How does a retro superbike really compare to the modern-day cheap bike? Technology has developed so much that it got us thinking, which is faster on the flat? Which is faster in the hills? And do 50-year-old brakes work? Si has been to put both to the test in the Wye Valley!
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54 years ago a bike just like this one won the Tour de France under the great Eddie Merks the goat for years I’ve been dying to know just how good bikes like mercies actually were but the trouble was every time I rode one I kind of broke it uh we might have a
Problem Mike no I think we’ve got a real problem turns out you can’t ride an antique in anger However with the help of the team at GCM plus and a whole load of experts we Faithfully built a brand new replica of Mercy’s 1969 Tour de France winning bike and I got to find out exactly how fast it really would have been if you want to
Know the answer and how we build this bike with brand new 50 year old components then head over to GCM plus and watch the film what I want to know next though is whether an entry level bike like this one is now better than a bike that would have been the best in
The world 50 years ago it’s a simple challenge vintage Superbike versus modern cheap bike which is faster on the flat which is faster in the hills and which is the nicer bike to ride no no no no We’ll start though with a quick comparison this is my hand built custom-made race bike branded up as a mercs and this is my tri-ban RC 120 which currently retails for less than 500 pounds Euros or dollars frame steel aluminum gears 10 shifted from the down tube 16 shifted from the handlebars
Biggest gear 5313 5011 smallest gear 4223 4 34. brakes rim disc weight 9.78 kilos 10.9 kilos so even though this tri-ban is now the entry point into Road cycling it still has Tech that on paper is superior to that at which mercs had at his disposal the question is though is
It going to make the bike faster or in fact nicer to ride because it also remember has a one kilo weight penalty and is mass produced in a factory versus handmade artisan craftsmanship foreign firstly let’s see about on a flat course four kilometers long and fast very fast
Or at least still would be fast on a modern day Superbike so let’s see now before we get going one last point to address is that making videos like this on old bikes does present something of a dilemma in that as you’ve seen this bike should come with toe clips and straps
But I want to measure my power output on these runs and the only place you can put a power meter on this bike is by replacing the pedals so I have done will it distort the results possibly it might have done slightly but bear in mind that the tri-ban also wouldn’t come with
Clipless pedals as standard so technically both bikes will be getting exactly the same minor upgrade in speed and you now also get to see my data okay beep beep beep somebody Straight out the blocks one thing I’ve got to tell you is a significant Leap Forward in technology has been the shifters migrating from the down tube here up to the handlebars plus we’ve also gained clicks we said it’s kind of weird but if you’ve never used these before
The levers just move freely and so you have to control changing gears and fine tuning there’s no such thing as indexing on these and whilst I’ve got to say that having spent more time on this bike now including a 250k epic in the Pyrenees which is the subject of another GCM plus film
I am slightly more amenable to downtube shifters than I was but that said they are still a fat he is way slower and you’re also less inclined to bother changing gears so you spend more time putting up with a sub-optimal Cadence grinding big gears or spinning wildly so immediately is a big difference Well it doesn’t matter what era your bike comes from riding hard it’s still riding hard still flipping hurts ah good day bye holds his speed you know it’s not air obviously but when you’re going feels good it was really good run number two Straight out of the blocks I’ve got to say this bike feels slower and I’m not talking about my speed here but the way it fits mainly I think it just doesn’t want to go as far I think a lot of that is down to the position so race bikes are well even
Just 30 years ago 20 years ago we’re always custom made for the rider and as luck would have it our vintage bike was also custom made for me so it fits like a glove it’s exactly what I’d want from a race bike whereas this is designed to accommodate more Riders it’s designed to
Be more comfortable so it’s very upright very short and although I can still get a pretty decent Aero position I’m very cramped and it doesn’t inspire me to go fast even though I can definitely still put the effort in Aside from my body position though on a flat time trial like this one you wouldn’t think that there’d be all that much to separate the two bikes because weight isn’t going to be a factor the only thing will be the tires because on the Vintage mercs I haven’t got
Vintage tires I’ve got very traditional tires but they’re not vintage mainly because I swapped them out because I didn’t want to die when going down the colder tourmalade but that could have a bit of an effect I’m going to apologize to fans of vintage bikes because the cold hard truth is that
