Originally Posted by
panzerwagon
Great bikes, I have an ‘86 in the queue myself. Please share a few pics when you’re able.
What exactly would you like to improve about the drivetrain?
If you’re dealing with hilly terrain, you might consider a granny gear in front with a correspondingly longer cage RD to wrap the chain slack. And dual pivot calipers if you don’t already would allow you to navigate downhills with more confidence.
Good to hear from you.
Yes, I fell in love with this one shortly after my Bianchi Giro was stolen out of my car... It was at the end of season and the only "good" bike that fit me was this Vitus...so we worked a deal
You are perceptive. Flat territory here and I'll be 75 this year and I've committed to doing a ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles next year to celebrate.... so a granny gear was what I was thinking of.
Mine is set up more for speed on flats than long distance and mountains and I was looking at how I can change the existing setup without messing with the derailleurs. Never thought of the brakes, though mine have been really good!
I have heard horror stories about bonded frames, though but mostly from professionals and racers. I did connect with a guy in Vancouver who can check the frame pretty reasonably and will consider this in the coming winter. I mention this because I DID get into a really weird situation downhill this summer and worried a bit. I was somewhere near 55kms when the front end went crazy and I went down hard. I thought I hit a stick that was almost parallel and that set up a speed wobble. Never found the stick or whatever, but the bike was OK (except for a Pivot bolt) and a little skin on one knee and a sore hip!
Seems I cannot add pics here until I've posted 10 times... so... soon I hope