shoota 

1) I'm in the mood for a project and 2) my back up bike doesn't quite fit me right.
So, that got me thinking what might be the most modern vintage frame to build upon? Things that make a frame modern to me are replaceable dérailleur hangers, internal cable routing, non-traditional geo options (taller head tube), etc etc. Not an all inclusive list but you get the idea.

MRT2

Internal cable routing? Don't think that was too common during the bike boom.

Pars 

Actually, internal cable routing was fairly common, even to an extent on mid '80s Trek steel frames (rear derailleur). I know frames such as the DeRosa Primato (and other Italians of this period) had internal top tube cable routing.

I think the Gios Compact had a replaceable derailleur hanger, but I could be wrong. Can't think of many (any?) others though.

shoota 

Sure wasn't. That's why I said it's a non inclusive list and just for ideas. I'm sure I didn't think of everything.

shoota 

Oh, that reminds, I am not at all interested in Italian bikes. I just don't find them desirable.

I'm more interested in geo than features. For example, the Cannondale frames are very tempting but I don't want the crit geometry. I'm was thinking maybe there were some earlier LeMond frames that had taller head tubes?

gomango

Greg Lemond by Roland Della Santa

From Velo Classique

https://www.flickr.com/photos/veloclassique/14140233624

shoota 

Nice. Wasn't there an oversized steel tubing used at some point? I'm not a huge fan of how thin and flexy most steel tubing is. Heresy, I know.

eschlwc

i like a bike without internal routing. i think the rd cable running above the chainstay helps guard against a lot of chain slap. there are other benefits as well.

shoota 

Not to mention easier to work on. Again, geo is more important. I like taller head tubes or shorter top tubes on bigger frames.

jiangshi

De Rosa Primato is the gold standard. It's tough to beat EL OS until you go to the modern exotic steels. For modern, my favorite steel is Columbus Ultra Foco.

KonAaron Snake 

A sorely missed member tracked this down for me - it's every but as nice as you say.







Serotta also made some lovely, ahead of their time frames...and some of what Koga Miyata was doing,comes to mind.

Of course there's the aero frame:

gomango

Try a Serotta CSI if you would like an American made frameset.

They are an absolute hoot to ride.

It won't be so tough to find one either.



Or you could try a Della Santa like my son's.

An absolute rocketship.

[IMG]DSCN6669 by gomango1849, on Flickr[/IMG]

Neither of these framesets are all that expensive and they are hot rods.

shoota 

What makes it a "rocket ship"? In my experience the only rocket ship I've ever felt is the Scott Foil. Maybe it's a relative thing? Just curious

gomango

Stiff in all the right places.

USAZorro

Maybe something like this? Bob Jackson World Tour (not mine)

This is really a modern bike with a C&V vibe. I may be looking at the request differently than shoota meant it.

Chrome Molly

To get to modern times you need to move to something like 853. The trek lemonds used at least some 853 tubing in their builds (main triangle). KHS built a nice 853 frame that you can likely get for near nothing if found. A little farther back, there were all sorts of cool creations made from Columbus Genius, but I'd stick those under smaller riders.

Were it me, I'd skip the interim step and go with something like a modern Torelli made from Columbus spirit. Tommasini would also fit the bill, but would cost closer to a custom build. The modern Ciocc from Nashbar looks like a nice frame also. These all seem in the $1K-$2K range.

I doubt too many of the middle pack priced builders would have non-traditional/custom geometry as an option though. There are some builders around that will create a value priced frame in any configuration you wish, the options adding to the bill. I could see getting what you want for around $2K with a little shopping.

gomango

Della Santa comes to mind in that price range.

Maybe a little less.

He'd likely whip up a heck of a frameset out of Spirit.

I'd also check into a new Cannondale CAAD 10. Rode one two days ago and that's a lot of performance for the money.

oddjob2

Vintage 1986 Peugeot PX French Road Racing Bicycle

cheap
Trek 1200 DuraAce Campagnolo 56cm

Trek 520 Bargain
trek 520 road bike 58cm

Klein Pulse
klein. pulse comp

shoota 

Oddjob is on the right track (not sure how I missed those bikes on CL). I'm certainly not buying a new $1-2k new bike. Already did that. I'm thinking more along the lines of an older Cannondale. I have 90% the components I need to build it.

gomango

Suit yourself.

I'm not a big fan of old aluminum.

Too stiff for my tastes. Bone jarring is the term that comes to mind.

Should be able to find something cheap though, if that winds your binder.

shoota 

Yeah I've had one before, pretty darn stiff. I'm still looking around though.

retrofit

Not truly vintage (yet) but destined to be classic...2004 Cervelo SuperProdigy: Columbus UltrFoco (Thermachrom) tubing with oversized downtube and ovalized top tube. Also consider its predecessor, 2001-2002 Prodigy.

crank_addict

Might be tricky to find but perhaps something like a Co-motion built Hampsten.

But these days, the in house produced Hampsten look quite inviting.

Hampsten Cycles

samples:

Cyclist3098765

No longer have this one, Landshark Road Shark circa 1998. No d/t shifter mts, but 1" threaded headset, fillet brazed oversized steel, awesome paint job.

Dave Cutter

I like having a nice vintage bike! I took one of mine out for a ride at the MUPs today. It was hot, sunny, lots of people. A nice old Cannondale would have been nice today too.

But the other day.... when storms seemed certain (and they were)... I took my #2 bike (AKA my rain bike). It's a 5 year old entry level bike worth about $300. I wouldn't take an old classic out in bad weather... and I'd prefer not to take my daily rider out in bad weather ether.