Modern day micro shift blows the socks of 50 year old campagnola Nuevo record I’m sorry but it’s true so much better so much better now we’re talking about tires though back in the day almost everybody and certainly All Pro cyclists used to use a type of Tire called a tubular Tire of
Which this is of course one of them now it differs from a normal Modern Day Tire because an inner tube is sewn inside the tire which then itself makes a tube shape which is then glued onto your Rim now one or two pro teams still do use
This Tech and it’s certainly got its fans elsewhere in the cycling world but it’s by and large been replaced certainly at the World Tour by tubeless tires which are faster significantly faster but so it’s fair to say that this one is likely to be significantly faster than that entry-level Tire on the
Tri-band I want to say significantly I’m talking potentially tens of watts per wheel so this one is likely to have quite the advantage the good news though is that tires are exceedingly easy to upgrade and for cycling at least not that expensive in the grand scheme of
Things so it would be very easy to give this one a significant boost on to the hill climb next one mile long at an average gradient of eight percent but with sections of up to 20 percent it will really test the bikes man my legs round number one vintage bike [Applause] This bike does feel amazing to climb you know I think it might be heavy compared to Modern race bike standards but the wheels these super skinny tires are pretty light so I still might not be fast they feel responsive And in the other really important thing is it the geometry of bikes hasn’t changed very much in 54 years so it still feels kind of similar like nimble and agile and Light you can get in and out of the saddle oh my God the gears on this bike are enormous 42 23
Too big for anything over eight percent and this is about to kick up 20. I’ll talk to you in a minute Oh wow that’s what I could just keep rolling one other thing I’ve got to say what is it about the shape are these lever hoods who thought that was a good idea ever appreciate you know nobody invented down tube shisters yet but it’s so uncomfortable to hang on to what is that about
Wouldn’t have taken a genius I saw that took like another 30 odd years mad the final run before coffee and cake [Applause] [Applause] look at this I got Gears to spare good choose whichever came into one Thank you so it reminds me of riding this bike it feels a bit like I’m riding the indoor trainer which is that is fine when you going at one pace one intensity but as soon as you wanna change pace it doesn’t will you to get out the saddle and accelerate
It’s really good steady state stuff I don’t know what that is I don’t know whether it’s they’re looking at extra weight or it’s the tires or it’s the difference between a hand-built steel frame and a mass-market aluminum frame but that feels like a key difference that might not affect my speed but
It affects the kind of the thrill of it maybe right enough postulating we’ll get some times in a sec it’s results time then and I’ve got to say I’m a little bit gutted because I honestly thought that our modern day entry-level bike would be as fast as a vintage Superbike
But it’s not not in my test at least which of course we have to caveat with the fact that they’re not scientifically valid I did hold the same power on both bikes but the time Gap was pretty significant as you can see so yeah a bit annoying but I think if
You try and drill down into it it’s probably not the bike’s fault per se in my body position wasn’t as Aero on this one as it was on the mercs and that’s a huge huge thing holding back and also as we talked about earlier as well the tires which you could easily and
Relatively inexpensively swap out however we shouldn’t feel too sorry for ourselves because the very good news is that in all other respects other than outright speed this entry-level bike is by far and away I think a better bike to ride for the majority of cyclists out there it is way more comfortable it’s
More comfortable to hold on to the brake hoods and the handlebar tape actually cushions you and the gears work so much better and so much more easier and the brakes work so much better and so as I said for the majority of people this entry level bike is significantly better
Than the kind of bike that Eddie Merks won the Tour de France on so there we go I suspect that might be quite a controversial conclusion but let me know your thoughts in the comment section down below and I suspect Eddie Merks would still choose his vintage
Race by any day of the week but get involved in the comment section if you’ve enjoyed this video as well give it a big thumbs up oh and make sure you watch those GCM plus documentaries as well got two of them about this bike now
46 Comments
What comparisons would you like to see us do next? ๐
How can you be so contradicting after riding the vintage racer?….honestly I get the index shifting and disc brakes but apart from those two upgrades your modern entry level road bike is what it is …a bike for anyone…Eddy Merck is a pro and he rode a pro bike! fUCK YOU AMATEURS WITH EVEN MODERN TECH STILL UNABLE TO WIN RACES
You could make a 'Special' on 90th-Roadbikes – for me the real Golden Era of Roadbikes!
