Mercian Rider

A little shocked when I saw Bikesdirect selling an Ultegra-equiped Motobecane Gran Premio lugged steel road bike.

Raleigh of course has 3 lugged steel models: International, Record Ace, and Grand Prix (same frame?), as well as the welded steel vintage style Port Townsend and Clubman.

Pashley has the Guv'nor.

Trek offers the vintage style Belleville.

What others are you aware of?

What do you make of this--a broader vintage comeback?

rootboy 

Replicants. A new bike can't be vintage, as far as I'm concerned. I think they're emulating old bikes to meet some sort of demand. Why? Not sure other than there must not be enough good vintage bikes around and their market is those bitten by the vintage bug but don't have the desire or skills to search out and fix up a vintage bike. It's OK with me and don't want to suggest it isn't.

Mercian Rider

I think that may account for part of it--we take it for granted that we can fix/restore a true vintage bike. Some folks may like the style, but wouldn't trust a used bike they don't know how to work on.

iab

A partial list of Italian companies offering steel bikes,

Ablocco
Basso
Bellesi
Bianchi
Carrera
Casati
Cinelli
Ciocc
Colnago
DeRosa
Guerciotti
Masciaghi
Masi
Milani
Moser
Olmo
Pegoretti
Scapin
Somec
Tommasini
Torelli
Viner
Zullo

Pompiere

I think to some extent, people are tired of the trend in bikes that had them split into two extremes, either all out race machines (both road and mountain bikes) or comfort bikes made for people who don't ride more than a few miles. Even the bikes that are not meant for racing have the same type of graphic package as the race bikes and to the casual observer, may as well be a race bike. Some people just like to take longer rides at a comfortable pace. That doesn't mean they don't appreciate good hardware. They just don't need to look like they are training for the Tour de France. Race bikes don't have anyplace to mount a rack or fenders. I just bought Jamis Quest because although it isn't lugged, it has comfortable geometry and rack and fender mounts and it doesn't look like a rolling billboard.

Mercian Rider

Do you consider all of these to be mass-produced? Bianchi and Masi, I can see.

Velognome 

+1

Having some experience with the Raleigh Clubman. Replicants? I don't think so, the Clubman is most definatley a modern design. Emulating? Sure, subdued colors, old style script, fenders and Brooks saddle. But these components also make it very comfortable and practical.

This was the motivation for my purchase, I have vintage bikes but I wanted a new bike too, one that I was comfortable on around town, on longer rambles or club rides; regardless of the weather. Yes, my vintage steel does all that but for the sake of N+1, I needed something new.

So a gentle nod to the mass producers of nouveau vintage bicycles....well done sirs, well done!

jr59

For mass produced, Bianchi, Torelli and Masi

cb400bill

Is Fuji still making the Connoisseur?

Mercian Rider

There are certainly brands that have produced steel frames continously--some of the Italian examples above, Merican and Bob Jackson in the UK. I think of those as a more or less unbroken continuation of the vintage tradition for connoisseurs, not the masses. I'm thinking more along the lines of mass produced, mass marketed, ready-to-go vintage-esque bikes that are showing up at LBSs, REI website, bikesdirect, etc. Columbus Ohio town is crawling with Masis for example.

Mercian Rider

I think Nashbar (or Performance?) still sells them--not sure if they're still making them, though.

Mercian Rider

I see these bikes as a very positive development, and I agree that it answers a need for a practical, comfortable, but stylish bikes that don't fit the categories that have dominated the past couple of decades: modern road bikes, mountain bikes, and hybrids. I wonder to what extent the uptick in urban/commuting cycling is working along with this.

Here's another possible example: Nashbar steel road bike. Steel frame, downtube shifters, handlebar tape that looks shellaced, and faux leather rivited saddle.

Seeing Nashbar and bikesdirect tapping into this indicates a significant demand is out there.

KonAaron Snake 

Some other companies making mass-produced, lugged, replicas:

Rivendell
VO (some of them are pretty schweet)
Linus

Henry III

You should of said what company doesn't make a vintage themed model. What's there not to trust in a used bike? I can see like normal consumable type items like chains, cables but after that what makes an older part less reliable then a modern part? If I want something "vintage" then I buy something vintage...not to mention it's cheaper and usually a better bang for you buck to what bikes go for nowadays.

KonAaron Snake 

Most people will never change out their saddle. Most people will never get the bike tuned up or the bearings greased. Most people don't want to go to a shop, and it's a hassle to take their bike in. Most people have no idea whether something isn't working because of the chain, cogs, cable tension or pulley wear...they just want the bike to work. Most people will never ride the bike they bought for 1000 miles in its life - why do you think we all pull so many garage queens.

They want to buy a quick and easy bike that works and that they don't have to fuss with. They might like the styling of an older bike, but they might not want the hassle.

jeirvine 

This. And thank god - it insures the supply of gently used $20 vintage bikes will never end for those of us who do fix 'em up.

Mercian Rider

Spot on. And then when they discover the stock saddle is painful to ride, they simply stop riding the bike, or get a gel or sheepskin saddle cover, and still don't ride the bike. I've encountered bike owners who've given up on a bike because a tire went flat.

southpawboston

There's also Soma and dozens of other frame brands now making or marketing steel frames. Here's a new Soma steel mixte, which I bought and built up for my wife who wanted a traditionally styled bike but with modern parts. She wanted nothing to do with old parts, and specifically wanted a mixte. Unfortunately, it's nearly impossible to find vintage mixte frames in anything larger than 56cm (she needed a 58cm). She also wanted a comfortable all-rounder type of bike but was dead set against an ugly aluminum hybrid. That's were new steel frames come in handy-- they tend to make them in a broader range of sizes than you can typically find used.



(Hey, at least no twine or shellac on this one!)

BattleRabbit

Honestly, I want to see a mainstream company produce a touring/commuting bike with a flat top tube... Flat TT's, steel, drop bars, fenders and racks are a winning combo.

Doohickie

Do you consider Surly mainstream? All of their Pavement Bikes have straight TTs. Most, if not all, accept fenders & racks.

BattleRabbit

I always sort of forget about Surly. They're kinda the early 80s Volvo of the bike world... They're heavy, but darn are they good.

Doohickie

Apt comparison. I know tons of people that have them and like them, but when someone rides up on their new Surly, there's rarely an "Ooooooh, nice!" moment. Especially for their older models which includes the pavement bikes.

(Now the Moonlander....)

BattleRabbit

Oh damn, the Moonlander and the Pugsly are too cool for school!

Mercian Rider

Here's where I'm too easily impressed. When I see a Surly when I'm riding, I think, brilliant choice over the plastic spaceship racer wannabe bike.

Doohickie

Oh yeah, sure, but just like the older Volvo, there is no desire to pore over the bike and check out the unique aspects of it because, really, they aren't all that unique.