Vintage Bike help! Need help finding the ONE
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Vintage Bike help! Need help finding the ONE
Hi there!
My grandpa has handed me down two bikes, both very beautiful in their own way! Without doing my research I chose the bike with the bullhorn handles (I just preferred them over the latter; the drop handlebars) and gave the other one to my partner. Now (side note)- I haven't ever been big on biking but after these last few years (especially with the great summers we're having up here) it's become very enjoyable to me!
Turns out the two bikes were great bikes, and one was even very rare (or so i'm told..?);
The one i chose:
Miyata; alumicross, Shimano and components- pretty basic
The one my partner got;
Rossin; Performance EL, Campagnolo delta brakes and components
Over the last year my bike fell off a truck and the frame of it (right up where the seat sits) has crack, which i'm assuming is a little dangerous since the frame of it has been compromised, not to mention my seat wont tighten and stay in one spot!
I've been to many places and they all say that it would probably be worth it just to buy a new frame and switch the components, which is kind of okay actually! So i'm looking for suggestions of online bike shops, local stores (vancouver, bc), AND what bike brand/company i should keep my eye out for!
I've been looking on ebay at some rossin, ciocc, colnago; frames! but havent found anything I really like yet...
I'm looking to spend around 200-300, since I want to fix it up! (Refinish/paint, and rebuild)
Any suggestions?
My grandpa has handed me down two bikes, both very beautiful in their own way! Without doing my research I chose the bike with the bullhorn handles (I just preferred them over the latter; the drop handlebars) and gave the other one to my partner. Now (side note)- I haven't ever been big on biking but after these last few years (especially with the great summers we're having up here) it's become very enjoyable to me!
Turns out the two bikes were great bikes, and one was even very rare (or so i'm told..?);
The one i chose:
Miyata; alumicross, Shimano and components- pretty basic
The one my partner got;
Rossin; Performance EL, Campagnolo delta brakes and components
Over the last year my bike fell off a truck and the frame of it (right up where the seat sits) has crack, which i'm assuming is a little dangerous since the frame of it has been compromised, not to mention my seat wont tighten and stay in one spot!
I've been to many places and they all say that it would probably be worth it just to buy a new frame and switch the components, which is kind of okay actually! So i'm looking for suggestions of online bike shops, local stores (vancouver, bc), AND what bike brand/company i should keep my eye out for!
I've been looking on ebay at some rossin, ciocc, colnago; frames! but havent found anything I really like yet...
I'm looking to spend around 200-300, since I want to fix it up! (Refinish/paint, and rebuild)
Any suggestions?
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That sounds like a fun project. I think painting a frame would cost at least $200. I am not an expert, but you may be better off spending the extra money on a nicer frame (or complete bike) that doesn't need painting.
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Miyata Alumicross... reads to me aluminum framed cyclocross bike.
The brands you mentioned are known for road frames, and most are Italian, the bottom bracket threading will be different.
Actually possibly few parts will swap over directly.
There are a number of other details, seat post diameter, stem diameter and attachment style, possibly even the rear wheel width spacing..
Maybe even tire width.
I would look for a similar Japanese instead. Then look for an Italian road bike.
The brands you mentioned are known for road frames, and most are Italian, the bottom bracket threading will be different.
Actually possibly few parts will swap over directly.
There are a number of other details, seat post diameter, stem diameter and attachment style, possibly even the rear wheel width spacing..
Maybe even tire width.
I would look for a similar Japanese instead. Then look for an Italian road bike.
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1. Colnago frame, delivered to Vancouver, BC for $300? Not likely.
2. If you do somehow score a nice frame, do you really want to put old, basic parts on it?
Find a complete bike instead. Spend some time searching through the forum to find bikes you like, too many decent bikes out there to create a list of the good ones (this gets asked every week).
2. If you do somehow score a nice frame, do you really want to put old, basic parts on it?
Find a complete bike instead. Spend some time searching through the forum to find bikes you like, too many decent bikes out there to create a list of the good ones (this gets asked every week).
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The one my partner got;
Rossin; Performance EL, Campagnolo delta brakes and components
I've been looking on ebay at some rossin, ciocc, colnago; frames! but havent found anything I really like yet...
