Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,639
Likes: 1,106
From: Mans of NC & SW UT Desert
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
1. Around here, anything gets stolen, from the Walmart crap to the good stuff.
2. I can redo/replace derailleur system with used bits for about the same as it costs me to convert to SS. Others may be more creative/more efficient.
3. Old rigid frame MTBs make terrific commuters IMHO, and an ugly one MIGHT be less likely to get stolen.
4. 70s french bike = french threading, which tends to cost quite a bit more for parts (and very limited choices). In particular, BB can be a bit of a challenge, just a couple of options out there on new stuff, at 3X to 5X the cost of the standard threaded parts. Now if you plan to reuse the existing bb and crankset, then that will not be an issue. LAte 1970s/early 1980s can = swiss bottom bracket, look out on those....