nomadmax 

I go it alone as most riders around here are only interested in the latest and greatest technology has to offer (nothing wrong with that). I am going to make 2019 the year that I get out to events where vintage road bikes are ridden and appreciated. The funny thing is, when I was racing, none of my bikes meant anything to me; they were just a tool and I treated them as such. Now that I'm older I've grown fond of what I rode back then and the bike means more to me. I suspect the real truth is when I was young and strong I loved my ability to make the bike fly, now that's diminished and I love the bike instead

markk900

I am fortunate to have a very C&V friendly bike shop nearby (owner is a BMXer that loves all C&V), and there are a couple of guys that appreciate vintage bikes there (few ride them though) so I have somewhere to occasionally show off my latest find; however mostly wrench and ride by myself. Luckily my wife likes to ride old stuff too so we do get out together sometimes!

mixteup

There's one other guy near me that I know of (from the forum), but we've never met personally.
Mostly just the CF club .......

seedsbelize 

It's nice to meet so many loners and antisocials in this thread. I am another. And would be even if I rode crabon.

Steve Whitlatch 

The shop is Main Street Bicycles in Carpentersville. He is right on the Fox River Trail. Has a nice collection of vintage hanging on his shop walls. They have vintage parts bins too. Real nice people. They are very involved in the community, maintaining the trails in the local forest preserve as well as hosting a big Cross Race in the area.

https://www.mainstbicycles.com/

dedhed

I don't know that there is a C&V "community" here but there is a "Steel is Real" ride in September that is mostly C&V and brings out some aficionados. I try to make that. Otherwise I generally am a loner. I'll definitely talk C&V with people out and about when I notice their bike, or they mine. When at any event, bike or not, on my 68 Raleigh it always sparks conversation with C&V admirers.

gomango

Same.

No one is as impressed with my 25 year old mtb's as I am.

Sure, they like to look at them, but zero interest in owning them.

Most of these guys get a new mtb every year or two and that's pretty hard to keep up with nowadays. $$$$$

As for road riding, I only ride with my wife or her group.

They have zero interest in old steel. Custom stuff yes, but old no.

All CF or aluminum.

RobbieTunes

Utilitarian Wenches. Fondly said.
All about the ride, and getting it done.
No nonsense.
​​​​​ 💘 'em.

gomango

Hah, all of them are faster than I am.

I noticed that no one asks me to take a turn pulling anymore.

Never hear a complaint though, when we are out for a day tour and I carry all of the rain wear, tools, food and cooking supplies on my Bilenky or Blackborow.

I guess everyone has their place, right!

Classtime 

crank_addict

This, and its getting weird. There's a click of people that I sometimes ride with -- MTB and road -- where they continuously take a hit on trade in and buy new. They talk like racers, have all the gadgets and brag about their strava crap. Perhaps good for the shop but can't wrap my head around their thinking.

They're not better riders by doing so, and actually some are snobs and rather vocal yo those on older carbon bikes. I've witnessed it when some rider arrived on an older Kestrel and another with a four year old Felt. Though its my fun when I turn it up a notch while on old steel. Especially late season and feeling good... smoke some of them..lol

Its getting really weird too. The one bike shop doesn't even want the trades because he can't floor plan or borrow for as in new inventory. Low balls almost new condition obe, two years old carbon
bikes. And potential used buyers are even weirder thinking it might have a hidden crack and might as well pop for only new. No one wants used carbon bikes. Cheap. Many stores have to rely on this business model.

Part III. Its the advent of the 'race' bike E pedal assist market. Theres going to be a flood of used and cheap modern carbon MTB. I'm already seeing it. $6k when new, one and two years old now being dumped $1500. I talked to a few and they're going PAS high end type -MTB. High end e road are next.

nlerner

I ride regularly with neighborhood friends, all on vintage or custom steel. I also ride with the Veteran-Cycle Club New England chapter, which is old guys (and some gals) on old Brit bikes for monthly rides from Sept to June. And then there's the occasional organized centuries and tours with @rhm, @gugie, and others. I do plenty of solo riding, too, but riding with friends is important to me.

Slightspeed

Our club rides leave promptly at 8:30, no exceptions. There is usually a re-group 5 or 6 miles down the road where stragglers, usually me, can catch up. Last time I was 5 minutes late to the start (1 hour+ on the freeway). It took me a half hour to catch the slow-medium group, never saw the fast guys. I'm used to riding alone, being one of the faster slow guys, or one of the slower fast guys. It's all good, just ride. Lycra - it's not for every body.😉

fietsbob

Bought new got old ..all by myself ..

gomango

That's right.

