Classic & Vintage - Torelli Build Advice

Dear Classic and Vintage Forumites,

I usually ride 60-120 miles a week on recreational rides with a few friends. I will probably never race, so I decided to look into an older columbus tubing steel frame. I currently ride a 12 speed Panasonic DX-4000, but have been looking for something more advanced.

With that said, I am in the process of putting back together this beautiful Torelli that I picked up on the cheap from an older gentleman.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a35/modernfuturist/Torelli%20Project/Torelli1.jpg

On the way is a Campagnolo Record 9 Spd group from the mid 90's that I picked up on eBay, so it looks like this will be in the retro roadies with ergos thread when it's done.

So I need some help and advice from you all to help complete my build.

What are some good looking components that would match with the rest of my build? These are the components that I still need to obtain.

- Headset: Campagnolo Record Headset, Chris King Sette Voce, or Cane Creek Classic 100?
I'm looking for a silver headset that is low maintenance. I've heard that Campy headsets feature the O-ring bearings, while the Chris King is sealed, and others are cartridge bearing. What type of headsets would you suggest that would match aesthetically with my build and be easy maintenance.

- Wheelset: ???
Here I am puzzled. I am looking into a simple 32h wheelset, but I know Campy discontinued their hubs a few years ago, so it might be a bit hard to find them. Are there any other hubs that you guys recommend that are campy 9 spd compatible? (I already have a Record Cassette)

- Handlebars/Stem: ???
Looking for 38cm bars, but I know they are hard to find. Ideally I would like some Cinelli bars and a ~100 Cinelli stem. Nitto stem and Nitto aluminum bars are also an option.

- Seatpost: ???
For some reason, I think that a nice aero/fluted 27.2 seatpost would match nicely with my bike, but they are hard to find or expensive on eBay. Another option would be a Miche Supertype... other than that, there is a Silver Thomson elite but I don't think that would match well.

Any other suggestions you have for the bike as a whole will be appreciated. I will gradually update this thread as I make progress with the build.

Universal still has NOS Cinelli bars in 64-38, and Bikyle has 1A stems in 95.

I have some Cinelli Giro d'Italia bars in size 38cm.

eBay usually has a number of Cinelli bars and stems; just watch some for a while to get an idea of what prices are. Throw in a low bid here and there, you may get lucky. Particularly if they need cleaning or they took lousy pictures.

Aero fluted seatposts are not cheap. Be prepared to wage war in order to get one.

64-38 Bars, NOS for $42

http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=21453&category=3433

1A Stem 95 mm $40
http://www.bikyle.com/search_results.asp?txtsearchParamTxt=cinelli&txtsearchParamCat=ALL&btnSearch.x=0&btnSearch.y=0&txtsearchParamType=ALL&iLevel=1&txtsearchParamMan=ALL&txtsearchParamVen=ALL&txtFromSearch=fromSearch

Beautiful bike. My only advice is to ride that beauty.

Thanks for the advice guys. I think I'll keep checking eBay as I put my build together for the bars, and if it comes to it, I'll buy them from those vendors for a little more $$$.

Headset, seatpost and wheelset advice now? Would a Miche Supertype be faux pas?

Here's some Campy Daytona hubs.
http://www.totalcycling.com/index.php/product/parts_accessories/hubs_road/HB_DAYTONA.html

Rims, you can either go with the basic Mavic Open Pros, or you might want to see if you can find a dealer who can get you some Torelli Triumph rims, which are made by Ambrosio, basicaly rebadged Excellence, I think.


Aluminum Campy Centaur post
http://www.labicicletta.com/edatcat/us/tlsstore.cgi?user_action=detail&catalogno=US-CAMPOSTCEN04

If you're not gonna go with the Campy headset, the only other option would be King.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130340801125&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

How do these hubs compare to the daytona's?

