SoSmellyAir

Why not just carry a burner in case of emergencies?

VegasJen

Because that is still a monthly charge. Even cheap ones are about $30/mo. This MP3 cost $30 and has lasted me over two years. I'm on my fourth or fifth now and I typically get around 3 years or more out of one. That's a pretty good ROI in my book.

As for the emergency, I ride on regular routes I know well and I always carry supplies. Of course, there's always that one thing you never expect, and that has happened to me a couple times. But it's never been anything I needed a phone for. Besides, I'm super paranoid. I don't want to be tracked even when I'm just going for a bike ride.

downtube42

I felt very retrogrouchy walking out of the local Trek store with a new gen 3 Trek Domane. Because i essentially had to argue with the sales person that no I didn't want a gen 4 with electronic shifting, and yes I do want one of the last new 60cm mechanical Domanes anywhere.

It doesn't have to be 30 year old tech.

mstateglfr 

This is why I never take my phone when I go to the grocery store, or to run errands, or even to work. The potential expense of replacing it is simply too high.***


Of course I take my phone to those places. There is such a small chance of it breaking to the point of needing to be replaced that if I didn't take it, it would make having the phone pointless.
There is no higher chance of me needing to replace it when I ride compared to me shopping for produce, buying clothes, or walking around my building at work.

Putting it in a cycling wallet in a jersey pocket is secure. Putting it in any one of the countless bags that can be mounted to a bike under the saddle or by the head tube means the phone is both secure and protected.
A phone in a saddle wedge isn't going to break even if you crash. It will allow you to call for help though.
But you do you- you always will.

alcjphil

I like older bikes, but I also embrace new tech. I bought a very nice Canyon Grizl gravel bike last year which has disc brakes, tubeless tires and internal cable routing. I also enjoy riding my 1980's Limongi which has downtube shifters, exposed cables and tube type tires
Not grouchy at all

tomato coupe

Yeah, it's risky taking a cell phone anywhere outside of the house. In fact, I wish there were phones that were mounted to the wall, so that the risk of losing them was even less.

BillyD

I read this line and it opened up a fresh wound, reminding me of my beloved '76 Schwinn Continental that I chose to set free just recently. I hadn't ridden it in years, because my local terrain was just too hilly to challenge with this beast, but I was in the last desperate stages of a chaotic move (think '75 exit from Saigon) and something had to give. At the last minute the bike was placed curbside along with some trash, but I refused to leave it until my bike-co-op friend arrived to rescue it and hopefully fix it up for a new owner. *sniffle*

RCMoeur 

I suppose I'm more of a "retronotverygrouchyunlessyoucatchmeonabaddayjustappreciatingolderequipmentinapositivemaneerandtryin gtohelpothersooohlookfrictionshifters" kind of person. Not that I want to be pigeonholed or anything.

SoSmellyAir

I feel the same about all 4 of my bikes, even the CAAD4 which I am extremely slowly building and thus have never even ridden. So I guess I am just a hoarder? (Not to make light of 79pmooney or BillyD for loving their bikes.)

PeteHski

The true retrogrouch will list a load of uninformed reasons why the new tech is inferior to their old gear and only exists because of marketing.

SoSmellyAir

No, because of a conspiracy between the big brands and the race sanctioning bodies.

genejockey 

I always thought the whole point of retrogrouchiness was not that YOU don't need The Latest New Thing, but rather to loudly declare that NOBODY needs it. Hence the "grouch" part.

For me, I think it'll be when they're no longer affordable. 105 Di2 may be a bridge too far for yours truly. OTOH, I have no current need for more bikes.

genejockey 

The Pro Tour riders would all rather be on 22lb. steel bikes with 21mm tubulars on 36 spoke wheels, with 6 speeds and friction shifting, and single pivot brakes with non-aero levers, but they HAVE TO ride what the sponsor tells them!

genejockey 

A hoarder? With only FOUR bikes?

Eric F 

Don’t forget…if you buy new stuff, it means you can’t think for yourself.

Eric F 

They don’t know any better. Obviously.

SoSmellyAir

Is it even possible to get down to 22 lbs. with an all steel frame (including fork) and two wheels each with 36 spokes?

genejockey 

According to catalogs of the day, yes. Especially if you ride a 50cm frame.

ThermionicScott 

Perhaps there are "strong" and "weak" forms of retrogrouchiness, on top of the various depths of the tongue in one's cheek:

Weak Form: "Pfft, I don't need this."

Strong Form: "Pfft, nobody needs this!"

Eric F 

Yes. My ‘77 Nishiki is sub-22.

LesterOfPuppets

I'd guess 16 or so would be possible. Starting from a Rodriguez Outlaw with Red (13.5) gives you some leeway if you're just swapping fork and wheels.

SoSmellyAir

Wow, thanks to all who responded to my inquiry re: steel and 22 lbs.; I thought retro-grouches are all hard AF from riding 25 lbs. bike with skinny tire up steep hills.

Eric F 

I’m soft AF.

PeteHski

....and all the non-sponsored amateur racers just copy the pros like sheep. Only the retrogrouch is clever enough to know better.

yaw

I wonder whether there is a measurable trend indicating that retrogrouches in the wild are increasingly confined to flats and valleys with their little cassettes as sarcopenia sets in, or if their bare boned grit will perpetually defy age and gravity. Any studies on this?