Nice video, I only ride classics and a Mountain bike from 2006 (I dont like the new ones) I think a good test would be to get an old SL or SLX frame and assemble it with the most modern tech that can fit it and compare the results with the new ones.
๐ช Vintage bikes, yeah. I love riding my 86 Bianchi as much as my 2020 Titanium bike. It feels comfortable, fast and I love the shifters. Just think, without those bikes, you wouldn't have your modern bikes. So lets give them some love.
One thing to watch out for with these cheaper triban bikes is, that they always seem to be rusting near the bolts and other mechanical connections, would not recommend them.
For this type of videos I end up buying an entry level bike I'm super happy with my purchase and I would say on my first ride, I absolutely crushed on the different segments of the route love it will continue to ride for a long period with this bike until I decide to move to the next step. btw I got an entry level Giant SCR 2.
Why is GNC so pro โNew Bikesโ?? Old bike wins, so make excuses and talk up the new bike. Got it ๐
My conclusion: we don't need disc brakes, electric gearing and fat tubes.
I'd say the slightly worse time could also be caused by the slight weight increase (because weight doesn't change if it's modern or 50 years old), and perhaps that the RC120 was ridden after the Merc meaning it wasn't in both cases a fresh run (but I don't know how the tests were done in reality).
I'd love to see a comparison between the RC120 with a modern 1500โฌ ish bike, like the Canyon Grizl Grx or something.
And emphasizing on how much stiffer the more expensive bike might be.
On my RC100, I'm starting to tell myself that my crank is not stiff enough and that I'm losing power on pulls. But it might be all in my head
Now compare modern to vintage performance enhancing drugs! I'll bet the old stuff blows the new stuff out of the water, making it easier to push those big gears.
It would be interesting to see what you would have to pay to get a modern bike that would compete with the vintage bike. $1,000? $2,000?
Those glasses ๐
Why do all modern bike reviews keep telling us how much vintage steel bike break down? I have never experienced these sorts of break downs if assembled correctly. There is nothing to break down.
Why did you let that bike fall over?
Can we stop using โsuperโ as a prefix in this way?
Thank you for demonstrating the contrast. I have owned and continue to own vintage bicycles. My newest bike is approximately 16 y/o and equipped with Campagnolo mid-grade. It has an alu frame and is a fine ride w/o all the new accoutrements, certainly easier to ride than my 1970 Raleigh Professional with all Nuovo Record except Weinmann CP brakes. That said, if I was half the quality of cyclist as any of these bikes are racing machines, the only reason I would ever lose is due to my fitness, skill, speed, or other human failing; although, I do believe the index shifting is much more responsive. Since my peak cycling days are decades past, I give copious points for general attractiveness of bicycles. The EM bike used in this video and, indeed, my own bikes all beautiful works of artisans. They don't feel cramped or small, and they don't look like they came from Walmart. While I have always thought Shimano made ugly parts, SRAM is at least presentable and often, attractive. However, the "compact" frames with their figurative "one size fits all" designs are nothing but hideous. Give me the distinctive beauty of the custom-built EM replica bike any day.
'71 Schwinn Sports Tourer. Widest gear ratio of any 10 speed. 14/34, 36/54. One year only model.
You cannot compare the years,period. like trying to compare u as a child to a adult!
I had a 1987 Trek 510 that I rode with 22mm tires for years, then switched to 32 mm tires. The 32mm were nicer to ride on rough roads, but I did miss the responsiveness of the 22mm tires. They felt quicker and lighter. They were mounted to Campy hubs and Mavic rims.
I've been riding since 1970. Entry-level road bikers never had it so good. Modern price-point bikes are tremendous bang for the buck. Nevertheless, I was hard pressed to say I was much faster on my first modern bike, a Felt F5, than on my 1980 vintage steel. I appreciated the lower gearing range on long, steep climbs and the way the carbon fork damped bumps.
seems like Mountainbikes have the very best gearing. just by the looks of my bike, my lowest gear seems to be 1:2 gear ratio, which is super for climbing
This is actually kind of why I ride a 50 year old gorgeous lugged steel frame with modern compact drops, hoods, group set and wheels. The bike feels absolutely amazing to ride and I personally think it looks a lot better than a new aluminum road bike.
