Chain "Snapped"

[overmind]

I have a stockpile of 10 older technology 5-8 speed chains. I concluded some time ago that the newer bike technology seems to be planned obsolescence. Therefore I have adopted a trailing-edge technology approach to bikes. I get old 2nd hand bikes with older technology on them; like cup-and-cone BBs and rim brakes. I then just cannibalise old bikes to maintain the existing bike.

I reckon I can do this forever.

At some point, the traditional ways will return and they will make bikes that are built to last again.

Until then I'll just hunker down and forage for parts. There is nothing more satisfying than maintaining a classic bike.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

I have a stockpile of 10 older technology 5-8 speed chains. I concluded some time ago that the newer bike technology seems to be planned obsolescence. Therefore I have adopted a trailing-edge technology approach to bikes. I get old 2nd hand bikes with older technology on them; like cup-and-cone BBs and rim brakes. I then just cannibalise old bikes to maintain the existing bike.

I reckon I can do this forever.

At some point, the traditional ways will return and they will make bikes that are built to last again.

Until then I'll just hunker down and forage for parts. There is nothing more satisfying than maintaining a classic bike.

Yup, nothing like quill stems, chrome rims, open bearing BBs, centre pull brakes, non-clincher tyres, rubber block pedals, cotter pins and back pedal bakes to remind you just how rubbish modern bikes are.

 

[Pale Rider]

Yup, nothing like quill stems, chrome rims, open bearing BBs, centre pull brakes, non-clincher tyres, rubber block pedals, cotter pins and back pedal bakes to remind you just how rubbish modern bikes are.

Ruddy modernist.

Brakes should be operated by steel rods not flimsy cables.

 

[si_c]

Ruddy modernist.

Brakes should be operated by steel rods not flimsy cables.

What's wrong with braking with your feet like what we did as kids ...

 

[bladderhead]

Why oh why are there so many types of bottom bracket?

 

[rogerzilla]

I rather like centre-pulls. They work much better than a SP brake when the reach is very long, and they track the rim better than a DP brake.

Cotter pins are the work of Satan.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I like to keep a stock of old wooden wheels , these modern steel spoked wheels seem to keep breaking from what I can see.

 

[rogerzilla]

I think you can still buy wooden rims. They swell up when they get wet, they splinter in a crash and the hot debris from the (cork) brake pads burns your legs. Ideal for L'Eroica hipsters.

 

[Pale Rider]

Wheels?

What's wrong with using tree trunks as rollers?

And who needs chains when you can scoot.

Yabba-dabba-do.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

I concluded some time ago that the newer bike technology seems to be planned obsolescence. Therefore I have adopted a trailing-edge technology approach to bikes. I get old 2nd hand bikes with older technology on them; like cup-and-cone BBs and rim brakes. I then just cannibalise old bikes to maintain the existing bike.
I reckon I can do this forever..

I do exactly the same thing, and I have a nice little fleet of solidly built British bikes, mainly from the 80's and early 90's, that should outlast me. Even if there is an outbreak of design sanity in the modern cycle industry, I still won't be tempted to buy new in future, as my old ones can be kept going at virtually no cost whatsoever simply by cannibalising bargain-bucket donor bike purchases and skip salvage finds. It's satisfying to keep older stuff on the road, and it makes the per-mile cost of cycling virtually free.

 

[Rusty Nails]

Yup, nothing like quill stems, chrome rims, open bearing BBs, centre pull brakes, non-clincher tyres, rubber block pedals, cotter pins and back pedal bakes to remind you just how rubbish modern bikes are.

It's impossible to argue that modern technology doesn't give better marginal gains and better performance (see, I follow that modern chap Brailsford). But most cyclists, imo, are not worried about marginal gains and for many of them good enough is good enough. Personally I never knew anyone who rode with back pedal brakes and I never used tubs, but are non-clincher tyres still used by some pros?

