Road Cycling - Raleigh International Shimano or Campy?

High folks, first post on this forum. As I indicated in my introductions, I'm getting back into cycling after a 20 year hiatus. I test rode a Terk 2300 but felt very uncomfortable with the frame. So I decided for beginning purposes to stick with a good steel frame at least until I get more into this.

I just bought a 2003 Raleigh International frame and headset on E-bay. Now it is time to outfit it. I am a novice at building bikes, but it doesn't look like there is all that much to it. I guess my first question ist whether to go Campy or Shimano. The stock Internationals come with Campy equipment, but since I'm starting with just the frame, can I go Shimano if I want to? I haven't used either in over twenty years so I have no preference. I'm just trying to get the best quality for the least amount of money. I was thinking of Shimano Ultegra, but if campy has a comparably priced product with equal quality, that would be fine. What do you folks think?

Campy is a bit higher priced at the moment due to the high Euro relative to the dollar.

I'd suggest building up a Campy Centaur group with Chorus shifters and Truvativ Rouleur ISIS crank. Best of all worlds.

Campy is a bit higher priced at the moment due to the high Euro relative to the dollar.

I'd suggest building up a Campy Centaur group with Chorus shifters and Truvativ Rouleur ISIS crank. Best of all worlds.

Thanks for the suggestion. One thing I was wondering. I live in Southwest Florida where it is completly flat and I don't expect to be riding the bike anywhere else. Would I really need a double crank set here?
It seems if you have eight or nine gears on the back you would have all the gears you could ever need on a flat road. The only real variables affecting shifting is wind and turns.

Sure, a double is a good idea, especially if the wind is variable. It is really that flat, you might just want to go for an 11/21 cassette. That would get you super-smooth shifts!

you can build up the frame with either s or c. i find that campy centaur is equivalent to ultegra in almost every respect, and costs about 10-15% more. my main quibble with campy [and i ride and love campy] is the square-taper crankset. if you have a choice, go with a splined crankset like the fsa or truvativ.

aside from preference, the advantage of campy is that the components a bit more durable and are parts-serviceable, and you get 10 speed at the centaur price. the disadvantages are that it is slightly more expensive and you might want to have someone other than yourself install the chain [though i've had no trouble installing HD-L link chains with a standard, good quality chain tool].

in most respects, i find it easier to build campy components than shimano. the one thing i really hate about shimano is the way the cables thread into the shifters, but that's a minor issue.

Oh, as for the chain, go for the Whipperman 10 speed chain. Has the Connex link and lasts longer than Campy.

Oh, as for the chain, go for the Whipperman 10 speed chain. Has the Connex link and lasts longer than Campy.

Thanks again for all the suggestions. One more question. Am I likely to get large savings on these parts by buying them new off e-bay rather than through a local bike shop? I suspect the answer is yes but when you add shipping and handling, it might turn out to be a wash.

Go with Campy. It will last much longer and cheaper on the long run.

We run great deals all the time on Campy Centaur kits. Check those.