The Triban looked really uncomfortable the top tube is perhaps the shortest I've ever seen it's almost like riding a 3-speed upright bike, I could see you really struggling to lower yourself into an aero position.
so… modern components on that merckx frame should build a cold blooded killer.
Better time, better fashion. It's absolutely conclusive
It's nice that these bikes are out there but I personally, at this point in my life, would NEVER ride a sub $5,000 bike, let alone buy one.
Gosh. The Merckx just looks sooooooooo much better! I've ridden the old and new. For everyday riding, give me the old bikes every time. Just so comfortable and predictable. Simplicity. Occam's Razor applies here. Loved the "beeps"! Oh, and you couldn't GIVE me an aluminum frame bike. Aluminum is just plain harsh.
i dont think theres much difference between both bikes. put one picture over the other. im sure the Merx is not that more racier…
Itโs not fair using retro tyres haha
I love vintage bikes, but I always change to modern gears, modern pedals and modern saddles. Others may cry out at this kind of 'sacrilege' but modern comfort adds so much to be able to really enjoy every ride on my vintage bikes.
I'm not sure what's meant by a "modern" and "vintage" bike in this context, since there have been several generations of road bike types since classic mass produced steel bikes started being phased out in the late 80's, with interim generations based on titanium and aluminum frames before carbon fiber took over, with each type giving a completely different road and ride feel. Is my 20 year old ti frame-based bike with all mechanical 10 cog shifting and rim brakes modern, vintage or somewhere in-between?
It would be nice if you could get that Chromoly steel frame with a sora 9 speed, and 30c clearance at a $500 price point. The clasic geometry is way more fun to ride.
I think we have gone a bit too far back in time
no they not if you grease it right with lithium and graphite together you achieve high performance lubrication thats allows highest speed to pedal out on a shit old bike with new tires only as grease new too makes fast ! 40-60 km/h max
resto mod the steel bad boy with a modern group set
How unfortunate you had to plug a sale on modern cheap bikes.
The vintage super bike is hands down the better bicycle, over the cheap entry level bike.
You were not comparing apples to apples. Therefore, the subject of shifters and tires and body position were irrelevant.
Eddy Merkx could not have won the Tour de France on the entry level bike if you were to put it in a time machine and flash it back.
Love all the cars piling up behind him and his camera man.. Cyclists will be cyclists: 'screw everyone else trying to just commute, and look at me in my neon spandex'
No surprise at all because the sort of bike this cheap Triban resembles to was called "trekking" or "audax" 20 or 30 years ago. (Maybe fit a flat bar and you will see it too.) The 28mm 60TPI tyres and the MTB gearing and the mechanical disc brakes all leads to a clunky, detached, heavy ride with a lot of resistance, low comfort. The vintage beauty meant to be ridden by roadies, low and long. BUT Mr Presenter don't you know how to properly climb on a bike like this? Grab the drops on the end of the handlebar, that's how it's done! So much easier to reach for a down-tube shifter! It was only since Lance and STI/Ergopower we ride on the long hoods uphill. In the old times the hoods was for taking it easy in the peloton, not when you need to pedal hard!
Good review – surprising results for the uphill ride, would have thought the gearing on the new bike would make a bigger difference. How about a comment or two about the "feel" of the ride? Of course the steel bike was custom made for you, but you commented the lighter wheels made the bike feel more responsive – for those of us not in the Pro ranks, isn't that what its all about?
So the biggest difference (tyres aside) was the gearing and levers. Hardly a startling discovery.
How about a comparison with a vintage bike that can take modern 11 or 12 speed gears?
Mass produced rubbish or a hand built masterpiece built to last.
I would have destroyed you on my old Bob Jackson in Snowdonia in the 80's.
Youngsters these days………..
Just saying before knowing the results. Only one of those bikes is cool
So……………..put modern R7000 105 on a vintage frame, along with a 30-50mm aluminum rim with clincher tires (or even tubeless) and have the best of both worlds.
Just restored an old bike from the mid 80s – is it faster than the Emonda S:6? Not a chance. I grew up with friction shifters so still find them intuoitive to use tho, to the point where I've reached down to the downtiube to change gear a couple of times on the Checkpoint. I'm not a steel fanatic and I prefer carbon but there something about riding the old steel frame roadie. I use it round town with flat pedals.