Having no problem whatsoever with these urges. Sold off the last of my brifter equipped bikes two years ago. My collection (14 at current count) has nothing newer than Shimano six-speed indexed with down tube shifters, other than a Montague folder with seven-speed bar shifters.
Most primitive? 1958 Raleigh Lenton Grand Prix with “suicide shift” front derailleur. And a Raleigh Tourist with rod brakes and 28″ wheels.
Downtube friction shifters ftw! I’m rocking the ineffable Suntour Symmetric on my ’83 Centurion; rides like a dream most of the time. (Sometimes like a bad dream; you gotta shift to the granny *before* you head up any steep hills.)
Sweet spot for me is 7 speed freewheel or cassette, triple crank, +/- indexed with a 100″ high and a 28″ low, drop bars with aero shifters and downtube or bar end shifters , lugged double butted steel frame, with at least 32mm wide tires. New bikes don’t ride any better, are less durable and more expensive to maintain. Trouble is I have 6 bikes set up like this, all with differing personalities and know “I should” pare it down to two. Then there are the garage rescue projects..about 10 a year, mostly passed on restored on C’list, though I am now having a harder time letting go.
Know this…
I bought two new bikes two years ago… just to find out I need a cargo bike now, and maybe disk brakes would be better and….
Ouch close to home just bought a touring bike. Need to outfit it for touring. However there a few road bikes calling must resist.
Having no problem whatsoever with these urges. Sold off the last of my brifter equipped bikes two years ago. My collection (14 at current count) has nothing newer than Shimano six-speed indexed with down tube shifters, other than a Montague folder with seven-speed bar shifters.
Most primitive? 1958 Raleigh Lenton Grand Prix with “suicide shift” front derailleur. And a Raleigh Tourist with rod brakes and 28″ wheels.
I’m happy.
Upgradeitis is a terrible affliction…especially around Christmas time…
Don’t buy upgrades, just ride up grades.
Downtube friction shifters ftw! I’m rocking the ineffable Suntour Symmetric on my ’83 Centurion; rides like a dream most of the time. (Sometimes like a bad dream; you gotta shift to the granny *before* you head up any steep hills.)
Sweet spot for me is 7 speed freewheel or cassette, triple crank, +/- indexed with a 100″ high and a 28″ low, drop bars with aero shifters and downtube or bar end shifters , lugged double butted steel frame, with at least 32mm wide tires. New bikes don’t ride any better, are less durable and more expensive to maintain. Trouble is I have 6 bikes set up like this, all with differing personalities and know “I should” pare it down to two. Then there are the garage rescue projects..about 10 a year, mostly passed on restored on C’list, though I am now having a harder time letting go.