ryanisinallofus

I have a 2004 Specialized Elite Triple that I bought mostly for the 105 group. I love the 105 group and honestly the bike was better than I thought it was going to be as well. However what I really want is an old Italian steel bike with my newer group.

I have a few concerns:

1.) Headset size: can you still buy new forks (carbon?) that will fit in an old Italian frame? Where should I look?

2.) I live in Seattle and if I want my old (recently powder coated?) frame too look nice and keep the water off my butt I need fenders. Real fenders. Italian racing bikes don't seem to have mounts. Riv sells some cool mounts to prevent having to use the terrible strap-on fenders I'm currently using. But will I have clearance? These bikes were made for 27inch wheels correct? 700c and long caliper brakes should leave me with enough clearance right?

3.) If both of the above are major issues does anyone have a good recommendation for decent steel frames with modern steerer-tube compatibility and mounts + clearance for fenders?


Thanks!

- Ryan

rothenfield1

You might want to just ride that one for a while until you have the frame you want. It’s not a bad bike.

As far as your steering tube question, bikes up until about the mid-90’s, I think, used 1’ forks. They still make carbon ones just for what you want to do.
As far as the fender clearance issue, that depends on many things. Frames where transitioning to 700 in the early to mid-80’s. Fitting fenders and clearance issues are always bike specific.

Neither of your questions I would say are major issues. People have been dealing with them for a long time and making it work for them. I think you will be fine.

KonAaron Snake 

Unless you get a newer Italian steel bike (early 90s on), you'll have to cold set the rear for the larger hub.

ryanisinallofus

How much does cold-setting run?

KonAaron Snake 

I think it tends to vary, but likely around $20. I don't like cold setting high end frames. There's nothing wrong with it if done correctly, I just like keeping fancier things original.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

I think you've got a number of conflicting things you're looking for.

An Italian Racing bike with eyelets and clearance for fenders is gonna be a rare bird because Italian racing bikes are featherweight things that you don't weigh down with fenders. You get wet.

You can get threaded or threadless 1" carbon forks that will fit a bike like you're talking about.

Your 105 brake calipers have recessed mounting nuts. You'll need to modify just about any frame built pre-80's to accept those brakes. Also an old Italian steel frame will be threaded for an Italian BB. You're 105 BB is gonna be ISO. I don't know how to tackle that one...perhaps you'd need a new Italian threaded BB .

I guess I don't see the appeal of a '72 Bianchi, freshly powdercoated with a carbon fork and a modern group. I can see how someone else might be into it, but to me it feels like you're trying to make something old, modern...when you could get modern for just as much coin and half the headache.

What you want to do would be much easier accomplished with a mid-80's Japanese bike. There are many good ones.

JunkYardBike

Or you just shoehorn the 130mm hub between the 126 spaced dropouts, no big deal. This may cause issues with derailleur hanger alignment, which would most affect modern indexed systems, but lots of people do this rather than cold setting.

I'll second rothenfield1's advice, though, that the Specialized is a fine bike. It can be a costly and time consuming process to transfer it all to a steel frame only to find out you preferred the ride of the Specialized frame. You're probably better off finding a complete Italian steel bike and riding it alongside the Specialized. Often a complete bike only costs a few hundred more than a bare frame and you can sell the parts off for a small 'profit' to offset your initial investment if they are decent components. Or just keep the Italian bike complete as your sunny day 'dream bike'.

Some other thoughts: a carbon fiber fork on a classic Italian bike? Why? 1" carbon forks are available, but the selection is not great. And no, most Italian race frames were built for 700c wheels, not 27". As rothenfield1 points out, fender clearance is specific to a particular frame, but there were Italian racing frames with fender eyelets prior to the 80's. These are generally highly collectible, however, and it would be sacrilege to retrofit with a carbon fork in my opinion.

JunkYardBike

After further thought, what do you mean by old? I picked up a late 90s Marin Verona frameset (Italian built by Billato with Columbus Thron steel tubes) and surprisingly it has room for 28c tires. It also has fender eyelets, but I imagine you'd be limited to 25c or smaller tires. So, if it's primarily steel you're after, you may be able to find something modernish that will suit your taste.

mickey85

Good luck fitting full fenders to a carbon fork...

JunkYardBike

Oh ye of little faith:



I've got 35mm SKS fenders and 28c tires on my Giant OCR with carbon fork.

JohnDThompson 

It depends how old it is. I have an old (c.1970) Italian race frame with Campy 1010 dropouts (single eyelet). And Cinellis used to ship with fenders in the early 60s, although most people didn't install them.



Those would fetch a pretty pile of cash on eBay today.


Yes, they're available, but why bother? What's wrong with the steel fork that presumably came with the frame?

ryanisinallofus

Thanks for all the replies.

The Carbon fork
Why? mostly because I have one. I've decided to ditch it and if I go with a classic racer, just get a new steel fork.

Room for fenders
I think I need to just finish up an all-weather bike now (my allez is NOT it) and pick up the racer for next summer. And move to San Diego.

Conflicting needs
It's true. I mostly like the Italian racers because the paint jobs and typography are so amazing. What can I say? I'm a designer.

Iv'e test ridden a Soma Smoothie ES which was pretty good. The Riv Hillenbrand was not for me. The Surly's were too bendy for me. (65, 200). I'll probably get the Soma for now but that thread belongs in another section.

Thanks.