Originally Posted by
2 Piece
Still doesn't do anything about the vintage parts being practically obsolete. By the time the OP who is on a small budget and seems to have very little wrenching experience, tries to update a vintage frame he will be dollars had to just go ahead and buy newer spec'd bicycle.
This simply isnt accurate.
- full Tiagra groupset for $325. Thats STI, brake calipers, crank, bb, chain, and cassette.
- New wheels from velomine or nashbar for $130-250 depending on what you want. From $200 up you can get excellent hubs, rims, and butted spokes.
- New bar tape for $15.
- new cables and housing for $15-30.
$480ish to $560ish for 10sp with all new everything.
$200 for a shop to fully clean and set up the bike.
That leaves $300-400 to get a great frame and still be at the same price as the entry level modern bike.
You will have a bike with more character and higher quality components.
Or- if a bike from '87ish thru '99ish is used(and more modern too) that is a quality steel frame, you can just keep the brake calipers and the derailleurs to save.
Add some $95 Sora STIs, a $55 crankset, a $20 cassette, and $10 chain. Bartape and cables for $40. Then new wheels.
Thats $360-430. And if your bike is from the mid90s or newer, you wont need new wheels.
Seriously though, this isnt scrounging to piece stuff together- a high quality steel frame with all new Tiagra everything AND assempbled by a shop for less than a Sora and generic component spec'd retail bike.
Or a sora drivetrain and high quality wheelset and components for less than a new bike.
You say it isnt realistic and costly, but all this can also be done for hundreds less than thebscenarios i listed too.