Vintage Cycling dies a slow death...
11-23-22, 02:37 PM
#176
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Everything wears out. Wireless shifting and hydraulics will make cables go the way of the buggy whip. Enough time and even Nuovo Record will be unserviceable.
11-23-22, 03:12 PM
#177
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It's good to see that modern bike tech continues the decades-old tradition of dubious claims for iffy innovations. For every poorly conceived concealed-cable setup in a modern high-end racing bike (it's aero!), probably soon to disappear and be replaced by more-conventional routing, there's a corresponding overblown piece of tech that came and went in the blink of an eye.
For instance: want to get rid of the dead spot at the top and bottom of your pedal stroke? See below. (See also: Powercam cranks.)
There's a current C&V thread about Rigida Score hard-anodized rims that includes a digression on that period in the '80s when every racer wanted some version of dark anodized rims. I'll admit it took me a couple of years to realize that all of the hard-anodized rims that the manufacturers were claiming to be miraculously stronger and tougher than conventional rims also just happened to be among the heaviest rims in the manufacturer's lineup.
For instance: want to get rid of the dead spot at the top and bottom of your pedal stroke? See below. (See also: Powercam cranks.)
There's a current C&V thread about Rigida Score hard-anodized rims that includes a digression on that period in the '80s when every racer wanted some version of dark anodized rims. I'll admit it took me a couple of years to realize that all of the hard-anodized rims that the manufacturers were claiming to be miraculously stronger and tougher than conventional rims also just happened to be among the heaviest rims in the manufacturer's lineup.
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11-23-22, 03:30 PM
#178
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No, no, no! Say it ain't so, Joe. You must be thinking of Shimano.
Campagnolo always had spare parts for maintainability and kept the Record/Nuovo/Super Record line in production and supply for a VERY long time. Items were user-repairable, interchangeable, compatible,...
For me, this was the reason to buy Campi rather than Shimano, or any other brand. I could never afford to buy a complete groupo, so I built up my "groupo" one piece at a time.
Just for the record, the first bit I bought was the micro-adjustable seat post, so I could ride more comfortably. Those cheap, indexed saddle clamps were just never right for me.
I do not know what Campagnolo or any other company is doing these days and I do not care.
I am FIRMLY locked into my 50 year old bike. It has a 5 speed freewheel, Nuovo Record all around and a 50 year old Brooks Team Pro saddle.
Campagnolo always had spare parts for maintainability and kept the Record/Nuovo/Super Record line in production and supply for a VERY long time. Items were user-repairable, interchangeable, compatible,...
For me, this was the reason to buy Campi rather than Shimano, or any other brand. I could never afford to buy a complete groupo, so I built up my "groupo" one piece at a time.
Just for the record, the first bit I bought was the micro-adjustable seat post, so I could ride more comfortably. Those cheap, indexed saddle clamps were just never right for me.
I do not know what Campagnolo or any other company is doing these days and I do not care.
I am FIRMLY locked into my 50 year old bike. It has a 5 speed freewheel, Nuovo Record all around and a 50 year old Brooks Team Pro saddle.
Last edited by Bad Lag; 11-23-22 at 03:34 PM.
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11-23-22, 04:00 PM
#179
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personally I like vintage frames with modern components, so am more concerned by the move to all disc braking and all electronic shifting at the high end.
but if you look a at the vendors mentioned there is still a ton of support for the vintage ethos
RH: alloy cranks, berthoud saddles for starters, fenders and the tires
VeloOrange; Super nice long reach dual pivots that will let me do bigger tires than 28mm should I choose
Rivendell: is 99% bringing out a nice silver derailler
I think the more the big guys move away from "vintage" the more it opens things up for small producers (with probably higher prices)
I think the vintage ethos and aesthetics will live and inspire, but not necessarily be slavish identical to the past
but if you look a at the vendors mentioned there is still a ton of support for the vintage ethos
RH: alloy cranks, berthoud saddles for starters, fenders and the tires
VeloOrange; Super nice long reach dual pivots that will let me do bigger tires than 28mm should I choose
Rivendell: is 99% bringing out a nice silver derailler
I think the more the big guys move away from "vintage" the more it opens things up for small producers (with probably higher prices)
I think the vintage ethos and aesthetics will live and inspire, but not necessarily be slavish identical to the past
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11-23-22, 04:26 PM
#180
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I mentioned this as a concern in another thread, too. For me its not so much the age of the bike or components, but the looks. Lugged frames look great still with Athena 11s and Shimano 105, but as the electronic groups take over, and more components only have black finishes, things don't look as nice. I don't think Campagnolo even makes Athena anymore or have anything like it. So while it's still easy to get a new lugged frame, getting a new group set that "feels" vintage is less feasible.
It's rather depressing, because it looks like it's just going to get harder and harder to source components, as people both use and wear out parts as well as hoard them. I think that that's pretty much already happening. C-list and eBay even 10 years ago was an absolute bonanza of vintage parts for decent or even downright cheap prices. Not so much anymore.
11-23-22, 04:45 PM
#181
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This is 100% the problem moving forward - as I mentioned in my first post above, Campy nixed Potenza and now for the first time in its history doesn't have a components group with a bare aluminum finish in their line-up. This is probably because it didn't sell very well despite apparently being a capable groupset. That may be true, but it was too modern-looking for the target market (C&V) - the several different finishes on even a single component (satin, mirror polish and black anodizing) and the butt-ugly 12sp four-arm crankset. I have an Athena 11 groupset and love it, but that particular group was discontinued years ago already. Personally, I think that the alloy five-arm Ultratorque cranksets are one of Campy's most beautiful modern designs.
It's rather depressing, because it looks like it's just going to get harder and harder to source components, as people both use and wear out parts as well as hoard them. I think that that's pretty much already happening. C-list and eBay even 10 years ago was an absolute bonanza of vintage parts for decent or even downright cheap prices. Not so much anymore.
It's rather depressing, because it looks like it's just going to get harder and harder to source components, as people both use and wear out parts as well as hoard them. I think that that's pretty much already happening. C-list and eBay even 10 years ago was an absolute bonanza of vintage parts for decent or even downright cheap prices. Not so much anymore.
But it is still aluminum underneath. An enterprising person could, with a lot of time and patience, strip the black anodizing. If were one so inclined.
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11-24-22, 09:15 AM
#182
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I have seen no drop off in the availability of parts for vintage bikes, as long as you are OK with used parts. Other than consumables, all of my parts come in the form of a complete used bike. I avoid buying deals as I am full up, but I see deals all the time. I saw two today, been for sale for a while, both priced at about 25% of market value. I have made no effort to get either one.
Velo Orange as an important supplier? I have never bought a single item from them. I've owned and rebuilt at least 750 vintage bikes. For me at least, they are not an important supplier. I can still find USED parts for a lot less than any shop or outlet charges. I've never been into reproduction stuff either.
Velo Orange as an important supplier? I have never bought a single item from them. I've owned and rebuilt at least 750 vintage bikes. For me at least, they are not an important supplier. I can still find USED parts for a lot less than any shop or outlet charges. I've never been into reproduction stuff either.
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11-25-22, 03:11 AM
#183
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Centaur 11 is available in silver. It’s ugly like Potenza, same crank, RD parallelogram plate is a little different but the same black knuckles. Am I missing something? At least they’re trying.
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11-25-22, 05:19 AM
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Last edited by BMC_Kid; 11-25-22 at 05:45 AM.
