These ‘old fashioned steel frames’ are not stopping Eddie Adkins and Phil Griffiths fly through the rain.
Readers Question: I’m wondering about entering a youth race (U11), but my bike is older than me (an old Raleigh) Will the other riders have bikes worth thousands or bike simliar?
There will certainly be a few riders with expensive bikes. However, as long as yours is in reasonable shape and works well, I would say have a go! You have nothing to lose and if you don’t win, you’ve got a great excuse in your heavy old bike.
If you are doing a circuit race, the main thing is just to have a reasonable workable road bike. There would be no point entering if you have a Mountain bike, Raleigh Chopper or heavy Dutch shopping bike. As long as it is a road bike in good working condition, you won’t be at too much of a disadvantage.
In a way it is good to do your first races on a cheap old bike. I still remember my first ever cycle race. It was a hill climb (Otley CC aged 15) and I entered on my first proper road bike with an old Raleigh 501 frame. No gears, no special pedals and I probably left my mudguards on. I came second to last. (The guy who came last only entered to keep his girlfriend company) But, when I show my trophy cabinet to my grandchildren I can tell them about my first race on a bike that weighed 25Kg.
How Much Difference do Bikes Make?
Not as much as you might imagine. Certainly, if you went cycling with other people on road bikes and you were on a classic Shopper bike, it would be very difficult to keep up. But, the difference between a top of the range road bike and a bottom of the road bike is noticeable but not critical.
It is the same with entering a cyclo sportive. You could do a cyclo sportive on a £300 road bike. If you spent £5,000 you would be able to go a little quicker (lighter weight up hills e.t.c) but the difference in time would not be huge.
For some reason, I’ve always wanted to do a 10 mile TT on a Raleigh chopper or some sit up and beg bike, but I never get round to it.
Hahaha. Old bike challenges.
I tell you what I’ll go one better and bring along my 50 year old Raleigh Explorer 3sp sturmey Archer – but only if you do exactly the same. Then it’ll be a real test of men.
what with it not being critical, i think you should dig out that old 501 piece of steel for burrington this year. i’ll look after your trek madone with the shiny carbon horns.