When Yeti came out with the SB5 plus, I knew I wanted one.

But I already had a lightly used standard SB5 and I put it on the local Marketplace and mtb boards.

Not even a nibble. I ended up getting most of the $$$$ out of it when I sold it to a friend that had crashed his bike at a race. He needed a new bike instantly and I got lucky.

I'll have to keep the Yeti forever and a day to get the money out of it. That shouldn't be an issue as it's the nicest mtb I have yet to own.

Thankfully my MB1 fills the hardtail needs atm.

crank_addict

With fellow C&V enthusiast within a local radius, its been easier to short plan and ride. Though two moved away this last year, I try to encourage others and probably recruited a few newbies. Some in finding a classic, help rebuild and group ride.

crank_addict

I certainly ENJOY the modern and latest. Having a blast with my new 29er carbon hardtail MTB. Scary enough that I'm eying a few near new 2017-18 FS. I don't know any locals in my age bracket riding technical off road so I risk solo but do occasionally ride with two younger and far talented riders. Good company.

Road- vintage / modern. Though I just don't have racer justification for a new carbon road, they're great machines. I get my -nostalgia- and workout riding an old classic, sometimes even a clunker. A few are really plush and can hold a fair speed with groups. I'm happy at that level and really don't need anything more.

Thursday night shootouts is where I get dusted. The team riders are of course on the latest steeds and vaporize. I've had saddle time in demo Di2 and 16-17 lbs CF bikes.... really, really like but again, I'm not racing. Also an area where it humbles with very competitive fellows. Drop ride.

An area I've been considering is track but on vintage. Perhaps one evening per week. I know of others with vintage pista but don't ride them. Would be fun to get together on a regular basis.

thinktubes 

Drillium Dude 

Quite a large number of C&V people in the PNW. When we've gotten together for rides we can usually count on 10-12 riders on varied vintage steel. Been down to Portland on a couple occasions and ridden with those guys/gals, too. However, most of the time I ride my own ride.

DD

Jon T

25 year old bike? Youngster (lol). My ride--my one and only--is an '84 Peugeot PH10 that I bought new. Are you the original owner of said mtb? Just curious.
Jon

dweenk

It is me, three guys at the local LBS, and a scattering of others in the area - but no formal group.

gugie 

Most of my riding is solo - commuting to work. It's the same ride every day, but I mix it up by taking different bikes from my quiver.

On weekends I prefer to ride with someone else. @Andy_K is my regular riding partner nowadays as we both have the same pace - start slow, then taper. I'll ride with rest of the PNW crowd whenever they're in town, and I've gone north a few times to meet up with some planned rides, but these are kinda "invite only" amongst friends and fellow C&V enthusiasts.

I really look forward to the few times each year I do a longer rides. Eroica California was a highlight last year, sleeping in an RV with 4 other friends. @scozim's Tour de Palouse was a lot of fun. Flying back to French Fender Day and riding with @rhm, @nlerner and meeting several BF'ers was great.

I've made some very good friends on this site. Mostly we communicate via posts. Getting together in person is always fun. I'm always left wanting for more time, but not necessarily riding.

Someone told me once, "we come for the bikes, we stay for the people."

To the OP - go into User CP from the home page and edit your location so it'll show up when you post. If you're looking to meet other BF members, you'll probably be surprised to find someone near you that will be happy to meet up for a ride.

markwesti

Get a Centurion Ironman , then you will have a lot of friends . And you will be thinking how do I get rid of this of this markwesti guy ? Merry Christmas .

clubman 

I swap parts with a couple of regular collectors but vintage riders don't exist in this small university town and county. I used to be able to ride with the local club but they've all gone 29'er because our region is so well suited to it. Our roads are dangerous with an aging population that can't drive for shy-t. My knee issues have kept me in the slow lane anyway.

Of course I hunt down anyone riding a nice C&V bike, barage them with questions until they get creeped out and start slowly inching away from me until they can make their escape. Then I can go home happy.

Giacomo 1 

I'm a Time Trial rider - a loner at least in the C&V world.

My two riding buddies could care less about old bikes. They ride newer carbon fiber bikes and honestly, I don't think they see the beauty in bikes. Its more of a tool for them than something to admire. I guess I'm fine with that, although I'm not sure I get it completely.