our shores, then I'll sign in next year

rolf_f

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Rolf F wrote:

Terrible organisation and silly prices put me off The Eroica Britannia - shame as the idea appeals. Hopefully similar, but better events will come along in due course.

Likewise, but I am happy to change my mind following enthusiastic reports... I can spend 70 quid for an event, but it has to be something truly memorable... if it's just a load of people on old bikes tottering around the Peak District in the summer weekend traffic, I can do without... if instead it manages to bring some of the magic of the real Eroica (or the Retroronde) to our shores, then I'll sign in next year

At least you are far enough away that the camping aspect might increase the value for money a little. By including the camping as standard it devalues the event for more local people.

I should probably do the real thing one year.......

ugo.santalucia

Rolf F wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Rolf F wrote:

Terrible organisation and silly prices put me off The Eroica Britannia - shame as the idea appeals. Hopefully similar, but better events will come along in due course.

Likewise, but I am happy to change my mind following enthusiastic reports... I can spend 70 quid for an event, but it has to be something truly memorable... if it's just a load of people on old bikes tottering around the Peak District in the summer weekend traffic, I can do without... if instead it manages to bring some of the magic of the real Eroica (or the Retroronde) to our shores, then I'll sign in next year

At least you are far enough away that the camping aspect might increase the value for money a little. By including the camping as standard it devalues the event for more local people.

I should probably do the real thing one year.......

I wouldn't camp though... there isn't a real camping place, which means crapping in a portaloo for 3 days... no thanks... I'd probably bite the bullet and pay for accomodation, or stay at my friends in Whaley Bridge... 8)