What Makes A Good Bike And Are Retro Bikes Worth it? - Build, restoration and ride video 

Hey Tanner, I really appreciate your comment and thank you for subscribing!! I have a bunch of “old crap” ready to fix up so plenty of videos coming!!!

I couldn’t agree with you more!! I have a couple of high end bikes that always come second best to me these days, there’s something about the connection you make with an older bike. Especially if you have to restore it first!!!

Since that true. That's why I have N+1. I'm not a fan so much of road bikes or drops.

Modern bikes have so many compromises in regards to marketing BS and the manufacturer's profit making. They don't last long for pretty obvious reasons. Modern consumers are materialists.

Thanks dude!! 🙌🏼

Glad you enjoyed it Mark!

🙌🏼

Yes indeed!

100% I don’t think I’ll ever go back!! Retro is the way forward with cycling! 🙌🏼

Hell yes!! 🙌🏼

Literally my mission in life!!! Thanks for watching! 🙏🏼🖤

Gee whiz! And I thought cycling was supposed to be a green sport! Why not repurpose things? Huh? Why always the PUSH for 'new and improved', lighter? Stiffer? Faster? A rider can do all that stuff with their own body or skills. Its the RIDER, not the bike! This fact can save us a whole bunch of money, frustration and time. Why do you think corporations manufacture in Asia anyways? Why are all these large corporations testing their products on paying consumers?

Yeah we do! Never thought of that before haha

Hahaha it’s probably my best tip!! Cheers 🍻

That’s a great idea! I’ll get one done asap!

Butch I couldn’t agree with you more!! Everything I do with or on bikes is because of my Dad!! 🤙🏼 thanks for the comment. 🙌🏼

My father and grandfather both taught me the value of repairing, maintaining and taking care of my own stuff through bicycles! Great lessons. #1: They taught me to fix flat tires at age 8. They both told me with all certainty, "Learn to fix your own bike or you will be walking!" I will NEVER ever forget that statement. I loved my new found freedom, so I was a quick learner. #2: They taught me to take the time, be patient, think things through to do a thing right the first time, once and for all. 50 years later, I've NEVER paid a shop to fix my own bikes. People pay me. I'm retired and wrench on bikes for fun. Ive built every one of my bikes from a bare frame, I build all my own wheels and now I'm learning to braze, weld and build my own frames.

Thanks! I think it’s my favourite as well! 🙌🏼

@@2NDLIFEBIKES I actually bought an Emmelle lynx not long ago, it's got some wear and tear and the head stem was quite a mission to get out also I found a spider in it. Didn't realise until I sprayed it with WD40 😅

God I hate finding spiders in bikes!!! 😳 The Emmelle is genuinely one of my favourite frames I have! Good luck with the build! ✌🏼

Thanks dude!! 🤙🏼

Cheers joe! I hope to have a collection like yours one day!!!

Thank you!! The Emmelle is an incredibly fun bike and I will probably never part with it!!

Thank you!! 🙌🏼

Thanks mate means a lot!!

Hey, thanks for the comment! I think more people should do it. It’s one of the most satisfying things in the world riding round on something you have brought back from the dead!

I really appreciate the comment, thank you 🙌🏼

Totally agree! 🙌🏼

Welcome aboard! 🙌🏼

Hey Jon! Thanks for subscribing. I genuinely love my Emmelle!! I’m thinking of doing some more colours for the decals so if you have any suggestions let me know!

@@2NDLIFEBIKES always orange 😊

Dude! Orange will be sick! 🤙🏼

Yep! Everything available on saveoldbikes.com ships globally! 👍🏼

saveoldbikes.com ✌🏼

That’s a real good point, any time I work on a high end bike it nearly always becomes more stressful!! But on an old bike you can pretty much throw compounds at it and it will ride like a champ!! 😂

Nah, make it a singlespeed. Much more durable and reliable. Practically nothing to go wrong. Its the rider, not the bike. Just push the pedals harder!

I’ve built a bunch of single speed MTBs and love them but every now and then I like a couple gears or in this case 5 haha 😂

@@2NDLIFEBIKES Ive got a custom built 3x10 friction shifted bikepacking bike. Also, a 2x10 custom long distance gravel/'cross bike. Dynamo light set ups for riding until I'm sleepy, tired and or hungry. Dusk to dawn rides rock! Its really simple. Simple is as simple does! The touring bike is my newest frame I've bought in 18 years. Ironically it's 'heavy' and steel. I only need all that 'old junk' when I'm hauling my household around for over a week at a time. My FAVORITE , most used bike is an (even older) '80s steel Miyata fixed gear cyclocross bike set up 'dinglespeed'. 2 fixed gears, 2 freewheel gears, two chainrings. All different gear ratios. Ive built dozens of singlespeeds and fixed gear bikes for commuting, training, bad weather, hard use, abuse, local trail beatings, play, fun and neglect for several decades. I build 'em, thrash 'em, break 'em or give them away when I get bored. They're ALL extremely affordable or practically free. Lots of people know I'm a bike nerd I find perfectly functional, barely used bikes and parts sitting forgotten, gathering dust or rusting in someone's storage space. Check out dinglespeed! You'll dig it. Ultra cool. Ultra simple, Mega strong! Ultra unique. You'll think, "why didn't I think of this?!?" Dinglespeed can seriously extend the practical range of a singlespeed ride. There's a bunch of different ways to do it too. Horizontal drop outs are best, so no need for chain tensioners. But tensioners or an old derailleur works fine too. Again, true reliability is ultra simple. It's no more than we 'really need'. What in reality is ' truly needed', is for the rider to push the pedals harder. Its the RIDER, not the bike! My favorite mantra! I do mixed terrain centuries once or twice a year on my 'Crossafix'. I'm 60 years young and ride this Frankenstein just about anywhere I'd ride my MTBs. Its more fun than ought to be legal. Its makes me feel like a kid again, like I'm getting away with something! Check out Sheldonbrown.com. His singlespeed section. Check out 63xc.com. Cool stuff in there! Sheldon was a hero! My newest projects are a 1977 vintage custom 'all road' bike built from a beautiful lugged frame (I got it free!!) built by Albert Eisentraut. He's one of the earlier American custom builders from the '50s thru the '90s. This will be a 'retro upgrade' friction shifted 2x8,9 or 10 speed built just for ultra long distance randonneuring. My other current project will be a dinglespeed dirt drop bar 29er built from a used On One Inbred frame. This one may even get a shifter, disc brakes and a dropper post!

At least the bike lives on! I have a high end full suspension that gives me way more confidence to do bigger faster things but there’s definitely something for me with an old bike. But maybe it’s the sketchiness that I’m enjoying haha! 😂

29ers suck !

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I couldn’t agree with you more!!!! Bikes are so personal but I’m quickly learning that the biking community can at least appreciate overs taste!! 🤙🏼

Old 18" Gt hardtails are the coolest looking. Frame design makes them look fast standing still and super cool paint jobs in the 90s. Had a 91 Daktari White Avalanche with the U brakes. Coolest looking bike I ever owned but broke frame. Also had Rts Lts and various hardtails.

Love an old GT! I know a couple collectors who are on a hunt for a trashed one for me. So hopefully we will get one on the channel!!!

I’ll have to give it another go. In the past I always preferred the Muc-Off stuff! But always up for change.

Jesus! That is a bad one! Glad you was able to get it shop shape again! I’m hopeful gunna build an E-bike this year.

Oh I took it as a complement!! Probably the best comment I’ll ever get!!