Yes, cotter pins were awful, and brakes combined with chrome rims borderline suicide, but quill stems were great, especially aesthetically, when you found the right riding position and I have never had a problem with open-bearing BBs. Possibly because I don't have a problem with regular maintenance of my bikes.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

It's impossible to argue that modern technology doesn't give better marginal gains and better performance (see, I follow that modern chap Brailsford). But most cyclists, imo, are not worried about marginal gains and for many of them good enough is good enough. Personally I never knew anyone who rode with back pedal brakes and I never used tubs, but are non-clincher tyres still used by some pros?

Yes, cotter pins were awful, and brakes combined with chrome rims borderline suicide, but quill stems were great, especially aesthetically, when you found the right riding position and I have never had a problem with open-bearing BBs. Possibly because I don't have a problem with regular maintenance of my bikes.

Non-clincher tyres predate clinchers. Clinchers rely on a hook and bead (and hoop stress) to keep the tyre on the rim with high pressure. Non-clinchers where low-pressure jobbies that went with shallow, non-hooked rims.

If you say you've never had a problem with open-bearing BBs, I can't argue with that. I sure as hell appreciate the work done by seals and the grief it saves me.

When I was at school, my science teacher had two bits of wisdom on the wall. The first said: Good enough is never good enough. The second one said: The secret to success is hard work and that's why it will always remain a secret.

This stuck with me throughout my life and therefore, good enough is just not good enough. But, I'll give you the opportunity to explain why a quill stem is "great".

 

[si_c]

But, I'll give you the opportunity to explain why a quill stem is "great".

Aesthetically I would choose a Cinelli A1 stem over any other stem, especially when paired with a level top tube on a steel bike. There's something about them that makes them look just right. I've never had any mechanical problems with them but I'd choose an aheadset over a quill as it's a better mechanical solution.

 

[Rusty Nails]

Non-clincher tyres predate clinchers. Clinchers rely on a hook and bead (and hoop stress) to keep the tyre on the rim with high pressure. Non-clinchers where low-pressure jobbies that went with shallow, non-hooked rims.

If you say you've never had a problem with open-bearing BBs, I can't argue with that. I sure as hell appreciate the work done by seals and the grief it saves me.

When I was at school, my science teacher had two bits of wisdom on the wall. The first said: Good enough is never good enough. The second one said: The secret to success is hard work and that's why it will always remain a secret.

This stuck with me throughout my life and therefore, good enough is just not good enough. But, I'll give you the opportunity to explain why a quill stem is "great".

Bikes that have different roles e.g. racing, shopping, commuting, touring have different criteria for "good". For shopping and commuting good enough covers comfortability, reliability, efficiency, often price. If the cranks turn around smoothly, are not made of cheese, and can be maintained easily then that is "good enough". Even for racing "good enough" is OK as long as it is better than your competitors.

In a practical sense good enough, at any level, depends upon performance needs, and is a balance between quality and budget. That shouldn't and doesn't stop development and improvement, and good enough for a racing team has to be miles better than good enough for popping to the shops.

While I love the modern stems/headsets for their ease of headset adjustment and maintenance, and probably their looks on a modern frame bike, especially mtbs, I also like the look of quill stems, especially on old steel road bikes. I like the ease of changing the height of the bars without changing stems or spacers. Quill stems have their problems, especially the faff of changing bars, and the fact that if left too long they can stick in the head tube. But that's due to faulty maintenance.

The good thing about technical improvements is that they don't necessarily make redundant the older technology for fogies like me.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Having ridden every configuration since five speed blocks were cutting edge I'd take todays technology over yesterdays any day. And no way will I buy into the myth that the stuff I rode in the sixties was more reliable than today's kit - it wasn't, often being crudely engineered by modern standards. I get the appeal of older bikes, I've even got one in the stable myself and the paint jobs on top end steel frames were often works of art but I'm afraid that for many people the rose tinted specs come out when they are looking into their past.