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What's the deal with people looking down on old frames?

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What's the deal with people looking down on old frames?

Old 05-09-19, 11:42 PM
  #1  
turtledove
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What's the deal with people looking down on old frames?

I have a late 80s/early 90s chromaly rigid MTB that I've spent lots of love and care into. Whether in powdercoating, threadless stem conversion, tuning, etc. Over the time I've worked on this, couple of the experience I've dealt with, wondering if you can share similar experiences or takes on these:
  1. At first glance, they assume it's an old Walmart bike (which it surely is not) and pass judgement my way without giving it a closer look. I've had a bike shop mechanic do that and turn my bike away from service.
  2. Make passing jokes/comments at my expense. Like the time someone I met went into a full rant about how trash the biopace on my bike are, without warranting any such discussion. Yes, it's universally ridiculed, but it works for me and I haven't had any problems with it, thanks.
  3. I must be stupid for putting so much money into this, about $500 dollars in parts and service. Oh boy, if saving money was my priority. then I wouldn't be into mountain biking. It's about having fun, no idea why this is such a sticking point. If you want to do it and can afford it, do it, right? It's like telling the folks who like to supercharge their Honda Civics to save up for a Bugatti haha.
  4. "Don't do X or Y, you won't get the value out of it." This makes me smile, as if I'm some scrapper trying to refurbish bikes to resell.
  5. "Don't bother doing X, save up for another bike." I don't need the newest and shiniest carbon bike at the moment. This thing has lit a spark of joy in me for mountain biking and backpacking, and I'll buy the newest YT Jeffsy when I feel like my skills have progressed to deserve having one.
Even though I try not to let it get to me, I can't really avoid it when it comes up in the face-to-face interactions with certain bike shops, fellow riders, or random people on the Net. What do you guys think about it?
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Old 05-10-19, 12:42 AM
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The only time I look down on an old frame is usually when I'm staring at one of my bikes. Just fixed there, gawking. Gawping. Ogling. Vacant. A minute passes. Then two... It's bad.
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Old 05-10-19, 12:49 AM
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Originally Posted by SurferRosa
The only time I look down on an old frame is usually when I'm staring at one of my bikes. Just fixed there, gawking. Gawping. Ogling. Vacant. A minute passes. Then two... It's bad.
Hahaha
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Old 05-10-19, 01:28 AM
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Originally Posted by turtledove
I have a late 80s/early 90s chromaly rigid MTB that I've spent lots of love and care into. Whether in powdercoating, threadless stem conversion, tuning, etc. Over the time I've worked on this, couple of the experience I've dealt with, wondering if you can share similar experiences or takes on these:
  1. At first glance, they assume it's an old Walmart bike (which it surely is not) and pass judgement my way without giving it a closer look. I've had a bike shop mechanic do that and turn my bike away from service.
  2. Make passing jokes/comments at my expense. Like the time someone I met went into a full rant about how trash the biopace on my bike are, without warranting any such discussion. Yes, it's universally ridiculed, but it works for me and I haven't had any problems with it, thanks.
  3. I must be stupid for putting so much money into this, about $500 dollars in parts and service. Oh boy, if saving money was my priority. then I wouldn't be into mountain biking. It's about having fun, no idea why this is such a sticking point. If you want to do it and can afford it, do it, right? It's like telling the folks who like to supercharge their Honda Civics to save up for a Bugatti haha.
  4. "Don't do X or Y, you won't get the value out of it." This makes me smile, as if I'm some scrapper trying to refurbish bikes to resell.
  5. "Don't bother doing X, save up for another bike." I don't need the newest and shiniest carbon bike at the moment. This thing has lit a spark of joy in me for mountain biking and backpacking, and I'll buy the newest YT Jeffsy when I feel like my skills have progressed to deserve having one.
Even though I try not to let it get to me, I can't really avoid it when it comes up in the face-to-face interactions with certain bike shops, fellow riders, or random people on the Net. What do you guys think about it?
We love it, period.

Welcome aboard, you have come to the right place, glad you found us.

Go around, say "Hi" and or comment on several threads, get your post count up to 10, and then "pics or it didn't happen" as we like to say.

The people you are encountering are not your/our tribe, they don't care or get it and think their prejudice justifies being snobby and condescending when they are simply ignorant.

