I'm old.... so I'm gonna have a whine about shit

[Justin Fox]

OK, if you've read my first few posts around here you'd know I'm just getting back into cycling again (after getting into it from skate boarding and leaving it for motor bikes, then performance cars).

I'm 32 now (yep I'm feelin it) and when I was into bikes I had a Cannondale frame, built up from scratch, no suspension as there was none in the day on any bike at all. The bike was light and simple.

Since getting back into it (I've been haunting local bike shops, transforming my old Specialized Hardrock into something truly strange, reading American, European and Australian MTB magazines and of-course, the internet) I've noticed so many things about new bikes that I don't like.

So here's my bitch for the day, happens when you get old. You start to nag!

- Weight:
OK, so I got excited about putting some fat shox on my old bike as I've never owned a bike with sussy before. Oh damn the BiLT stem look chunky but it's heavier than stock, oooh same with the WTB bars, OH! The front disc brake system is fancy but damn it's also heavier than the stock cantilevers. Oooh Marzocchi DJ's they look so tough but damn they're heavy! Oh and Maxxis High Rollers, damn nice but farking heavy! In my sorry state of fitness I can hardly even pick up the front end now.

- Complexity:
OK so grip shift was something new to me when I got this Specialized in 1997. Thumb shifters of old (on top bar) were gone and replaced with these rapid fire thingys. Now, rapid fire. I hated it back then and still hate it now. What if you want to skip 2 or 3 gears at a time? It's dumb to go "click click click". It doesn't seem at all efficient to me. The old Deore XT thumb shifters were awesome. I often shifted 2-3 gears at a time on a trail. In fact I had a road bike, Italian thing, without Shimano stuff on it and thus there was no "clicking" into gears, instead you felt the gears and never needed to tune them as you just flick the lever more to get into the right gears. It was all about feel.

Now I'm seeing 10 speed cassettes on the cards (wtf who needs that meany gears?!) and seat poles where a controller on your handle bars can control the height of the seat post?! Disc brakes which are a bitch for a newbie like me to adjust (hey twist the old cantilever lever adjustment screw and you're set).

It's all getting a bit silly these days I reckon. Heavy and complex. No wonder so many people are going single speed, fixies etc. It makes sense to me.

/rant.

[S.]

I'd say you're 100% spot on. With the thread title anyway...

[billymtb]

Very true, i have just started mountain biking and i am going single gear and just a back brake

[Techno Fatigue]

those remote adjust seat posts are stupid, must be so heavy, how often do u really need to adjust your seat height?

[mtb1611]

Stop whining you old bastard.

[workmx]

I am inclined to agree with you.
I started riding an MTB in 1990.
Back then most people rode rigid bikes.
Back then 2" travel suspension forks were crazy.

Some modern MTB parts are heavy.
But careful selection of parts will ensure your bike doesn't get to heavy.

On the other hand, trails seem to be rougher and more technical these days.
I doubt that I some of the newer trails on my old rigid Marin.
On the plus side, disc brakes and 100mm travel forks are better for riding faster.

[VTSS350]

Do you feel better for getting that off you chest old fella.

[Justin Fox]

Very true, i have just started mountain biking and i am going single gear and just a back brake

Perhaps try running a front brake only:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html

PS: Thanks guys.... I'm laughing out loud right now, well... I was a second ago! Yes I do feel better. Ahhh..... so relaxing to get things off the chest huh?!


Ahhh good ole Deore XT thumbies I want them so bad! I check eBay daily lol).

[BM Epic]

Wait till ya my age young man(42),these young people have nooo respect,now i need a nap!

[Ricardo68]

Hehehe, great post. I found myself nodding waaaay too much