October 22, 2009
Hey Joe, You were a pro when there were a lot of equipment changes and technological developments that are pretty interesting to me. The transition from downtube shifters to STI and Ergo; the move from lugged steel toward several years of blundering through aluminum, carbon, and titanium before manufacturers really figured out how to make any of those well; the introduction of carbon rims and aerodynamic wheels. What was it like in the pro peloton during those years? What were the new parts and technological advances that you just couldn’t wait to get your hands on? What older parts do you miss? What’s one bit of modern bike gear that they can take from you when they pry it from your cold, dead hands?
mattio - New York, NY and Northampton, MANYC and Northampton? That sounds like a lot of work to me.
To be completely, painfully, honest ... there are few pieces of modern road bike gear that I would brandish as if I were Charlton Heston. In my current status as a non-racer and someone who hasn't brake-checked anyone or lifted his butt off a saddle in anger for more than a decade, I'd be perfectly happy to pedal around on an old, lugged, Columbus SL frame equipped with non-indexed downtube shifters. Heck, I would even take non-aero brake levers, and toe-clips and straps. I'm really not into the old equipment mind you, I am just saying there aren't a whole lot of modern road bike hard goods that would keep me from riding if you took them away.
That being said, there are a few things I do really do like about the modern stuff and, you might even say, lust after. On the top of the list is a SRAM Red group. Sorry to my pals at the other companies but I simply find this stuff super cool and the whispered reviews about these parts that I have gotten from friends - the no BS kind, from guys who love to complain - make me want it even more. I remember when STI was first coming out, or should I say, after it was out and then a year or two after that when my team actually had some of the stuff -- I wanted it so bad. It was so revolutionary - you could be in the perfect gear whenever you wanted. Amazing! I also wouldn't mind having a modern steel road bike like a Pegoretti Marcelo. I ride a modern carbon fiber bike and know it to be nothing like what we rode back in the day, but there will always be something special about the feel of steel.
On the other hand, there's absolutely no way I would ride mountain bikes without having the greatest invention that ever happened to the dirt side -- suspension. I knew it the first time I rode the old Mag 20 that it really wouldn't be possible to ride without some sort of suspension anymore. I don't think anyone would argue that suspension technology has at least paralleled road bike frame and component technology over the past 20 years, but I would argue that it has moved along at double that rate or better. I currently ride both 4-inch and 5-inch travel bikes that are suspended with products from the company that was founded by the man who invented air. Try and take that stuff away from me and we'll have a fight on our hands. An' I gots me some scars on my face what prove I ain't no glassjaw neither.
Going back to the road side though - yeah, you can climb on an old mountain bike and ride it but it really isn't as much fun as riding a new one ... but you can climb on an old road bike and carve some mountainous curves with a giant smile on your face, and maybe that's what makes riding on the road inherently special.
As far as the peloton from "back in the day" goes ... I think we were somehow luckier than the guys now. It was every bit as intense but perhaps just a bit less business-like. But I don't know that for sure, 'cause I'm not there living it each day. I remember the old-timers in Belgium telling me how much harder it was in their years as pros. I always thought that to be pure crap. Hard is what you know - it's relative. But I still contend that my era and the one before that made for the best cycling photography.
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4 Responses to “Hey Joe, You were a pro when there were a lot of equipment changes and technological developments that are pretty interesting to me. The transition from downtube shifters to STI and Ergo; the move from lugged steel toward several years of blundering through aluminum, carbon, and titanium before manufacturers really figured out how to make any of those well; the introduction of carbon rims and aerodynamic wheels. What was it like in the pro peloton during those years? What were the new parts and technological advances that you just couldn’t wait to get your hands on? What older parts do you miss? What’s one bit of modern bike gear that they can take from you when they pry it from your cold, dead hands?”
you have to admit that the advent of clipless pedals and shoes that dont make your feet bark after 4 hours are a definitive plus
rode a bit in france in the late 80’s and love the old stories
leather vs hardshell
downtube vs STI
steel vs carbon
none of it really matters without the engine
wish mine still had all 8 cylinders
I went through those equipment changes… I put off the STI stuff but embraced SIS. I have a DA Specialized SL2. The thing is amazing. However, I just got off my 17 year old aluminum Specialized M2 with 8 speed bar end shifters. Something about the 8 speed and the old school geometry that is slammin’. It might be in my mind, but when I put this thing in a 53 x 14 or 13 it seems like it just rolls over. On the two modern 10 speed bikes I have… it seems like there is more friction? in these gears. I can’t turn them over without a struggle. Anyway… I will be riding this 17 year ol’ bad boy over the winter and will enjoy every pedal stroke. I may even race it in the Spring.
[...] County, New York to update No One Line. No, I haven’t been too busy to post because of being best friends with Joe Parkin; rather, work and the necessities of setting up life in a new place have kept me away from idle [...]
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