At the Trexlertown swap, there were good vintage wheels in abundance, many reasonably priced. A few months ago I picked up a tubular C-Rec set for 25 bucks because the pictures were bad and there was some surface rust on the rim. With some CL and Ebay diligence you could probably score a nice Campy wheelset.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130340801125&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

How do these hubs compare to the daytona's?

I don't know as I've never ridden on Daytona's, but I can tell you the Chorus hubs are very, very nice. The last NIB 10 speed set I bought set me back almost $200.

I have Daytona's, Chorus and Record, I can't tell the difference apart from weight and finish.

A set of Records just went for over $300 on eBay.

I'm thinking of just getting the chorus hubs on ebay since they're cheaping than the new daytona/centaur's

Any stem/bar combo. would be consistant with the character of the bike. The frame's essentially the same for ten or so years. I like bikle and universalcycles both. Bikle's site is as confusing as universalcycle's is extremely well constructed. Kyle's friends with McGann and Mondonico by the way.
I can see why you like the Cin. but TTT or ITM .. just as "correct". You're tall enough and presumeably "large" enough to at least consider a 40 or wider bar. 38s are small. Aero & old school for sure. I don't miss that size at all. Open-up your chest I'd suggest.
As for wheels, Mavic Open Pro Silvers, the hoops laced to anything are hard to beat.
All of the pre-stated recs. by fellows seem agreeable.

Ended up with the a 38cm Cinelli Giro, 95mm Cinelli 1A. I like TTT bars/stems but they're harder to find. And for some reason I feel comfortable with 38cm bars... guess I don't have really wide shoulders.

Also picked up a new Campy Record Headset, and a used Miche Supertype Seatpost.

Basically it's down to the wheelset... I could pick up a used set of Campy Daytona Centaur's laced to Mavic Open Pros for about $175, buy the brand new Campy Daytona hubs for around the same price and get them laced, or buy the Chorus hubs on eBay for $130 and get them laced.

Don't give up over at Serotta yet. I have gotten a couple wheelsets over there within your budget.

I have Daytona's, Chorus and Record, I can't tell the difference apart from weight and finish.

A set of Records just went for over $300 on eBay.

My Mondonico (your Torelli might have been made by him; almost certainly has Mondo's geometry) has custom wheels made with 2006 Record hubs. They were new, around $250 to $300 for the set. Medium flange, large diameter center, very light similar to Hugi or DT, great sound, but they are black. Silver was not available after 2005. So color should be a consideration. Mine are compatible with 9 and 10.

Anyway, $300 sounds high based on that.

Record and Chorus silver hubs are commanding a premium, simply because they are silver.

http://www.velonews.com/photo/99184 Still no word on price, but they sure look nice.
http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2009/09/23/1253737268327-19uzi3efh17pz-850-65.jpg

http://www.velonews.com/photo/99184 Still no word on price, but they sure look nice.
http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2009/09/23/1253737268327-19uzi3efh17pz-850-65.jpg

And they are Shimano freehubs! No Campy planned AFAIK.

And they are Shimano freehubs! No Campy planned AFAIK.

You can buy Shimano splined but Campy spaced cassettes. Ambrosio, for example:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=35826

My Mondonico (your Torelli might have been made by him; almost certainly has Mondo's geometry) has custom wheels made with 2006 Record hubs. They were new, around $250 to $300 for the set. Medium flange, large diameter center, very light similar to Hugi or DT, great sound, but they are black. Silver was not available after 2005. So color should be a consideration. Mine are compatible with 9 and 10.

Anyway, $300 sounds high based on that.

You've got a nice bike Mister !

Like your ideas too. Kinda wanted to have the OP touch base with Torelli agents along those lines. A black theme is very much consistant depending on taste, I have one.
Other things along the lines of Tor. can be considered. Used Record should cost less.
His frame wasn't made by Mondonico, a find frame nonthelesss.

Can someone throw out market prices they've seen for the wheelset I'm looking for?

