18 Dec 2008 :: Vintage Mountain Bike
I am absolutely certain that the best era in cycling is yet to come. People are finding bikes that work well for multiple and niche uses and there are products available for any type of riding and the internet has helped people share ideas and ways of creating the perfect bicycle.
Still, there is some upward movement available, as most standard bikes are mountain bikes with bad suspension on the lower end models, while the more expensive are prohibitively expensive without the eyelets and studs for different types of brakes and mounts, limiting their versatility. Road bikes have no tire clearance for varying uses and often have unforgiving geometry. Besides, decent new SS bikes will cost four hundred dollars, and that is the cheapest.
Which leaves the best era of bikes, in my recent and always changing opinion. Late eighties and mid-nineties mountain bikes can be had for 200 to 300 dollars and often for cheaper. They are made of a rugged, yet fairly light steel, with eyelets galore. Fenders and racks can be mounted easily. They can be run with fat tires, skinny tires, mountain bike tires. With a simple lever purchase, 700c tires can be fit and certainly 650B touring tires, which would make the bike a touring/commuter that climbs and does flats faster. An older mountain bike can be a SS, a 1x7 or fully geared and all the parts will be cheaper, considering the biking world has moved to 9, 10 and 11 speeds.
For the 400 dollars spent on a cruddy low level bike, an older mountain bike can be bought, upgraded through craigslist or ebay and then stripped and powdercoated in a vibrant new color.
I'd like to see all my biking friends with one in the future and I'd like to see the cycling community rediscovering the value of a high quality and simple bicycle. |
