Six Reasons Why Vintage Road Bikes Are Better Than Modern Road Bikes

Yeah, you're all about your modern, ultralight, plastic bike aren't you? Well, listen up, bub. There are plenty of things about vintage road bikes that are simply "better" than your modern superbike.
Music:
FynestLyk - Noir Et Blanc Vie

[kurtbargar]

I bought my 1973 Holdsworth new in 73. It cost 125 us. It has been my only bicycle since. Twice rebuilt, never had a issue that I could not fix myself. The frame is Reynolds 531, a mag- moly tubing. It doesn't rust but oxidises. The BB was without paint for over 30 years. I toured in all weather. 2 more years and we'll be together for 50 years. Wish me luck.

[breathestrongcycling]

Modern bikes have owners....
Vintage and classic bikes have custodians....

[andrerodriguez]

I’m 68 years old and raced on steal frames in the 70’s. These days I use a Carbon frame in my older years to stay competitive on fast group rides. When ever I go back to riding a double butted steal frame, it’s like riding on a cloud. Just a wonderful feeling, my carbon frame just beats me up, it’s so much stiffer. As for components, Shimano Ultegra shifters and caliper brakes are superior to 80’s Campagnolo components. Anyway I learned to work on bikes in the old days. I’m my own mechanic on my newer one. There are plenty of parts for either bike, new or old. Old is not necessary better, it comes down to what you want to ride. Every bike has a purpose. Overall, bike riding is fun. On a huffy, a full vintage, or Carbon race bike. Get out and ride. 😊

[markowsley]

You are exactly right on how beautiful an older lugged steel frame can be.

[franksodonis]

Great video! Got in trouble from my mom in 1972 for spending so much money on a new Gitane ($130). Twenty years ago, I put new rims (Araya) and tires on it. Hadn't really rode it since then. Took the wheels in last month to have them trued and bearings done ($65)....and splurged on new handle bar tape. My 50 year old bike is running better than new, and I'm loving every minute of it! As a Senior, I'm feeling like a kid again!

[robevans]

3 decades ago I bought a lugged Japanese-made steel machine with Ultegra groupset for $500, brand new. That was as costly a bike as I could justify at the time...and now, about 50, 000 miles later, I'm still riding it. And it still has the original groupset, except that I changed to clipless pedals and have replaced drivetrain components (such as cassette and chain) due to normal wear. Best $500 I've ever spent in my life. The fit and ride quality are so good that even now, with cost being no object whatsoever, I would never trade it for a new carbon-fiber "wonder bike". No one else has ever worked on the bike, nor does anyone need to...I own every tool I will ever need to maintain it. It is maintained in pristine condition, and performs exactly as it did when brand new.

Incidentally, I ride 2x7 gearing, with 12-28 cassette, and I live in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I can't imagine why so many people are lusting for 12 speeds on the rear, only to end up with thinner drivetrain components that wear out more rapidly and are more temperamental to adjust. I have 2 wheelsets (one original/1990, and the other an aero set from around 2015), and I can swap them without touching any adjustments. My drivetrain is always quiet, shifts very crisply, and I don't have to ratchet through 4 sprockets just to adjust to a moderate change in road gradient.

[LewisClarks-pjoy]

1988 peugeot with 501, and a 1984 fuji sagres with 414,
I've fell in love with restoring vintage bicycles

[chuckfrizzell]

Well done! I have had a “top of the line” carbon 11 speed wonder bike. It was nice but I sold it after a few months and back to my 1987 Eddy Merckx - SLX super butted steel “Cadillac.” Dura Ace 7700 components. It has well over 100, 000 miles on it and still looks great, works great, and handles like it’s on rails. It will go as fast as this 62 year old engine can pedal it!

[toshaveornottoshave-]

These bikes were made, like cars of that era, with a soul, there is a record on my Look, a titanium, I'm glad to see you guys!

[Allthingslife]

I recently bought an early 90’s diamond back centurion interval road bike from facebook marketplace for $65. Put new brake cables, new shifter cables and housing, new tires and tubes, and a brooks saddle on it now it’s my favorite bike. Parts and labor costed me $80 so I paid $145 for my bike and I love it so much there’s just a different feel and a nice pleasant aesthetic vibe you get from vintage road bikes. It feels so nice to ride and feels extremely strong and reliable!

[wheelsrbest]

The trouble here in the UK is these are now expensive to buy. I wonder how many of us can think back and say I really wish I hadn't sold that bike. Great video. Thanks

[mray]

I have a mint condition early 80’s Tomassini Sintisi that I bought new. Last week I took it off the wall and have been cleaning, lubing and getting it ready to ride. Such a work of art and the ride is so vibrant it’s amazing

[williamcanfield]

I bought my Motobecane 12 speed, full Campy, Reynolds 521, in ‘72 and it remains, safe in my garage, a thing of beauty in yellow, black & gold.

[qmnwvds]

I had a Gitane, built on Reynolds 531 tubing with chrome touches. Sold it to a friend who totaled it in a major crash that destroyed EVERYTHING, from the handlebars to both wheel rims. But like something from out of space, the frame remained unscathed.

Upon very close inspection, the fork showed the slightest sign of a bend, not even a 1/4 inch if that. I bought it back and rebuilt it, and took it on tour across Europe, covering about 2000 miles, through the French Alps and all kinds of terrain. I would never trust a new, carbon composite frame, no matter what the price.

Vintage 531 is time (and crash) tested. And looks beautiful, double-butted tubing, breathtaking craftsmanship. Nice video!

[AchimDaffin]

I love your article. I just retired and decided to rehab my 40-year-old Raleigh Super Grand Prix road bike used in countless Triathlons. The frame size alone is not available these days, and as you pointed out, other than a bit of rust, it is as good as it's ever been. I think I paid a little over $500.00 for it back in 1980 and spent about $400.00 to rehab some parts off another Raleigh I had but hadn't ridden as much. It rides wonderfully well for a 66-year-old and is like being with an old friend when I ride.

[cleekmaker]

Was in the biz 1984 - 2000. Witnessed the big bang from the commercial MTB, and the demise of the drop bar road bike. The birth of index shifting, and everything in between.
My parts drawers are replete with 7 and 8 speed components, and my rigs are all steel, including my 1986 Moots. 👍😄

[Sansoloz]

Those classic 70s-80s european racers will never go out of Style.

[thekenthouse]

So right about the value in the 80's machinery. I bought my teenager a Vitus with full first-gen Dura-Ace for $300 and he loves it. Only change we made on it was to switch out the crumbling hoods with some better-feeling modern Shimano levers that hides the cabling for an even better look.

[amboroverdecillo]

Finally, someone who says the truth and sets the record straight! Great video.

[londonpickering]

Steel is real! Quality never goes out of for posting.