What if our decisions were not reactions based on the actions of those around us, but instead based on the thoughts and philosophies of those who came before, those who differ from us? What if bikes were based on sustainable design and production? What if we looked back to see who solved our current problems 30, 60 or 120 years ago? Bikes built 120 years ago were made to ride on bad, muddy, rough roads. Hey! That’s what we like to ride on. How can we learn from this rich history of brilliant fabricators, bike builders, riders and inventors? 

Let’s evolve. Let’s use the past to build a better future. Retro-Futurism. Tanglefoot’s leitmotif. Retro-Futurism is simple. Examine what the past can teach us about current and future needs. It’s a concept largely ignored in the bike industry, or, when it is acknowledged, is often disingenuous. The path to Retro-futurism isn’t about historical reenactments. It’s about taking the best inspiration from 120 years of bike fabrication and remixing it to apply it to our present and future requirements. 

Retro-Futurism demands that current needs accept responsibility for future demands.