We will help you get sorted.
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Old 05-10-19, 01:46 AM
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Originally Posted by SurferRosa
The only time I look down on an old frame is usually when I'm staring at one of my bikes. Just fixed there, gawking. Gawping. Ogling. Vacant. A minute passes. Then two... It's bad.
Ive been known to do this... wife has to snap me out of it! Haha

I look down on those who look down on vintage. Luckily, both of my favorite LBS’ love my vintage stuff and ask me to bring more for them to work on/oogle at!
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Old 05-10-19, 05:32 AM
  #6  
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If they look down on them, more for us!
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Old 05-10-19, 05:58 AM
  #7  
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It's someone else's carbon footprint, long ago redeemed.
Puts you so far ahead, the other idjits can't catch up.
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Old 05-10-19, 06:00 AM
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One of my riding mates "looked down" on one of my old bikes, until my bikes consistently get all the "wow, that's a beautiful bike" comments from people at coffee stops. (It may also be because he never cleans his bike, and hasn't changed the bar tape in a decade...)

So screw the begrudgers, don't let them get you down.
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Old 05-10-19, 06:15 AM
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I think the attitude you are seeing may be more prominent amongst the MTB crowd than it is with road bikers. But then, I usually only ride with other C&Vers, so I'm not sure. We recently had some funny/interesting comments from folks when we did the annual Monster Cookie Ride here, but then, we also passed a lot of folks on $3,000 plastic wonderbikes, and one lady that had fallen over not a mile into the ride on hers, and couldn't get up because she was stuck in her clipless pedals.
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Old 05-10-19, 06:17 AM
  #10  
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+10 Just tell them you are being green.

Personally, I like the negative comments. It just tells me how stupid the person is, and I can add them to the ignore list.

Negative comments from idiots = ignore!

My favorite ride started as a beat to crap $15 garage sale bike. I ride it with pride!
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Old 05-10-19, 06:20 AM
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The late Ken Kifer wrote, 'The bike shop owner tried to persuade me that my bike was no longer worth keeping up (his bill would have bought a decent machine). He gave me a nice catalog full of beautiful bikes. It was time to let the old bike go. He asked me if there was anything that my old bike had that a newer bike wouldn't, and I said, "memories." '

I'm fortunate - the manager of my favorite LBS will call me for information on C&V bikes, and has acquired a couple himself. The other LBS, while they carry nothing of interest to me, can at least feign interest in lugged steel when they see it. When I was part of the really active cycling scene here, other riders figured out I was someone to ride with despite having either friction shifters on the downtube or even no shifters at all and a fixed rear cog.

I think there are at most really three important things to think about when choosing a bike. First, does it work? That covers all the things like safety and mechanical condition and gear-changing if there are variable gears, brakes, all that stuff. Not - is it latest greatest, but does it work? Then, does it fit? And again, not whatever the latest whiz-bang FitKit contemporary fad position, but does it fit your individual body as a cyclist in a way that perhaps conforms to more than a century of chain-driven bicycles. And finally, the really subjective one, do you like it? Does it make you smile? Do you ever have those alternating moments of the bike disappearing under you and effortlessly going down the road, then being acutely aware of what an awesome bike you are on at that very instant? Sometimes even the humblest old bike can provide that moment. I remember the late Richard Ballentine writing about how his "greatest, happiest tour was on a 1935 B.S.A. that shed its vital parts like water." That I can quote that line 45 years after reading it gives an idea of its value.

It sounds to me like you have a bike that you love and have history with. I'd say you're the winner here.
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Old 05-10-19, 06:32 AM
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Welcome OP!

Most people view their bikes as tools to go somewhere, exercise, etc whereas others, like us folks here in C/V, see them not only as tools, but finely crafted machines, even art. I see folks out riding high end bikes covered in grime and dirt, brakes adjusted by flipping the quick release lever, etc. You won’t see much of that with the riders in this forum.

