Modern vs Retro Road Bike on You Tube

I feel the same about my modern(ish) Trek. The performance is there but the connection isn’t and any road surface that is less than perfect turns into an uncomfortable ride, despite the carbon forks and seat post.
It seems to turn me into a more aggressive rider as well, I spend more time shifting through a load of gears with my head down than taking in any scenery. I’m not really a ‘racer’ though and have no interest in Strava and stuff like that, so the bike rarely gets used, it’s been out once this year.
Steel bikes go with my mood, if I’m not ‘feeling it’ they perform well doing a leisurely ride, but if I want to ramp it up they perform just as well. The gearing can be limited but that’s just a case of swapping a few components as others have done on here.

Well put!

Haha, your posts made me smile Brian. Reminded me of a discussion about different types of riders, it was on GCN video if I remember right, one young Carbon guy in the comments mentioned ‘the old assassin’.
He said an old guy riding something like a Holdsworth ground him down to a pulp then eventually disappeared over the horizon.
That led to a load of comments saying don’t underestimate the old guys on their steel bikes.

This is a great thread. There really is something about the old steel, possibly that these 40-50 year old classics are the bikes we wish we had but could not afford in our youth but are now available for $50 on Craigslist or maybe even free curbside or at the town dump. Unimaginable wealth at our fingertips.

I had fun about 3 weeks ago with a Lycra Power Ranger on a carbon bike,  maybe early 30's. I was on my Viscount AX400.
I came down a short slope into a very big round-about, and my way was clear - he was in front of me on my exit road, maybe 20 yards ahead, but due to the swoop of the bend I was gaining pretty fast, and proceeded to sit a safe distance from his wheel. He saw me and I think was surprised as he couldn't work out where I'd come from . We were on a long straight, and can you believe  he stood up out of his seat to lose me? But I'd already got up to a good speed and was in exactly the right gear (maybe 8 or 9, maybe even up to tenth). You know that feeling when you hit something just right and everything is going well?
I put some effort in, without embarrassing myself by standing up or showing much effort. I'd got on a loose t-shirt, and baggy shorts on and my Viscount cap. My nemesis was in full Team Sky black lycra and aerodynamic helmet.
30 seconds later, still on him, he looked around and was surprised I think to still see me. He then re-doubled his efforts and tried to pull away. This time he was more successful and was going to leave me behind, but he looked like he was hurting a bit (truth be told, that was my best sprint and I was almost burnt out too by this time)
As chance would have it I was turning left as he was losing me. In my mind, he continued on at 100% for quite a while for fear of looking back and still seeing me and wore himself out.
All of this probably was over in 60-80 seconds , so it wasn't exactly a gladiatorial contest of epic proportions , but it was fun. 

Riding a bike should be fun and these guys like their old steel bikes... 

I fully go along with the sentiment that these bikes from our youth keep us connected to our youth. There is comfort in riding the same bikes from that period of your life on the same roads that you traveled as a 20 something year old. While so much has changed in your life and the world is currently convulsing, these rides are a constant and steadying experience that leaves you feeling more in control. My first Viscount was purchased towards the end of a stressful first year of professional school and I immediately felt an outlet for my angst. Those early explorations around Western, NY were magical and confidence building. It was more than a bike. It was my best friend to share adventures with. I collected all the brochures of the Viscount models and lusted over the "exotic" Aerospace Pro and others that were out of reach on a student budget. The bright, sky blue Gran Touring was already a huge step up from my old stolen Schwinn. It feels great to have now purchased and continue to ride all the higher level models thanks to scavenger hunting on Craigs list and ebay.

I must admit to being a Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde case when it comes to the bikes I own. I went from a being a recreational rider to getting bit by the triathlon bug in the late '80's. My first was on my Viscount when everything was still steel. It was a thrill to be hanging the first few miles with guys on Italian bikes that were Campy equipped on my humble 12 year old VGT. Whether it was my fitness or bike, I bought in to the idea of needing a real racing bike. I went on to own to a Vitus 979 and by 1993, the Viscount was sadly hanging in the garage neglected and rusting. Ten years later came a Kestrel carbon fiber, aero bar equipped racing machine. Fast and beautiful, good race results but I started to no longer enjoy cycling. No connection, no joy and no comfort. Another 10 years and I need a nicer, faster racing bike. Trek Madone was Lance's and Contador's bike so I had to have it. No aero bars and it felt like a road bike was right. It brought me back to cycling the way I remembered it. About the same time, I fell into the CTC thread stared by Busaste and "rediscovered" my Viscount. Rebuilt it and reconnected.

So I'm both guys. The one who loves to surprise a young carbon bike guy that I can hang with him while on a Viscount as well as being that lycra clad Ironman jersey carbon Trek riding racer who appreciates when my young alter ego passes me on an old hand me down steel bike. It cuts both ways. Something about rooting for the underdog that is ingrained in loving a brand that had the balls to sell a competitive bike at half the price of an Italian/Campy machine. It's like rooting for the Mets vs the Yankees.

With no racing this year with Covid, I've found more enjoyment riding my old Viscounts than ever. I plan to keep racing as long as I can so modern bikes will continue to help me be competitive and I'll still be in lycra. I'm 66, and I know that if and when triathlons are over for me, I'll still enjoy just riding my Viscounts.

I ride modern and vintage depending on the ride. Due to COVID-19 most of my vintage and I are separated and I’m living in London. Most rides can be done using a narrow range of gears and I have a Modern Raleigh Militis that is easy and fun to ride even in traffic. If I’m just wanting a nice leisurely ride I have a 1977 MKM Dominator built up as a 7 speed with a bar end shifter, nice for a tootle around Richmond Park or the city at weekend and is surprisingly fast. However I went upto Lancashire last month and took a Cannondale that has a 32T cassette and welcomed that on 19% gradient climbs. I’m not bothered what I ride as long as I can actually ride and feel the choice of bike is important when matched to the planned ride.

Naturally if anyone would care to take a vintage 5 speed over Pendle Hill and go past me on a well geared modern I’m happy to buy the drinks at the pub later 😀

I’m always up for a challenge..........the Hill is from memory 4.5km and has some gradients up to 19%.........I absolutely love it but then I don’t do that with 50 to 28T on a vintage steel bike and doubt I could. Derbyshire hills can’t be brutal as well, had some great rides down there as well 😀

Now you're making ME miss the Schwinn Fastbacks and Stingrays. I remember them well in my first job out of high school, a Schwinn dealership, 1966 - 1970 and mid-1973 - 1979. I put so many of those things, as well as the Krate series, together that I could probably still do it in my sleep. Like all Schwinn's they were very well made - even over-built, quite unlike the Schwinn's of today. Of course, it's a different company entirely.
Best,
John "wheelson"