Are Modern Cheap Bikes Faster Than Vintage Super Bikes?

How does a retro superbike really compare to the modern-day cheap bike? Technology has developed so much that it got us thinking, which is faster on the flat? Which is faster in the hills? And do 50-year-old brakes work? Si has been to put both to the test in the Wye Valley!

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[gcn]

What comparisons would you like to see us do next? 👇

[JayJayAre]

Love seeing you cover cheaper bikes. This is the kind of content I would share with someone wanting to start cycling. When I started cycling I could barely wrap my head around spending about $1000 for my first road bike and gear. Videos like this I think would help expand the sport to more people.

[ladare]

Great to see GCN testing entry level bikes. Please do more comparisons of existing entry level bikes from all manufacturers and suggest some modifications which can be done on these entry level bikes so it feels and works great.

[arcaderadio]

Appreciate GCN not using the Eurobike here. The eurobike isn't a true entry level road bike and comparing it with, well, just about anything isn't all that interesting

[ivanbuckingham]

PLEASE make a video of the cheap bike as it is in this video v's top tyre upgrade. Because let's face it, as entertaining as this video was, not many of us are in the market for a custom built retro bike, however many people would be interested in how fast a budget bike could go with a simple tyre upgrade.

[andywalford]

Ive put brand new 105, modern wheels, tubeless racing tyres etc on a vintage Reynolds 531c frame. Just the most gorgeous ride ever.

[benjames]

How about trying “classic frame new components”? Most of the criticisms related to things like gears, wheels and brakes - how does this frame ride with updated components and wheels?

Great to see GCN using Triban as the entry level bike, my first road bike was a Btwin triban, absolute bargain and loved it, for those of us with a limited budget, fantastic bike to own

[philipcooper]

I 100% agree, tyres are the upgrade to go for. My first road bike was Triban RC500 (Sora groupset) and the stock tyres the bike came on were awful. Just swapping the tyres for something a bit more nice (Ultra Sport III) completely transformed the bike. At the same effort I could ride longer and futher with much more confidence.

[yisraels]

You can't ride a vintage bike? Baloney. I do it every day. GCN has run multiple "how bad was vintage biking" with dried out tires, dried out brake pads and then tells people that old bikes don't work. Take a decent vintage bike and make sure the consumables bits are in good condition and a vintage bike will work just fine. For most people the bike is not holding them back... their legs just aren't strong enough..

[truthseeker]

The vintage steel bike looked great flying along. My favourite is a vintage frame with modern components..the retromod bike.

[MajorJamesGastovski]

I think the biggest revelation of this video is that a custom-made steel frame made from modern tubes combined with a high-quality modern mid-tier group may be everyone's "go-to" bike. The classic appearance, ease of maintenance, reasonable price, practical functionality, the weight is not heavy as you thought an "old school" steel frame bike should have, and, most importantly, the size and geometry are made for you. Who would resist such an all-rounder?

[The_Italian_Job]

I've got the exact same Triban to use for both commuting and a bit of weekend rides and I'm pleased to hear it actually received some good feedback! I agree tyres are a major point to upgrade, one of my dear cycling friends always says that, no matter how expensive your frame, wheel or components are, the only patch of contact you get with the ground comes from the tyres!

[Notorious_MIG]

Idea for a video series:

Each presenter buys a bike for £1000. Then they do a series of rides.

A group century. An epic climb. A Gravel ride. A competitive fondo.

Between each ride they make upgrades to the bike on a budget. Objective isn’t necessarily to come in first, but to see what bikes and upgrades people made and how they affected their enjoyment of the ride.

[ronbell]

As someone who rode, raced, and toured on friction shifters and rim brakes it always amazes me how "we couldn't stop, or shift"! That's the way it was! Clipless pedals and moving shifters to the handlebars, two great improvements! For most of us, aero, and frame materials are just something to talk about. Cruising along at 16-18 mph, 26-29 kph the benefits of these technologies are just "lost". Position, tire choice, and saddle choices, that will determine ones comfort on the bike. My days of keeping up with Si are over. I hope his passion, and memories of "time on the bike" equal or exceed mine at 64. Si is always an enthusiastic presenter and a great cyclist in his own right. This was a great segment!

[markotrieste]

Kudos for the consistency in power output across different scenarios. I was expecting the Triban to perform better uphill with that gearing.

[vancespearman]

The frame builder did a great job 😍 that Merx is gorgeous

[PhilOsGarage]

As someone with both vintage and modern bikes I love these videos, the riding enjoyment is very different between vintage and modern, but both are very enjoyable

[christophertrapp]

Never, ever underestimate the greatness of a vintage super bike. A fairly well trained, capable rider on one can kill the ego of everyone on a group ride. Slightly more modern upgrades, like STI levers, better brakes, and a 9/10 speed drivetrain really unlock their potential.

[kevinsedota]

With respect to the hoods and shifter positioning. We rode a lot more on the drops back then. It was easier to get to the down tube shifters from that position and just somehow more comfortable.