Riding my Carrera, I passed a guy on a climb the other day, said hi, kept on going. He caught back up to me, riding a higher end Trek (with Campy 11 though!) and he told me how much he liked seeing a bike like mine on the road. We rode together for several miles and had a nice time.
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Old 05-10-19, 06:34 AM
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Originally Posted by turtledove
I have a late 80s/early 90s chromaly rigid MTB that I've spent lots of love and care into. Whether in powdercoating, threadless stem conversion, tuning, etc. Over the time I've worked on this, couple of the experience I've dealt with, wondering if you can share similar experiences or takes on these:
  1. At first glance, they assume it's an old Walmart bike (which it surely is not) and pass judgement my way without giving it a closer look. I've had a bike shop mechanic do that and turn my bike away from service.
  2. Make passing jokes/comments at my expense. Like the time someone I met went into a full rant about how trash the biopace on my bike are, without warranting any such discussion. Yes, it's universally ridiculed, but it works for me and I haven't had any problems with it, thanks.
  3. I must be stupid for putting so much money into this, about $500 dollars in parts and service. Oh boy, if saving money was my priority. then I wouldn't be into mountain biking. It's about having fun, no idea why this is such a sticking point. If you want to do it and can afford it, do it, right? It's like telling the folks who like to supercharge their Honda Civics to save up for a Bugatti haha.
  4. "Don't do X or Y, you won't get the value out of it." This makes me smile, as if I'm some scrapper trying to refurbish bikes to resell.
  5. "Don't bother doing X, save up for another bike." I don't need the newest and shiniest carbon bike at the moment. This thing has lit a spark of joy in me for mountain biking and backpacking, and I'll buy the newest YT Jeffsy when I feel like my skills have progressed to deserve having one.
Even though I try not to let it get to me, I can't really avoid it when it comes up in the face-to-face interactions with certain bike shops, fellow riders, or random people on the Net. What do you guys think about it?
My usual response to this kind of unasked for opining is to drop them and their newer "better" bike like a hot rock. When they manage to catch up, I usually tell them it's not the bike, it's the rider.
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Old 05-10-19, 06:38 AM
  #14  
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First, I don't give a damn what other people think -- never have.

Second, I hate wasting money and resources, so if something I own still serves my purposes, I am extremely reluctant to replace it. You earn, save, and invest your way to prosperity and financial independence; only rarely will spending get you there.

Third, anybody with money can have the latest high-end equipment, but to own an older bicycle, car, appliance, or house that is still in good working order requires patience, skill, and dedication.

Fourth, ignoring the first item on my list, I ride my Team USA red-white-and-blue no-suspension Schwinn mountain bike in the annual Neptune Ave. Fourth of July parade. Last year someone yelled out, "A red, white, and blue bike -- nice!" My Capo Modell Campagnolo road bike draws a lot of favorable comments at Bike to Work Day and other events.
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Old 05-10-19, 06:47 AM
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+1 on Shimano Biopace - I think it works brilliantly on my touring bike. To me, they just feel great and it's bombproof.

Chalk the rest of it up to western society's obsession with monetizing everything. Case in point, I recently picked up a Fuji Sports 10 that was a garage queen for 40 years. Yeah, it was low end, but if you enjoy the karma of restoring old stuff it pays for itself (i.e. we all know the difference between level/category, price/value, etc). At the end of the day, they're gonna miss old ten speeds when they're gone, after they're burned out on Ubers and Marvel movies....
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Old 05-10-19, 06:51 AM
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The amount of time I spend caring about what others think...

Most of the threads like this don’t match my experiences either - I very rarely hear others criticize someone else’s bike - any comments you hear tend to be positive. Usually folks like crazy old bikes.

Biopace is fine for casual riding...it feels weird over time when you’re really cranking. If you like it, use it. Most people don’t know what it is.
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Old 05-10-19, 06:52 AM
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Except for food, I'm only interested in things that are no longer made. One second giving thought to what someone else thinks about what interests me, is a second wasted.
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Old 05-10-19, 06:55 AM
  #18  
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Originally Posted by nomadmax
My usual response to this kind of unasked for opining is to drop them and their newer "better" bike like a hot rock. When they manage to catch up, I usually tell them it's not the bike, it's the rider.
Yep, let your legs do the talking.
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Old 05-10-19, 07:09 AM
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It can take a lot of insecurity to feel the need to bash another person's material possessions unsolicited. Just keep that in mind.

As far as bike shops, if one is at a place where they can turn away customers like that, then they must be doing something right business-wise.

The truth is, the LBS is just another option - sometimes a good one, sometimes a poor one. Most people with a decent understanding of how bikes work, and some basic tools, can enjoy years of wrenching and riding without ever setting foot in a bike shop. For technical advice beyond one's own knowledge, just read Sheldon Brown's website, and use the Googles.

