This is a little bit from mountain bikings past.
You might be a retro grouch if;
1.Use top mounted shifters (click or friction)
2.Use a five or six speed freewheel
3.Use standard cage pedals and toe clips
4.Use brass spoke nipples rather than aluminum
5.Use steel quick release hub skewers
6.Use a frame pump rather that a CO2 cartridge
7.Use chainrings with teeth that don’t have odd shapes or notches (Writers Note: Remember Bio-Pace….uuuggghh)
8.Use water bottles rather than a water bladder slung on your back
9.Wear any cycling shorts that flap in the breeze
10.Wear tee shirts rather than jerseys
11.Wear a rolled up bandana for a sweatband
12.Wear a helmet that isn’t quite aero
13.Wear a fanny pack
14.Grow and maintain a crop of hair on your arms and legs
15.Grow and maintain a beard
16.Ride a frame that is three years old or older
17.Ride a non-suspended frame
18.Ride a frame that is any color other than neon
19.Eat anything other than a PowerBar on the trail
20.Drink water without sport drink additives
21.Enjoy listening to music by Neil Young
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8 comments:
Hey - It is good to read that The Retro Grouch Moto Club still has some presence in the cycling world. I started the club via a number of articles I wrote for the "Dirt Rag" back when the magazine was non glossy. As it matured and drew big name advertisers my articles were no longer published, sorta because my articles were not kind to new technology. So I ventured off and started the rgmc.org web site that ran for a number of years. My interest in cycling never faded but the interest in maintaining the site did. I had several other interests that occupied my time. Last week I found a CD that contained the html files for an 1997 version of the site. It was and still is old and clunky compared to modern websites, but I uploaded it in a directory off of my photography website. I added a few of my articles from the Dirt Rag into the site as well. If you have continued to read this far into my note then you may want to visit the resurrected site.... www.lenbruffett.com/RG
I remember the RGMC from the very early 90s.
The criteria needs to be updated.
If you meet the old rgmc in today's day and age, you're not a retro grouch, you're a luddite.
I suggest the following:
26" wheels
Rigid fork
Rim brakes
Max 7 speeds
3x required up front.
No carbon frames
Bottle cage(s)
Seat bag.
Lumbar pack ok, but not a water one.
Quillstem
No 31.8.
Yes you are correct .... the membership criteria could be updated. BUT maybe just rebrand the RGMC to the "RGLC" Retro Grouch Luddite Club !
I still run a 6 speed freewheel with a "0" dish rear wheel... and 3 chainrings up front. I have rim brakes. I do run a suspension fork - but on a hard tail frame.
My knock a round grocery getter is a '91 Bontrager OR I converted it to a single speed some time ago. Even with its original rigid fork it takes on single track as if it were on rails.
Ĥey Len.
Davìd Whitmon here.
Retro Grouch Moto Club Certificate of Confirmation, member # 0115
Still have my 1993 Litespeed Elevated Chainstay Mountain Bike.
Good to run into you again
David
Hi David.
Thanks for contacting me.... it is great you still have your RGMC Certificate ! It has been a very long time since I was actively promoting the RGMC lifestyle. I do have the old site uploaded to a server. it is located off a directory on my photography web site....... lenbruffett.com/RG - go check it out - it is clunky but has many of the articles I wrote for the " Dirt Rag" and a bunch of other stuff from a gone by era! It is great to hear you still ride. I still ride - I no longer live in the SF bay area. I live in the Sierra Nevada about a 1/2 hour drive from Yosemite's southern gate. I can ride out from my house on a mountain
road that turns to dirt and to many fire roads. In the summer I split my daily routine between riding my bike and paddle boarding on a nearby lake. The dirt roads cannot be ridden here in the wintertime.... (too much clay in the soil).
Hi David,
(Len -RGMC)
I finally gave in and got a Facebook account so I could follow the Vintage Bontrager Group. After seeing how it functions I decided to initiate a Retro Grouch Moto Club group on fb. It is still in a set up mode and hidden from everyone. I tried to contact you via a Friend request but you didn't have that option on your profile page. Is an RGMC group something you would be interested in?
Hi Len
I just found your message this morning.
I also found a RGMC with 2 members.so far. Is that yours? I signed to become a member.
Fantastic!
I tried to find you on FaceBook by name but couldn't find you.
David Whitmon
Hi David,
Yes, I just made it public yesterday, I invited Hollister from the Vintage Bontrager group to join. I wanted to ask you but the "Friend" button was not displayed on your profile page. The bad news is that last night when I went to open my page on Facebook I had to show I was a real person. I went through the process, then they wanted a video of my face so I did that as well. This morning I went to log in and Facebook said I violated their integrity policies and deleted me from facebook. I have had this happen 3 times in the last month.
Not sure I will go back on FB. The one thing that cool is I scanned in my original RGMC Certificate of Confirmation and via photo shop made a digital jpeg for Hollister. It looked pretty cool.
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