I'm looking to spend around 200-300, since I want to fix it up! (Refinish/paint, and rebuild)
Any suggestions?
--Michael
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as others have mentioned, to find a high quality frame for $300 will be a challenge for sure.
You would have to be very lucky to have all your components swap over directly and fit. who knows how expensive this can become.
You are probably going to do better by finding a whole, currently rideable, bike on Craigslist or ebay. Maybe you can recoupe some cash by selling your old components. you will find bikes in the $300 range but you'll do much better in the $500 range.
Knowing what you're buying is the key to a big score. hopefully you have a buddy who can help you out. Of course we will try to advise you on what to buy but unfortunately in the time it takes to post a question, wait for a few responses, and then act, the bike your looking at may sell, especially if its a good one. Gluck
You would have to be very lucky to have all your components swap over directly and fit. who knows how expensive this can become.
You are probably going to do better by finding a whole, currently rideable, bike on Craigslist or ebay. Maybe you can recoupe some cash by selling your old components. you will find bikes in the $300 range but you'll do much better in the $500 range.
Knowing what you're buying is the key to a big score. hopefully you have a buddy who can help you out. Of course we will try to advise you on what to buy but unfortunately in the time it takes to post a question, wait for a few responses, and then act, the bike your looking at may sell, especially if its a good one. Gluck
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2000 litespeed Unicoi Ti, XTR,XT, Campy crank, time atac, carbon forks
#10
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Good suggestions from everyone here. I have another possibility, it it makes sense to you. Every Alumicross I've seen (nice bikes btw) was set up with canti brakes, bar end shifters and triple gearing. If yours is set up like this, you could look out for a Miyata or similar nice Japanese touring frame (Nishiki etc.) and then switch over the components to that one, I would think without too much difficulty. I can say with certainty that your current components weren't really designed for an Italian racer. If a touring bike isn't your style and you're set on a vintage racer, $500 buys you a lot of bike on craigslist at this time of year. Building a bike from the frame up is a very, very costly undertaking, especially if you're inexperienced, I went down this road myself early on and probably spent $2000 on a bike that was worth $300.
Where are you located and what size frame do you ride? I bet I could find something on your local craigslist that would suit.
Sorry about your Alumicross and good luck on our search.
Where are you located and what size frame do you ride? I bet I could find something on your local craigslist that would suit.
Sorry about your Alumicross and good luck on our search.
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I agree. Be an "Indian giver" and get the Rossini back.
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...e-classic.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...e-classic.html
Last edited by garyus; 10-16-14 at 08:47 AM.
#13
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The moral of this thread, to avoid this , check in at bikeforums.com C&V forum before you give that cobwebbed road bike away.
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Colnago, Rossin, Ciocc are highly sought after and therefore expensive.
As noted above, if there's any chance your partner is not riding/appreciating the Rossin, see if you can get that. (And I mean buy, trade, whatever, not steal!)
But at this point you are likely better off setting your sights a little lower, not just for budget but because there's a whole world of vintage bikes to learn about. Very few of us on this forum actually own vintage Italian bikes, believe it or not many of us are quite happy with English 3 speeds or racers, French bikes, Japanese...many different kinds of bikes have fans here.
Japanese bikes from the 80s are not hard to find, and can offer a lot of 'bang for the buck.' Miyata made some very nice bikes (your Alumicross was not bad actually), Centurion (not sure if they were sold in Canada), Fuji, Panasonic, Sekai (seems to have had a lot of presence in Ca), etc.
As noted above, if there's any chance your partner is not riding/appreciating the Rossin, see if you can get that. (And I mean buy, trade, whatever, not steal!)
But at this point you are likely better off setting your sights a little lower, not just for budget but because there's a whole world of vintage bikes to learn about. Very few of us on this forum actually own vintage Italian bikes, believe it or not many of us are quite happy with English 3 speeds or racers, French bikes, Japanese...many different kinds of bikes have fans here.
Japanese bikes from the 80s are not hard to find, and can offer a lot of 'bang for the buck.' Miyata made some very nice bikes (your Alumicross was not bad actually), Centurion (not sure if they were sold in Canada), Fuji, Panasonic, Sekai (seems to have had a lot of presence in Ca), etc.
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