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What constitutes a Classic or Vintage bicycle?

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What constitutes a Classic or Vintage bicycle?

Old 10-02-21, 04:30 PM
  #76  
Hasek
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Originally Posted by cudak888
C&V is any decent bike the LBS will scoff at, really.
3Alarmer posted..I like to go by whether they use the words "Classic" or "Vintage" in the Craigslist ad.
Haha, the best ones to me.

randyjawa your Torpado Pro I am loving!
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Old 10-10-21, 02:29 PM
  #77  
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I see see that the moderators have created a separate forum for Early Brifter Bicycles -7, 8 & 9 speeds. So, they no longer qualify as C&V?
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Old 10-13-21, 07:04 PM
  #78  
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Classic;
Judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and outstanding of its kind.

Vintage;
Of old, recognized, and enduring interest, importance, or quality - Older than 20 years

Antique;
100 Years or older
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Old 10-31-21, 03:06 PM
  #79  
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So.... C&V or Early Brifter? '

97 Lemond Buenos Aires. stock with STI, now with downtube. PO installed long cage mtb derailleur and 11-32 cassette. Willow 46/30 installed on stock cranks with a 116 generic bottom bracket.

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Old 10-31-21, 07:20 PM
  #80  
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Originally Posted by T-Mar
I see see that the moderators have created a separate forum for Early Brifter Bicycles -7, 8 & 9 speeds. So, they no longer qualify as C&V?
Did you miss the backlash on that one? https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...esent-you.html
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Old 10-31-21, 08:01 PM
  #81  
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Originally Posted by P!N20
Did you miss the backlash on that one? https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...esent-you.html
The title didn't peak my interest. Thank-you for bringing it to my attention.
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Old 11-04-21, 03:17 PM
  #82  
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There was a supreme court justice who once said "I know it when I see it." I can't remember when he was referring to at the time but I think it works here. C&V is a style more then anything.
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Old 11-04-21, 04:07 PM
  #83  
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Originally Posted by degan
There was a supreme court justice who once said "I know it when I see it." I can't remember when he was referring to at the time but I think it works here. C&V is a style more then anything.
And highly subjective case by case, person to person, bike to bike, etc.

We all have our favorites, quirks, obsessions, weaknesses and plenty else.
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Old 11-22-21, 03:06 AM
  #84  
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Miss me cyrette

Originally Posted by cb400bill
What bikes do you have?
actually i have aTHE 1976 Trek 4500 asl. Blue n black w gray ,shox complete and still very much original .does that qualify as vintage ?
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Old 11-23-21, 07:06 PM
  #85  
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Old folks remember it (classic), or young folks will pay lots for it (vintage).
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Old 11-24-21, 07:09 PM
  #86  
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I consider my Jacques Anquetil - Cycles France ( pretty sure is was built by Gitane ) that I bought new in 1971 when I was 14 is a classic and vintage which also makes me a classic and vintage.
Just completed a restoration this summer after it had sat in the fruit cellar since 1993. Will post some pictures once I hit 10 posts.
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Old 11-24-21, 11:21 PM
  #87  
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Originally Posted by jcyrette73
actually i have aTHE 1976 Trek 4500 asl. Blue n black w gray ,shox complete and still very much original .does that qualify as vintage ?
1976?

Trek's first mountain bikes came out in the early 80s. A quick peek at Google images suggests your bike hails from the 2000s and won't be considered vintage for another 20 to 30 years.

DD
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Old 02-01-22, 12:26 PM
  #88  
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Originally Posted by macstuff
Classic;
Judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and outstanding of its kind.

Vintage;
Of old, recognized, and enduring interest, importance, or quality - Older than 20 years

Antique;
100 Years or older
Agreed & well said! Best description yet.
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Old 02-06-22, 06:52 PM
  #89  
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The way I look at bikes is from 1970 on (I know you can go back way further, but let's not talk about that).