Just ride on.

BTW, got any pics of the bike?
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Old 05-10-19, 07:09 AM
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To the OP - wanna fix or even buy my old black and white TV? Well, in my opinion, vintage bikes, to our newer generations, fall into that same category - old, out dated and pretty much useless in an all color, high density media society.

And, for what it is worth, I really like old bicycles and the kids make me chuckle with their inexperience in life, in almost all things. But we all gotta learn.

My first ride, on a too small Trek road bike, lasted less than 100 feet. Why would anyone want to ride this or that when either is just old and silly, when compared to a new mountain bike, or one of those BMX things. But look at me today - built owned and ridden hundreds of vintage road bikes...
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Old 05-10-19, 07:28 AM
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^^^Nice bike and Nice pic.
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Old 05-10-19, 08:01 AM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by rustystrings61
The late Ken Kifer wrote, 'The bike shop owner tried to persuade me that my bike was no longer worth keeping up (his bill would have bought a decent machine). He gave me a nice catalog full of beautiful bikes. It was time to let the old bike go. He asked me if there was anything that my old bike had that a newer bike wouldn't, and I said, "memories." '

I'm fortunate - the manager of my favorite LBS will call me for information on C&V bikes, and has acquired a couple himself. The other LBS, while they carry nothing of interest to me, can at least feign interest in lugged steel when they see it. When I was part of the really active cycling scene here, other riders figured out I was someone to ride with despite having either friction shifters on the downtube or even no shifters at all and a fixed rear cog.

I think there are at most really three important things to think about when choosing a bike. First, does it work? That covers all the things like safety and mechanical condition and gear-changing if there are variable gears, brakes, all that stuff. Not - is it latest greatest, but does it work? Then, does it fit? And again, not whatever the latest whiz-bang FitKit contemporary fad position, but does it fit your individual body as a cyclist in a way that perhaps conforms to more than a century of chain-driven bicycles. And finally, the really subjective one, do you like it? Does it make you smile? Do you ever have those alternating moments of the bike disappearing under you and effortlessly going down the road, then being acutely aware of what an awesome bike you are on at that very instant? Sometimes even the humblest old bike can provide that moment. I remember the late Richard Ballentine writing about how his "greatest, happiest tour was on a 1935 B.S.A. that shed its vital parts like water." That I can quote that line 45 years after reading it gives an idea of its value.

It sounds to me like you have a bike that you love and have history with. I'd say you're the winner here.
Thanks! Yeah that's a great quote

Originally Posted by KonAaron Snake
The amount of time I spend caring about what others think...

Most of the threads like this don’t match my experiences either - I very rarely hear others criticize someone else’s bike - any comments you hear tend to be positive. Usually folks like crazy old bikes.

Biopace is fine for casual riding...it feels weird over time when you’re really cranking. If you like it, use it. Most people don’t know what it is.
Yeah I should make it clear that these are the minority of experiences, although it happens often enough for me to notice. The MTB community is by and large a great one
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Old 05-10-19, 08:29 AM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by turtledove
Even though I try not to let it get to me, I can't really avoid it when it comes up in the face-to-face interactions with certain bike shops, fellow riders, or random people on the Net. What do you guys think about it?
I don't go to "certain bike shops." As for the "random people," disregard and ride on. Or engage in spirited debate. Whatever. They're just people, and these are just bikes; best not to take things so seriously.
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Old 05-10-19, 08:30 AM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by j.scud.22
+1 on Shimano Biopace - I think it works brilliantly on my touring bike. To me, they just feel great and it's bombproof.

Chalk the rest of it up to western society's obsession with monetizing everything. Case in point, I recently picked up a Fuji Sports 10 that was a garage queen for 40 years. Yeah, it was low end, but if you enjoy the karma of restoring old stuff it pays for itself (i.e. we all know the difference between level/category, price/value, etc). At the end of the day, they're gonna miss old ten speeds when they're gone, after they're burned out on Ubers and Marvel movies....
Agreed, but those Marvel movies are pretty good.
Tim
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Old 05-10-19, 09:27 AM
  #25  
2old
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Hasn't happened to me, but maybe the "elite" in socal aren't as vocal or prejudiced. You might point out that during the period of development for these bikes, a different color scheme wasn't treated like a functional improvement.
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