TonyF and myself were reflecting on the tyre choice thread retro equipment.
Graham
Well to start things off I still have my 1986 Specialized Rockhopper on the wall of my garage with the original wheels(sealed hubs)biopace chainset, 6 speed block, non-index thumb shifters, upswept handlebars, centre pull canti brakes and knobbly tyres. I actually did Wainwrights coast to coast on this machine in the August of '86 and claim to be one of the first to do it (there were 3 of us), did it in five days mostly the worst for drink at times, halcyon days.
So should we have a retro class for those of us who used to ride in rohan walking breeches, merril shoes, smelly hellys and rode rigid bikes weighing 50lbs with a bell?
I think not for me but a gentle ride and a pint to reminisce sound good.
By Tony F ( - 193.132.31.237) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 02:13 pm:
This is not a new idea (OK it is in relation to Polaris) as the Commissaire Team at last years World Cup race at Fort William, got to talking about "the good old days" as many of us started mountain biking in the eighties. We came up with the idea of a "classic class" at a Cross Country Race. It would operate on a handicap system based on the completeness of your historic steed i.e. you could lose points for modern upgrades but equally you could gain back points by the use of appropriate period kit - the aforementioned Axo Pony Boots, Etto Helmets, ludicrously bright lycra in clashing neon colours and of course the appropriate tyres (if anyone still has and is brave enough to race on Farmer John's Cousins).
This might lend itself to the Polaris format as the handicap points could be related to time penalties/bonuses. Especially as at Alston I noticed quite a few "period pieces" still in use!
And of course seven + five hours in the saddle would suitably replicate some of those earlier races, all we would need is some chest high river crossings and a replacement for the Bosley mud slide!