That's the problem with having too many projects :foo: :foo: after the temporary thrill of the ebay hunt has worn off

Even if you get a De Rosa and a sweet Campy Pista wheelset for another bike in the mail ---- its easier to sigh and just push it into the corner of the garage :twitchy:

Well -- unpacked it and put it on the lift

BEautiful packing job too- the seller used hand cut wooden dowels between the dropouts and everything else was tip top

I am pleased to see that the frame , although beautiful, is not in NOS shape --- if has a couple of boo-boos like some inner chainstay rub, and 2 spots similar to that close to the shifter boss where someone tried to fix a scratch woth nail polish or something similar

Why does this please me? -- Because I don't need super expensive NOS condition parts to put together a museum quality ride, just some clean gently used parts will do fine and I can ride it to my heart's content

--- or, since the jury is still out with me a little on the build --- I also don't feel too bad putting a new Athena 11 kit on a slightly imperfect frame (although according to the poll -- a vintage NR/SR buildout is in the lead )


http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/b...psqzut5w6l.jpg

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/b...psyvox5zl4.jpg

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/b...psmw2hn5in.jpg

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/b...ps***b7bbz.jpg

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/b...psjuxybnqs.jpg

Sexy red Italian.

Better to have some patina. You won't go ape---- when you put a scratch or two in it.

As for groupsets, start looking for a Chorus 10 speed groupset and maybe a Neutron wheelset.

You can thank me later. :)

Gross ! --- Time to take some 409 or Simple Green to the back door of the shop ! -- Amazing what you walk by everyday and don't notice --- until you see a picture of it -- LOL

I voted SR because I feel like putting a modern groupset on a bike makes it a modern bike, no matter the frame. I went through exactly the same dilemma 2 weeks ago. To me retro components is what makes the bike truly vintage.

Have you considered 1st or 2nd gen Ergopowers? Those groups are silver, beautiful, available and could work with your Racing-T components.

Edit: ask yourself if your Grail bike was De Rosa build with SR or was it De Rosa build with modern drive-train. This should give you the ultimate answer.

Update:

A pesky flood in Baton Rouge got in the way and I had to take some time away from the garage for a bit to head south and work (i'm an insurance adjuster )

---- I dropped the bike off Saturday to have the guys' at my shop install the headset, bottom bracket, and space the rear triangle to 130 (I can install headsets and bottom brackets, -- but I don't have the equipment to make sure everything is faced properly and to chase the threads if need be )

After talking it over with the shop-keep, --- I just said "Shoot- you build the thing" -- so I brought him my big box-O-Campy today . This will ensure that the cables are cut to the correct length, chain is correct and other things that I tend to goof up on my own

--- I assembled the parts kit out of my own stash --- I settled on the Racing T drivetrain as it was handy, - its a later production derailleur and crankset, so should be 10 speed compatible. Shifters are new Veloce 10, and brakes are a NOS set of Chorus calipers from late 90's ----
---- I know this sounds like the beginnings of a "franken-build" but I think it will be a very attractive ensemble

Wheelset is a new silver alloy set of Campy compatible take offs from Felt -- they made a "retro" themed bike a couple years back with Athena componentry and I snagged 2 sets of wheels from a dealer who was parting out his unsold bikes ---- An unknown (new Campy- just don't know if its Veloce-Chorus-Athena-etc) 10 speed 12-26 cassette and Conti GP4000's tops it off

--- HEre is where things are going to get controversial -- I made a heavy decision to build this one to ride and not simply look at --- and I wanted some flexibility in making cockpit changes, -- so I am using a threadless adapter with a Thomson stem, seatpost and Salsa cyclocross bars.

I use Thomsen products on nearly everything else, and the Salsa bars are my favorite ---- I am also losing weight now and wanted the flexibility to make easy stem changes without having to dismantle everything else - but I did think in the back of my mind that once I had a good position worked out - I would then try to replicate it with Cinelli hardware

I'm actually looking forward to the finished product! -- and i'm glad I just got off my duff and turned it over to my guys' --- or else the frameset might have just sat around for 8 months while I futzed around over how to build it up

Will post a few pics naturally once its ready and has a shakedown cruise or 2 under its belt !