Road Bike Racing - appropriate frame for racing?

Just getting into the whole idea of racing. Ultimately I think I'll end up with a TCR. But until i can save the ducats for this are older racing frames ie a schwinn paramount. suitable for cat 5 style racing when dressed in modern gear?

absolutley, guys were going faster on those frames back when they were new, than you may ever go. Even if they are a pound or 2 heavier.


It's not about the bike really. There is so much more to racing and being a sucessful racer than then bike.

the bike is not nearly as important as the engine, especially at the lower cat's where there is a larger skill and fitness discrepency among riders. As long as everything functions properly, and the bike is fit to you, then your bike should be fine. I've actaully seen people in the last year or two win cat 5 and 4 races on the exact frame you're talking about, but going to a modern bike will make a difference in your riding. It will be lighter and stiffer, and probablly fit better and have some bells and whistles that will make your life a little easier, but it won't make as much of a difference as a change in your cycling ability. by the way, the TCR is a great bike, especially for the money, and it would be excellently suited for racing.

imo a schwinn paramount outfitted with a modern component group and maybe a carbon fork would make a wonderful bike for cat 1 racing. If it is a size 61 and you don't want it let me know :D

I'll take this frame and race it any day!!!!!!

http://www.campyonly.com/images/joebell/gallery/jb_photos/gallery22.jpg

Frankly I think for cat5/4, Men Cs, pretty much any road bike will do (within reason ofcourse). Ultegra, dura ace, and probably even 105 are just bling bling factor at those races. Engine is waaay more important then a bike.
For example I'm a very shallow person so I ordered Trek 2300 (got a very, very nice discount on it), even though my Specialized Allez with Tiagra parts is only three years old.

[QUOTE=oneradtec]I'll take this frame and race it any day!!!!!!

http://www.campyonly.com/images/joe...s/gallery22.jpg
[QUOTE]


You'll cry like a baby the first time you slide it down the track in a Cat 5 race. :(

Current VeloNews makes mention of a female rider winning a National Collegiate race in at the NCAA championships in Lawrence, KS on a "rusty Bianchi." Definitely the engine.


:beer:

http://www.velonews.com/race/dom/articles/8037.0.html

that aint no rusty bianchi.

The text in the paper publication used those terms, probably referring to the Div II victor. I'm too lazy to go back and re-read it. In the on-line article they just say "visibly out-dated." Either way proof that the bike is nowhere near as important as the engine.


:beer:

You linked to the wrong story...

Here is the quote that I think he was talking about..from the Freddy Awards article:
"That's not to say that you can't win on a beater -Whitman's Mara Abbott kicked butt on a rusty old Bianchi."

That indeed was the quote I was referring to. The linked article does have a pic of Abbott and her ride. Don't know if its rusty but I did see a quill stem.

Makes me think of a thread in Road where a guy got dissed by a jerk on Italian carbon fiber b/c he was riding a non-brand name bike. Wonder if he'd diss Ms. Abbott too.


:beer: