The Paceline Forum - What makes a bike "modern"?

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- - What makes a bike "modern"? (https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=241810)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikeridah (Post 2586847)

Maybe anchor it to when mass production started.

https://www.icebike.org/images/bike-history.jpg

That's really cool. Thanks.

anything with swoopy lines and lots of jingoism describing it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by commonguy001 (Post 2587222)

My current road bike is a 2014 Vamoots with Enve finishing kit, 11 speed Ultegra/DA mix, rim brakes, etc.
Was told by a buddy that I'm riding analog in a digital world... whatever that means. He's now on a disc Domane and loves it. Local shops have them on end of year clearance and I can get a SL 6 for 3k if I wanted to move to more tire and clearance. the ISO stuff sounds interesting as well so I may go check one out.

I'll probably just end up replacing my chain which is what I really need right now.

feeling this.
My Vamoots CR is a '16 maybe, mechanical 11s Red, rim brakes, previous gen Fizik saddle...inner tubes?!?! or sometimes tubulars :eek:. How quickly things change!
My other discy, tubeless, wireless, stiffer etc bikes are objectively super nice and on-trend, but the CR fits like a glove and rides just right...solution is to have several.

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveoz (Post 2587250)

anything with swoopy lines and lots of jingoism describing it!

I think that might be a autocorrect problem:

jingoism noun
jin·go·ism | \ ˈjiŋ-(ˌ)gō-ˌi-zəm \
Definition of jingoism
: extreme chauvinism or nationalism marked especially by a belligerent foreign policy

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jingoism

Quote:

Originally Posted by nooneline (Post 2586839)

The weird thing about a designation like "modern" is that it seems to change over time.

I'd ask a more basic question: who is using the word "modern"? I've been involved in cycling for a couple of decades and that term isn't used in the industry.

Certainly there are marketers who use the word to mean "whatever you have, you need to buy this thing that we're calling modern." I'm not too concerned about them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9tubes (Post 2587400)

The Museum of Modern Art in NY displays modern paintings by Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso. Born in 1869 and 1881, respectively.
What is “modern”, indeed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by benb (Post 2586804)

Considering Campy 10 came out in the 2000s I don't really see how any bike with Campy 10 isn't "modern".

For me something not modern would have to be:
- Must be steel, probably must be lugged
- Must have a level top tube
- Quill stem, 1" steel steerer.
- Must be intended for 23c or smaller tires, maybe clearance for 25c is OK.
- Cannot have carbon anything, especially wheels
- Cannot have brifters
- Cannot have anything but normal road rim brakes
- Probably has less than 8 speeds in the back? (Less than 7? Not sure how to draw that line)
- Definitely does not have a compact crank. Must be 53/39 or 52/42
- Should not have a cassette with a cog larger than 23 or maybe 25

My Mercian Strada Speciale I've just had made is lugged steel (853 Pro Team), has a 1" steerer and quill stem, normal road rim brakes, level top tube.

On the other hand, it has clearance for 28mm tyres (currently running 25mm), has carbon pedals and a bit of carbon on the rear derailleur, has Campagnolo Ergo "brifters", has 10 speeds at the back, a 50/34 compact crank, and a 12-27 cassette currently. Also is running shallow drop bars and clipless pedals.

Not sure whether it would be considered "modern" or not, but I like the combination.

https://i.imgur.com/iFxhqBr.jpg

I'd say disc brakes and thru axle would be my standard of a modern bike

Quote:

Originally Posted by tctyres (Post 2587287)

can't blame autocorrect - I just used the wrong word for what I was thinking!

For the greater road bike family, modern = any bike with brifters and dual pivot brakes. Disc brakes, clearance for tires wider than 32mm or/and electronic shifting = post modern.