1. Steel Frames / Campy Components (All Vintage)
2, Friction shifting (All Vintage)
3. Carbon, Aluminum, Ti Frames, Shimano, SRAM comes into the scene (There are Al, C & Ti Frames that are vintage, the Litespeed C1R for example, not to mention the C/Al Frames)
4. Index Shifting (about 1985 or so)
5. Brifters (I hate that term, I think it should be Shifting Brakes or Shakes)
6. Aero Frames (about 1985), they are already designing frames that get "lift" like a wing or sail... these will be vintage.
7. Disc Brakes, the first hydraulic systems are vintage (1971 Stingray)
8. Electronic Shifting (1990)

So where does Classic & Vintage Start, where you want... The year really doesn't matter, it's the technology and the demand that makes it vintage & classic (and even more so, it's personal perspective...) In my opinion, when a new technoligy hits the market (weather it succeeds or not), it becomes vintage /classic, the Chevy Corvair is vintage & classic no matter what Ralph Nader said...

My 1974 Mirella record group bike is vintage & classic, but so is my 1999 Waterford 2200. And if I get a 2016 Litespeed C1R (with any luck this summer) it will be vintage and classic as well)...
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Old 02-07-22, 09:49 PM
  #90  
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Is my 1973 Atala Competizione a Classic, or is it Vintage? Bought it new. Has all the original Campy components.
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Old 02-08-22, 12:24 PM
  #91  
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No rules, except for the people who appoint themselves the rulers.
My guide: whatever

Rules I don't follow:
1. stainless spokes. or old red Bontrager spokes. or old white Bontrager spokes. or old Rolf black spokes. You get it.
2. Lugs. Even alloy lugs on carbon. Even carbon lugs on carbon (Colnago C40). Or lugless, like TIG, aluminum, Kestrel, Aegis, Look, etc. You get it.
3. Steel helps. Except modern steel.
4. Aluminum (50/50). Alan? Centurion Facet? Primus Mootry
5. Titanium. Is the Titan not C&V?

Rules I do follow, sometimes.
1. If 99.9% of your riding partners say "nice old bike," and really have no idea what it is.
2. If a hipster looks at it, grins at you, or looks over at another hipster and they both grin.
3. If it's an old steel bike and the owner has named it. I don't get it but I sure don't argue.
4. If a pretty girl says "pretty bike."
5. The ability to rust.
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Old 02-08-22, 05:05 PM
  #92  
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Originally Posted by bamboobike4
Rules I don't follow:
1. stainless spokes
Stella sold stainless steel spokes no later than 1948, perhaps earlier. Seems pretty C&V to me.
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Old 02-08-22, 05:22 PM
  #93  
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Originally Posted by Sturuss
Is my 1973 Atala Competizione a Classic, or is it Vintage? Bought it new. Has all the original Campy components.
Both. Although we would need to see some pictures to verify.
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Old 02-08-22, 09:01 PM
  #94  
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Originally Posted by iab
Stella sold stainless steel spokes no later than 1948, perhaps earlier. Seems pretty C&V to me.
i prefer them; I just don’t make it a rule.
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Old 02-09-22, 06:48 PM
  #95  
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A "Classic Bike" is one that was cutting edge when you were single and bought it brand new, but now your grown children howl with laughter when they see you try to ride it.
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Old 02-09-22, 09:29 PM
  #96  
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Originally Posted by Larry650
A "Classic Bike" is one that was cutting edge when you were single and bought it brand new, but now your grown children howl with laughter when they see you try to ride it.
My 1973 Atala was cutting edge when I bought it new, but my grown sons still think it’s cool! They do chuckle when they see me ride it, but I think they are impressed that the Old Man can still do it.
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Old 02-10-22, 08:19 AM
  #97  
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Originally Posted by degan
There was a supreme court justice who once said "I know it when I see it." I can't remember when he was referring to at the time but I think it works here. C&V is a style more then anything.
I think that was Potter Stuart, and that he was talking about pornography.
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Old 02-10-22, 08:21 AM
  #98  
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If it's a bike I own, it's classic, vintage, or both. If it's a bike you own, it's just some old piece of crap.
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Old 02-10-22, 09:23 AM
  #99  
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To me:

Vintage is old

Classic is something old that I might ride.
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Old 02-11-22, 10:23 PM
  #100  
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Can't believe this is a sticky. smh.
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