Old Skool vs New Kit

I’ve been slowly up grading my bike for the last 12 years since I snapped the handle bars while doing my paper round.  A couple of months ago I changed the last part that hadn’t been replaced, the saddle leaving my original frame and upgrades from 2000 to today, however by now the front end of my bike is rather outdated, so it’s time to start all over again… Or is it?

I have been running Marzochi Z4 Flylight Airs from 2000 and I haven’t had them serviced once and they are still in great condition, I also have a Planet X Beam Me Up Stem and Club Roost Go Fast bars which attract a load of attention, kids stop me and ask what the bracer bar is for and adults stop me to say they haven’t seen them in years. It’s a great way to start a conversation, I’m used to that set up and there’s nothing wrong with the components. It’s also hard to find a new stem which matches the current geometry of the one I’m running now and as the frame is too small for me I use a longer and steeper degree stem to add some extra reach and height.

On the other hand I’m gripping the end of the bars and there’s a lot of talk of wider and wider bars and the a general improvement in materials weight and strength and my current bars have taken some abuse over the years and having snapped one set while riding I’m not keen to repeat it.

Until I replace the frame, which won’t happen unless I snap it, it’s never going to be a high performance bike it’s just a hobby to keep putting new and different parts on it to keep it going, I’m looking to buy a very nice full sus in the next year or so to be my race bike but I’ll always keep this one going. The question is do I keep it as an Old School machine or keep upgrading as and when needed/when I have the money.

The decision has actually already been made as it may be a while before I can afford the bike I want and I want to keep my current bike running as best as possible. I’ve retired my old bars and stem, originally just looking to change the bars I couldn’t find ones with a small enough size at the clamp so the hunt began for a new one, this lead to me specially ordering a Ritchey stem that will appear at some point and in the mean time buy a cheap Da Bomb Stem with an extra spacer on the head set. It seems to be working pretty well and the bars are making a huge difference to my riding.

The old Club Roost bars sit in my room with the Planet X stem awaiting the day when perhaps I rebuild the bike again as an Old School machine for the hell of it, most likely when I can afford to have a new ful sus and a new hardtail and keep my old frame.