Classic & Vintage - Modernizing Pinarello Catena Lusso - Bad Idea?

Probably. But I don't care. I love this bike. I'm thinking I can upgrade it fully to modern 9 or 10-speed rear cassette, new wheels and upgraded crank. The brakes are very good as-is, I don't have any plans to touch them other than possibly integrating with an all-in-one type shifter/brake setup versus the original setup with the brakes up top and shifters on the down tube.

The thing is pretty fast, granted it's not as light as some of the newer stuff, but I'm not one of those guys who counts every tenth of an ounce. Basically I'm looking to build a good solid road machine that I can ride the hell out of, enjoy and train hard on. I doubt I'll race on it, but I might just to see how I do. I figure at my level it's 99% about my conditioning and 1% about the equipment I'm on.

Any thoughts/guidance appreciated on types of derailleurs, wheels, etc. would be appreciated. Pics as this project gets rolling (no pun). :)

I think that the consensus in this forum will say go for it. The cyclofiend site has been an inspiration for me with it's ecclectic collection of old/new, retro-fied/retro-grouched bikes.

http://www.cyclofiend.com/index.html

Post pics please
vjp

+1

Bikes are to be ridden. Unless it is museum quality and very rare, I would never discourage someone from doing anything that they want to their bike... After all, many people modify them as soon as they buy them new, so it is tradition. :D

Normally, for a Peugeot UO-8 or Schwinn Varsity or the like, I would say no. But it's just a Pinarello...

Hey now! Why you be hatin' on my Italian trash?

Probably. But I don't care. I love this bike. I'm thinking I can upgrade it fully to modern 9 or 10-speed rear cassette, new wheels and upgraded crank. .....

You mean - something like this? Do It.

http://www.gvhbikes.com/images/Customers/JohnPinarello.jpg

You have a great frame which begs to be ridden. It will look great with components of any vintage, so install what you favor.

Thanks for the support guys. . . Starting to look at what it's going to take now.

Bigbossman, nice looking ride! Is that yours?

I did manage to source original decals for it (old ones are dead/destroyed/mostly not there). Very hard to locate - had to dig for a while. Anyone else interested should check this guy's ebay store, looks like he's got many different kinds:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=020&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=300087637686&rd=1&rd=1

Hi bigbossman-

Excellent! That is a cool-lookin' Pinarello there. What year and what particular model is that pictured?

~ Blue Jays ~

Hi 2wheelFury,

Its good to hear your plan and if it keeps you riding the bike you cant go wrong. Go for it.

send the pics to the forum.

Bigbossman, nice looking ride! Is that yours?


I wish.....

Nope, just a pic I found on the web. I like the idea of melding classic with modern, and have been thinking about it a lot lately. So much so, that I've bought a 80's steel Italianframe (Palo Alto) and will be building it up with modern Campy.

If I could find a Pinarello, I would not hesitate.