Bought road frame - building questions
 

Hi,
I'm hoping you guys can help me out with a few questions.
I just bought a late 80s italian road frame.
I would like it to be an 8-speed because that is what it was before.

I have a campy front and rear derailleur for it.

1) Do derailleurs function for any speed of bike or should I have a mechanic tell me what speed(s) it will work for?

2) I need to buy a wheelset. 700c. Ideally I'd like it to be an 8-speed bike. I'd like Mavic Ksyrium wheels but cannot find information on whether or not an 8-speed cassette is compatible with the wheels - would I have to get ones specialized for that?

3) Lastly, I'm looking to get a campy crankset. I see a lot advertised for 10-speeds. How do I know which cranks to get?

I've only built single speeds in the past and am new to the gear world. I apologize if these questions are too vague or asked often.

Any help would be wonderful! :)

1. Friction shifters will work with anything, but if you want the shifters to click (index) you need to match things up. Generally, brands cannot be mixed. Shimano 8S shifters won't shift a Campy 8S cassette with a Campy rear derailer. The number of speeds in the shifter also needs to match the number of speeds on the cassette. The person you're buying from should know how many speeds their stuff has.

Good luck finding Campy 8 speed stuff. If you don't want a Shimano group you pretty much have to get 10 or 11 speed stuff or stick with friction shifting and make what you have work.


2. 8 speed Shimano or Campagnolo? The freehub bodies are different, but can sometimes be switched.

3. This sort of goes along with everything else. Generally the number of speeds in the back should match the number the crankset was intended for, but those rules can be broken.


Overall, you're looking at a lot of old, hard to find parts. Better to just put on a modern group and save the hassle of searching for a bunch of new-old-stock parts.

There's no need to stick with 8spd; 8,9,10,11 all use the same frames, freehubs, rear derailleur.

1. Your RD should work with whatever as long as the shifter matches the cassette.

2. Any Campy-compatible wheels will do, or you can use Shimano cogs with Campy spacing.

3. No biggie. Your old FD might need a tweak to play nice with a narrower chain though, cause the cage is wider than new ones.

I don't understand...there were 8 speed cassettes back in the 1980's?

I doubt it was originally 8 speed (or the age is wrong). Better bikes in the early 1980s tended to be six speed, then later in the decade, moved up to seven speed. My 1986 Waterford Paramount was only six speed (DA).

which one? I use 30 year old stuff .. friction shift ..

But now it might be better to get the whole group-set at once

No, Campy has changed the rear derailleur actuation ratios twice. The actuation ratio needs to be compatible with the shifter cable pull.
The freehubs have also changed through the years and are not cross-compatible.
Proceed with great care. Campy has even more compatibility issues that Shimano.
If it was my bike I would equip it with 80's vintage Campy components with a 6 or 7 speed freewheel and downtube friction shifters.