Classic & Vintage - What to upgrade on my Gazelle

At last a decent pic of my Gazelle. I know, it desperately needs a clean!

Here's the thing, it's got a combination of different Shimano ders, with indexing (the only bike I have that's indexed), and it works really well, and I like it. Also has, as you can see, SR cranks. So, I've decided to take the plunge and try clipless - I have 2 pairs of Look pedals hanging around, plus Campy Look compatibles, so I lined up some cheap shoes from eBay, and I'm gonna put the Campy pedals on this.

That got me thinking, should I upgrade this bike? I love the Gazelle panto-ed Campy levers, and I could put Campy cranks, derailleurs and shifters on. Trouble is, the Shimano works so well, and I'd lose the indexing, which I actually kinda like. I also have a Dura Ace RD on the way to me, which I could slap on there in place of the 105, but is that likely to hurt my indexing? These new fangled things are a mystery to me!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Samuelw72/P1260006.jpg

Does NOBODY have a view on this?

Okay, first the factual. the Dura-Ace will work fine IF it is 1997 or after. Before that the cable pull is different.

On the stylistic, I like the downtube shifters, especially the indexed downtube shifters, and especially the Gazelle-matched shifters. If they also have a friction mode I would leave them alone.

The possible upgrade I see is the brakes. A pair of dual-pivot brakes would make a real difference. Maybe even just a front dual-pivot (Campy does this now to save weight on the less useful rear brake.) And depending on how the current hoods fit your hands, Cane Creek makes aero brake levers that are supposed to be just like modern campy shifters. I think that is a great and comfy shape.

Finally, rock on with the pedals. Everyone I know who has tried them would not go back. I like the looks a lot when I am on the bike. They work great.

Paul

PS Don't sweat the mixed parts. I'm trying to build a project with Sugino cranks, Shimano RD, Suntour FD, SRAM cassette and Campag shifters (breaks the tour de nippon theme, but they're rebuildable.)

I'm fine with the levers, but I may go with the calipers - more stopping would be nice. The Shimano levers I have aren't Gazelle matched, and I don't know whether the Campy ones would be indexed, or if they were, whether they'd be indexed correctly for Shimano! I think that with the DA, you can use an alternate cable attaching method to make it work with 105 indexing, but I'm not sure.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/dura-ace.html#alternate
is the alternate method. I hear it may work with some indexed Suntour shifters and new shimano derailers. Tempts me to get an old DuraAce and try it with the Suntours.

Campy ones wouldn't work as well as what you have, for sure.

Yellow seat?

Yellow seat?

That's a thought.....

I have some indexing campy stuff if you're interested but it does not work that great!! It might be a mismatch between the 7speed freewheel and later shifters, perhaps older syncro would work , but have all heard they aren't great... Anyway, I put 8-speed dura ace shifters and derailleur on a 7 speed dura-ace freewheel and it is SO crisp. I fitted an NOS late 80s Le Tour frame with dura-ace and 600 and had it out for it's maiden voyage last night, it is the smoothest bike I own and the shifting is even crisper than my 10-speed centaur. AND I build this bike to sell. it's gonna hurt to give it up but I have too many and will be happy if I get what I want for it... anyway... This doesn't have much to do with your bike does it? The dura-ace rear derailleurs are sweet... I'll say that... you might need DA shifters to make it work with the DA derailleur

... alternatively : black bartape, black seat, yellow bottle cage plus yellow Michelin Carbon tires, they'd look dead sexy on your bike!