Beauty
Say what you want about the swooping lines of a modern carbon fiber bike but in our opinion at least they can’t come close to the aesthetics of a high quality vintage steel road bike. We’d go so far as to say that a vintage racing bike is a functional piece of art, the beauty of a well crafted lug or the smooth join of a quality fillet braise should be enough to raise the heart rate of any cyclist.
Moving to the components, take a look at some modern groups and the first word that comes to mind is “ ugly “ in contrast vintage components can be and typically are beautiful works of art hanging off a frame like jewelry in the 1980s as the height of the pantographing craze components as works of art were taken to a whole new level and even the art of drilling out components to reduce weight was often done with a highly artistic flare.
Craftsmanship
A good part of the reason these vintage bikes and components were and are so beautiful is due to the craftsmanship involved in their construction. So, how is a modern monocoque carbon fiber bike manufactured ? sure there’s some human hands on work involved but basically it involves layering a sheet of carbon fiber with epoxy and pressing the whole thing in a mold, what you get is something that looks like well something that looks like it was made in a mold.
In contrast vintage bikes were completely hand built even if they were made in a factory environment they would have still been cut, jigged up, filed and welded by craftsmen who took pride in turning out a quality product.
Durability
Simply due to the materials involved a vintage racing bike which would have most likely been made of a high quality steel alloy is much more resistant to abuse than a modern carbon fiber bike and I’m not even talking about today’s most expensive carbon bikes with pencil thin seat stays and a frame that’s so light even the slightest amount of abuse can result in damage. Steel takes abuse well, even dented steel frames can be perfectly safe to ride and of course steel can be easily welded.
Yes, carbon fiber can be repaired but typically once a carbon bike has seen a crash significant enough to cause visible frame damage it’s no longer considered the greatest of ideas to keep riding it around. The steel of a vintage racing bike does have its kryptonite, this being that it can rust but as long as the rust has not been allowed to progress to extremes it can be removed, the rust area can be repainted and the bike is good to go once again.
Simplicity
Are you sure the batteries in your derailleurs are charged ? This is a question you’ll never have to worry about if you’re riding a vintage bike. A vintage racing bicycle is an extremely simple device run by a chain and a few steel wires connected to a few very simple mechanisms the down tube friction shifter is a bomb proof device that removes all the possible pitfalls of the modern combination brake shifter. Simply let your hand drop and push the small lever to change gears . Yes I can hear the masses yelling ‘ but it’s unsafe because I have to take my hands off the bars ‘, yes you will but you’ll have to take your hands off the bars for many reasons including pulling out and replacing your water bottle, so this is a skill that every rider will eventually have to master.
Brake levers on vintage racing bikes are equally as basic and when it comes time for repairs there’s very little work that can’t easily be done at home by the rider compared to modern bikes, for example try fixing your electronic shifting yourself the next time it goes nuts.
Economy
Go into any bike shop these days and check out the prices on modern racing bikes and you will be astounded. It’s not uncommon to pay several thousand dollars for just a basic modern road bike with end componentry, by way of comparison a once top of the lined vintage bike with once top of the line components can be purchased on the used market for a fraction of the price. Yes it is a used bike but the new bike you’re buying from the bike shop will be a used bike too the second you roll it out the shop door. For around a third of what you have to pay for a new low to midline name brand racing bike you can have your pick of history’s finest in beautiful used condition from builders like Colnago Bianchi Pinarello and more and there are even better bargains to be had when picking up a bike built by a local custom builder, whose name may not be as internationally known but whose build quality rivals or even exceeds the famous names.
Parts availability
Due to standards that held for decades there’s a seemingly endless supply of parts for vintage racing bikes on the used market, often in new old stock condition and also due to these long-held standards there are still many companies manufacturing components that will work with vintage bikes from chains to freewheels. It’s never difficult to replace a part on a vintage racer some items may get a little pricey like a new old stock vintage Campagnolo headset but considering the huge amount of money you saved up front by buying vintage and the unlikely nature of needing new parts on a regular basis, you’ll still come out far ahead from a financial perspective.
Now consider the current situation with modern racing bikes. Every day some company is pushing a new design for this component or that component is often poorly designed and hoping to establish a new standard which is replaced in a few months by some other designs that some other companies are pushing. With much of this stuff being proprietary, you might ask what’s this all leading to ? more than likely it’s leading to a world in which in a few years you won’t be able to get any replacement parts for these modern wonder bikes and you’ll be left with something as disposable as last years tennis racket or last months you’ll drive two yards farther with this driver golf club by the way this works out perfectly for modern bike. Manufacturers can’t get a part for a five year old bike, guess… you’ll just have to buy a new one.
Yes there are reasons why a modern bike is better than a vintage bike but the converse is also true in light of the way vintage bikes are often dismissed by many modern riders as obsolete. It’s always good to consider some of the things you’re leaving behind by a full throated embrace of the future. The future certainly brings some improvements, but we always find it remarkable just how many amazing, highly functional and truly beautiful things get thrown away along with the past.
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