The campy chorus hubs on eBay are tempting because they're basically $120, and my wheel builder can lace them up to Mavic Open Pros for another $220-240 (for the rims, spokes and labor). I haven't been able to find that many other Campy Hubs in silver either. My wheelbuilder/mechanic is a Torelli dealer though, so I might see if he can get me some Torelli Master or Triumph rims, the ones that are essentially rebadged Ambrosio's. I like Mavic Open Pros, but I'm thinking of getting something a little deeper or more aero, just for that visual contrast.

Any opinions on Ambrosio Zenith Hubs as well? They're silver and shiny, and pretty affordable.

Remember that those hubs don't have skewers, which can be pricey if you want Campagnolo.

If it were me, I'd go with the NOS Daytona hubs at Total, even though they are a couple of bucks more.

Record and Chorus silver hubs are commanding a premium, simply because they are silver.

Glad I picked up a couple sets of Chorus hubs a few years ago from La Bicicletta. Didn't know they would be discontinued in the future, I just wanted some for future builds.

Have a Mondonico Futura Leggaro, one of the last few hundred frames he ever built, that's gonna get one set, built with Chorus double, and eventually I plan on buying a new frame that will have a Centaur triple on it. Thinking of a Peter Mooney.

Can someone throw out market prices they've seen for the wheelset I'm looking for?

The campy chorus hubs on eBay are tempting because they're basically $120, and my wheel builder can lace them up to Mavic Open Pros for another $220-240 (for the rims, spokes and labor). I haven't been able to find that many other Campy Hubs in silver either. My wheelbuilder/mechanic is a Torelli dealer though, so I might see if he can get me some Torelli Master or Triumph rims, the ones that are essentially rebadged Ambrosio's. I like Mavic Open Pros, but I'm thinking of getting something a little deeper or more aero, just for that visual contrast.

Any opinions on Ambrosio Zenith Hubs as well? They're silver and shiny, and pretty affordable.

The price on the Chorus hubs isn't bad. Record are better, not nec. and not better if they're more worn or your less convinced of such. All considered, your prices are OK.
I know that NEW Ultegra with Mavic Open Custom Built by a great place is about 4 shipped per pair which is not a better idea just to compare. I'm sure of my price. As I'd stated before I like anything Torelli also. They focus on quality, not just attractive prices.

You can also get a Shimano hub and use American Classic Campagnolo spaced cogs on it.

Might open up new options for you to get a decent wheelset.

Just won an auction on a Campy fluted seatpost... yay.

All that's left is the wheels.

If you settle on cinelli bars, I have a nice cinelli stem 100mm, 26.4 clamp

Finally pieced together everything! :thumb:

Frame/Fork: Torelli Corsa Strada Frame, Chrome Torelli Fork
Crankset: Campy Record 170mm 53-39 10 Spd Cranks
Bottom Bracket: Campagnolo Record carbon bottom bracket, 102mm, 1.370x24T
Brakeset: Campy Record Brakes
Front Derailleur: Campagnolo Record 10-speed front derailleur
Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo Record 9-speed carbon rear derailleur
Shifters: Campagnolo Record Titanium ErgoPower 9-speed shift
Wheelset: Silver Mavic CXP 33 laced to Campy Chorus Hubs
Cassette: Campagnolo Record 9 Speed cassette 13-26 w/ Campy Lockring, Ti/Steel
Headset: Campy Record Threaded Headset
Handlebars: Cinelli Giro 38cm
Stem: Cinelli 1A 95mm/120mm (have both, going to try out which one works best)
Seatpost: Campagnolo Chorus/Record (not sure which I have) Fluted Seatpost
Saddle: Selle Italia Max Flite

Lastly I need some bar tape suggestions and cable color suggestions. I'm thinking of going with yellow cable housing, and maybe yellow/black splash bar tape.

After that, all I need to do is give the chrome fork an overnight bath in some oxalic acid, and then take it to my shop mechanic to put everything together.

sounds great .