Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

There is a very loose and confusing use of the terms in regards to the age of bikes. We see; retro, vintage,old school
( skool),etc. In motor vehicles the terms; vetern, vintage, etc are specific times of production. Can someone plse explain what the difference is with these terms and to what era each belongs. Feel welcome to add any other terms that are floating around.tks

Heaps old

Older than my bike.

There were the Antiquities, Dark Ages, Middle Ages, Renaissance, Classical, Neo-classical and the Modern periods in bike designs and styling... Which do you want?

the terms veteran, vintage, antique etc in reference to specific dates of production when referring to cars is really very esoteric and only known to die hard classic car enthusiasts.

For everyone else and in every other context, vintage is a pretty generic word, as is old school and retro. As far as I know there aren't specific terms for older bikes and personally I don't think there is any need for it either.

Retro - a modern recreation (or interpretation) of an older design (I'd guess typically 50s-60s). Something that looks like what your dad used to ride.

Vintage - Something that your dad actually used to ride. Possibly restored.

Old School - something that you used to ride (or lust after) as a teenager.

MattyK wrote:Retro - a modern recreation (or interpretation) of an older design (I'd guess typically 50s-60s). Something that looks like what your dad used to ride.

Vintage - Something that your dad actually used to ride. actually used to ride. Possibly restored.

Old School - something that you used to ride (or lust after) as a teenager.

Hmm - what I lusted after as a teenager might be something your dad actually used to ride.

How about
1940's for bikes made between 1940 and 1950
1950's for bikes made between 1950 and 1960
1960's .. and so on

Of course this can all becomes a bit confused for bicycles as a lot of 2000's parts will quite happily fit on an ancient frame. My current project is "Hits of the 50' 60's 70's and 80's " - well actually Bits from the 50' 60's 70's and 80's.

sturmey archer wrote:

MattyK wrote:Retro - a modern recreation (or interpretation) of an older design (I'd guess typically 50s-60s). Something that looks like what your dad used to ride.

Vintage - Something that your dad actually used to ride. actually used to ride. Possibly restored.

Old School - something that you used to ride (or lust after) as a teenager.

Hmm - what I lusted after as a teenager might be something your dad actually used to ride.

I never said my definitions were explicit. But I believe I'm fairly accurate when it comes to the use of the terminology.

i reckon 'modern' is 130mm oln
126mm with dt shifters is 'oldschool' to me
screw-on is 'vintage' to me.

sogood wrote:Older than my bike.

There were the Antiquities, Dark Ages, Middle Ages, Renaissance, Classical, Neo-classical and the Modern periods in bike designs and styling... Which do you want?

stone age
iron age
carbon fibre age

and if i had my way, burlesque !!

tks heaps!