Downshift

I'd like some help with a build I'm eyeballing at the moment. I have a bare Peloton frame circa 86 that I want to put together for exercise and fitness purposes. I initially wanted to build it out with new(er) components, but the cost just doesn't justify it right now. I'm looking for a more budget build but don't know much about components pre 2000. My only absolute is a Brooks (type) saddle. I'm okay with DT shifters, 5, 6, or 7 speed, but not really hung up on either. I've thought about buying a cheaper complete bike from ebay or craigslist and cannibalizing it, but not sure what to look for. I'm looking to keep the total project under 300. Any help would be appreciated.

Uncle Randy

Does it have a carbon fiber frame?

Wythnail

What colour is it? If its an 86 its white with black rear triangle and came with suntour superbe pro derailleurs, sugino crankset and diacompe brakes. heres a link to the catalogue:
Schwinn catalogs, 1981 - 1990 (311 of 456)

FOr a quick fix in terms of parts, theres ebay:

Shimano Arabesque 600 Groupset Vintage Crankset Derailleurs Brakes Shifters | eBay

if the bidding goes well you could potentially get a good price. That group had clamp on shifters though, so you might have to find the braze on ones separate.

OR:

Shimano 600 Vintage Build Groupo Shifters Brakes Crank Der Wheel Set | eBay

Too expensive for me, but its an easy option.

If it were me and I had time to wait on it, Id check craigslist daily until a mid-range 80s bike comes up with a good price (under 300 sounds doable for that) and strip it.

In my opinion, the specific brand of the part doesn't matter all that much, as long as they are in good shape. One of the decisions you'll have to make is indexed vs friction, as with indexed then the brand can matter more.

of course I'm pretty new at this and many people on this forum will have a lot more (and probably better) advice for you. Regardless, have fun, welcome to C&V

Bianchigirll 

If you already have something to ride I like the CL idea. Watch for a deal on something huge with nice components. Then transplant everything.

Downshift

Thanks for the specific links. I am familiar with Shimano 600, but Suntour is Greek to me. Not much comes up on CL around here so eBay may be my best option. $325 does seem a bit expensive for a vintage gruppo. What is a reasonable price for the Suntour group mentioned or a Shimano 600 group?

Wythnail

The suntour brand had a pretty sharp fall off in popularity, but the superbe pro was its top of the line, comparable to shimanos dura ace. I havent seen it on ebay much, I think the best way to get it is buying a bike that came with it. seems harder to find.

I paid 260 for a shimano 600 tricolor group recently to build my current ride, and I was ok paying that. The guy included front and rear wheels, a chain, and quill stem and handlebars, so I felt like it was a fair price.

The Centurion dave scott iron man came with shimano 600, and I feel like I see those on ebay and craigslist often enough to make them not crazy expensive.

The nice thing about shopping for a donor bike is you can go after the really big or really small or really ugly ones an get better prices. However on ebay its hard for under 300 because of shipping costs, which people usually charge around 80-100 for.

kunsunoke 

Superbe Pro first edition will be period-correct. Second edition index-compatible Superbe Pro derailleurs and shifters would work better, assuming you can match them with a profiled rear freewheel or cassette.

If this were my bike, though, I'd cold-set the drops and put Dura-Ace 7400 HG on it. No, it won't be perfectly period-correct, but you will get the benefit of HG indexing - which limits the misery inherent in road cycling. It looks good and can be hammered-on endlessly - which is why there's so much of it available used right now on e-Bay.

I'd also go with bar-end shifters instead of the downtube versions.

You're not likely to have very much in the way of tire clearance, so I'd go with 25mm tubulars on an older-style box rim - or if you'd prefer, one of Velocity's offerings. Hubs should be Shimano HG types - either Dura-Ace 7400-series or Deore XT for extra durability.

wrk101

1986 Peloton came with Superbe Pro, which will set you back some serious $$, quite a bit more than that $350 amount above. One option is Suntour Sprint, which is basically one step below the Superbe Pro. Sprint is relatively available at a reasonable cost. Cheapest route BY FAR is a donor bike: one with tricolor 600 Shimano, Suntour Sprint, or whatever. This takes a resourceful person, but they are out there. I picked up a nice Sprint equipped bike last week.

I've got one keeper bike built up with Superbe Pro, parts from a couple of donor bikes naturally. I could have easily spent $500 (probably more) amassing a Superbe Pro group. For reference, I recently sold a set of Superbe Pro brake calipers for $129 on ebay, and that did not include levers (and I see someone else just got $141 for a set). Then you need a nice set of Superbe Pro wheels, derailleurs, DT shift levers, crankset, bottom bracket, seat post, HS, brake levers, etc.

And don't suck into the NOS trap on ebay. NOS will cost over $1000 to get a relatively complete Superbe Pro set.

Its one reason building up a frame set is best suited for someone with the time/tools/aptitude/space to do the work themselves, AND a pile of parts. A nice donor bike (can take a while to find one) can provide the pile of parts. Buy right, and by reselling the frame set from the donor bike you will cover its entire cost, giving you a "FREE" group set. This takes a lot of searching and lightning fast decision making (and cash in hand to make quick deals).

due ruote 

Also check Ebay for local listings. I once snagged a crashed Fuji something or other that way. I was the only bidder, frame was wrecked but it had a full 105 STI group and good wheels for $125.

4funbikes

+1 on finding a donor bike unless you have a specific group you want.
The old Japanese steeds are great in terms of compatibility with one another.

Also, were they spec'd with 700c wheels in 86? My 85 came with 27s and 39/49mm reach brakes. Something to consider there.

I've got a similar arabesque 600 kit mentioned above in the C&V sale section.

wrk101

1986 came with 700c, specs are all on line.

It is one reason that a 1986 Peloton, complete and original, at $500 (which seems to be a high price) can actually be a good deal.

1985 Peloton originally came with 700s as well.

Schwinn catalogs, 1981 - 1990 (275 of 456)

Downshift

Ok, so I pulled the trigger on the first piece of the build, a set of DT Swiss 1800 wheels. I decided against a donor bike for a few reasons. 1) I have a specific idea in mind for this bike and I know myself, if it's not exactly what I want I'll keep spending until I'm sorry. 2) I could not find anything that matched what I wanted. So, a few specific questions to keep me from learning by spending.

Long reach brakes? I plan on running 25's.
Headset size? I know 1" but is the diameter standard?
BB threads? I assume English.