Why vintage bikes are better than new bikes

[mjr]

Whereas with older brake levers you could never brake from 'the hoods' you might as well have started blowing in front of you to stop given the leverage achieved by that technique.

I can on my early 80s levers which I think may be Weinmanns. Maybe some were better than others.

 

[pawl]

I can't find any pics of it. I doubt he's old enough. Are you sure you're not thinking of interrupters aka crosstops aka cyclocrossers?

Is that what there called. I remember there were levers mounted on the top of his bars. Thanks

 

[Illaveago]

I have found them quite useful for slowing you down but I wouldn't want to use them in an emergency .

 

[Illaveago]

Looking through the vintage section of Ebay I came across a photo that explains why old bikes are so much nicer than new. Turns out it's got less to do with craftsmanship than it does good husbandry.
You see, once built, vintage bikes are free range and grass fed!


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I see you have made a start at collecting .

 

[Alan O]

Whereas with older brake levers you could never brake from 'the hoods' you might as well have started blowing in front of you to stop given the leverage achieved by that technique.

I'm glad I never knew that, because I do it all the time

 

[mjr]

Is that what there called. I remember there were levers mounted on the top of his bars. Thanks

If they were mounted on the top then probably. Suicides were long levers actually attached at the pivot of the main lever and so named because some were prone to bend and strike the handlebars long before maximum braking force was applied.

 

[raleighnut]

I'm glad I never knew that, because I do it all the time

You get some braking from them but similar to @Illaveago 's post upthread you wouldn't want to brake in an emergency from there. I on the other hand suffer from the opposite on the Road Ace, I've fitted modern 105 dual pivot brakes to that and they're far too powerful for an instinctive 'grab' and yes they have spat me off over the bars more than once but 1 finger braking is excellent.

 

[mikeymustard]

You get some braking from them but similar to @Illaveago 's post upthread you wouldn't want to brake in an emergency from there. I on the other hand suffer from the opposite on the Road Ace, I've fitted modern 105 dual pivot brakes to that and they're far too powerful for an instinctive 'grab' and yes they have spat me off over the bars more than once but 1 finger braking is excellent.

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I've done the same on most of the bikes I've ridden a lot especially the fairly quick ones, but I've usually matched them with modern (ish at least) levers

 

[raleighnut]

I've done the same on most of the bikes I've ridden a lot especially the fairly quick ones, but I've usually matched them with modern (ish at least) levers

The TT brake levers are new, bought to match the brakes it's my being so used to older brakes and the feel of them that is at fault, I'm fine when thinking about which bike I'm on and how they work but in an emergency I've just grabbed em and

 

[Illaveago]

So far we seem to have focused on a negative aspect of vintage bikes. I feel that they are a lot easier to work on not requiring specialist tools . A lot of the parts are interchangeable although there are a few exceptions such as seat post diameter .
I had forgotten how nice they were to ride and at times just enjoy playing , freewheeling standing on the pedals zig zagging around like a racing car warming up it's tyres. Yes ! I know that one day I will get it wrong and fall off . But that is the feeling of enjoyment I am getting from riding them .

 

[Illaveago]

Chrome bits . Especially chrome forks and rear stays ! Large flange hubs !

I' d .Better go and have a lie down now .

 

[GuyBoden]

I find building a vintage bike to be very rewarding, then there's always some maintenance or upgrade to be getting on with, it's a pleasurable hobby.

 

[Dan B]

I feel that they are a lot easier to work on not requiring specialist tools .

Except for the imperial spanners, the whitworth threads, and the need to carry two or more screwdrivers for bolts which on a modern bike would all have Allen heads.

On the other hand you can do a lot of stuff with an adjustable spanner if you're not too fussy. Swings and roundabouts, really

 

[Illaveago]

Except for the imperial spanners, the whitworth threads, and the need to carry two or more screwdrivers for bolts which on a modern bike would all have Allen heads.

On the other hand you can do a lot of stuff with an adjustable spanner if you're not too fussy. Swings and roundabouts, really

No problem for my toolbox then .

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

The most obvious difference is that almost all vintage bikes are attractive to look at, irrespective of whether they are intended for utility riding, off-road exploring, touring, or racing. The frames aren't made of weird shaped, ugly, oversized tubes, and the forks are elegant and don't look like someone has sawn a couple of legs off their kitchen table and jammed a wheel in between them, which is what modern carbon forks resemble.