The big problem that people always bring up is finding French threaded bottom brackets and headsets. None of my bikes needed them those. Stronglight parts were so well made that they only needed fresh grease and bearing balls after 35 or so years. I've spent a lot of time looking for French parts because I'm looking for the really rare stuff like the Simplex Retrofriction bar end shifters, demultiplicator relay and Super LJ derailers on the Gitane. It took months to find those parts at a price I was willing to pay. Meanwhile I was riding the bike, just not with the shifters and derailers that I really wanted for it.
Keeping them running at a reasonable cost? I think that the chromed Campagnolo Record triple crank on the Black PX10 is the most I've spent on a bike part at $200. How far will that much money go when you need parts for a decent new bike?
We were all novices when we started. I say go for it.
Last edited by Grand Bois; 09-27-11 at 08:36 PM.