Classic plus new Campy works just fine...
 

My steelie is a circa 1984 Swiss Titan (Columbus SLX tubing). It has 126mm spacing but the modern 130mm drops right in. IMHO a nice classic steel frame plus all alloy campy group is hard to beat in style and function. The build consists of 2005 campy centaur/chorus (compact no less) plus 2006 protons.

^^^^

Nice looking bike but the photos are kinda small.....Imageshack.us is a good image hosting site if you have any bigger shots ;)

Sorry about that, how's this?
 

Try #2, should be able to click for a larger pic. I hate the resolution limits, I'll have to look into image hosting for sure.

+1 to everything that Syke wrote.
The Delta brakes get a bad rap partly due to them
being set up incorrectly most of the time.
When set up right they are probably some of the most
powerful brakes made (right up there with rollercams, V brakes etc.)
Try Syncro II it was marginally better than Syncro I .
Personally I have no problem putting modern components on an old
bike if it means your actually gonna ride it.

Marty

There are 2 schools of thought on this. Period correct versus update.

I'm way, way in the latter camp. IMO, the period correct camp is for collecting. Its sort of like matching VINs on old cars. This is a totally cool way to approach things and if I had enough money to collect bikes I would totally go this route on some bikes.

But on bikes that I'm going to ride, I'm going to customize to my heart's content. And I don't think this violates the spirit in which they were built. Good bike frames were not meant to be ridding period correct. IMO, they were built to be the best possible and to be customized and if that means putting on a modern drive train, have at it. There's some older stuff that I like better than modern (Brooks saddles, lugged frames, 7 style stems) and some newer stuff that I like better than classic (indexed shifting, spd peddles). In my way of thinking, the decades have provided me with a pallette of choices from which to select and I've selected the stuff that fits my likes the best.

Interesting thread...
I have no objection to a modern drivetrain on an older frame. It's actually refreshing to see a nice lugged frame with either campy or shimano (depending on the frame being of european or japanese origin). My issue is having u ltra-modern bladed spoke wheels, or deep-v's, or anything else that completely removes the vintage look. At that point, it becomes the equivalent of a 1985 Nissan Maxima with 20" chrome wheels.... way out of place IMO. A nice openpro/ultegra wheelset in either 32h or 36h would keep the build SO classy. Just my 0.02

Mike,

Definitely can go with you on that one - upgraded derailleurs, cranks, etc., are fairly subtle. Even brifters don't stick out all that much on a classic bike - but that's pushing the envelope in my tastes. Wheels, on the other hand, are as blatant as you can go, and there's just something wrong(!!!!!!!!) about areo rims and spokes on a classic frame. Just the thought of it makes my teeth curl.

Syke
Deranged Few M/C

I like the way you think. My Neo-Retro Caldaro with 32 spoke Open Pros on Centaur hubs:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18...ugust06038.jpg

I don't mind retro lugged bikes given the full modern monty treatment. Here's an attached pic of somebody's Mercian. I think it works. Certainly not retro rebuild but still very cool. It's sort of like T-bucket hot rod. The combination of new and old becomes its own style. I like it.

I don't know there is something about those Ksyerium wheels
that just looks wrong. maybe its the bladed spokes, who knows?
the open pros above look good to my eye though.

~~> I'm with Skye on that too. Those more commonly ridden "real world" bicycles were not just slugs, anyway. They were typically better designed for riding (and riding comfortably) on a great variety of nasty roads and foul weather than what would have been considered the fancy "feather-weights" racing bikes of their day.

Its just like I would never want to ride a modern Tour de France level carbon fiber Trek to work daily... especially since I don't happen to have a team support vehicle following me to fix or more likely to replace it after the first few days of bouncing over railroad tracks, sewer grates, and potholes... and besides, how the heck could I fit fatter tires, racks, and fenders on it (but that's just fussy old me).

Skye's mention of his old '64 Raleigh Gran Sport is a good case in point. These were bikes which real folks actually rode, and Club Racers often competed with them on weekends, as well. I know of one person who absolutely PREFERS to restore those lower tier, or "working mens bikes" as he calls them, and last time I heard he was in fact restoring an early '60s Gran Sport. ~ And, that's even though he is fully capable of putting a lot of time, effort (and money) into pampering far more lofty rides back to life.

Here's a photo that fellow sent me of him riding one of his far more ambitious project bikes... one which he had nevertheless put into some good hard service on the road after restoring it:

http://community-2.webtv.net/velo-gallery/doc/

Yep, it takes a Real Man - and a genuine bicycle enthusiast - to have the guts to ride an unusual old bicycle... and in funky period attire!

Personally, I've gotten weary of restoring old 60s-70s racing bikes if I can't use them to comfortably carry me on some nice long rides, and over some steep climbs, and maybe even carrying a bit of junk in a saddlebag as well. So, I'm re-fitting my racing bikes with wide-range freewheels and even vintage long-cage 'touring' derailleurs if necessary. True, they will no longer be absolutely "correct", but they'll be ridden. ~ And that's really why I collect bicycles rather than paintings or coins. --- Ya always gotta ride what ya build.

Cheers!
Stubborn Old Bob

Nod.

I think there's room for both period correct and hot-rods.

I think it's easier to get your eyes around the hot-rods if you just put them in an entirely different context or mental grouping.

Here's one of the finest neo-retro hot rods I've ever seen.
http://www.cyclofiend.com/cc/images/cc028-3p1010043.jpg

Check out the treadless stem, aero levers and modern hubs. Even the Mafacs have KoolStops on them. I think this is one of the coolest builds I've ever seen but it sure won't be on display at the Lars Anderson show. Nor would I want to see it there.

Here's the full link.
http://www.cyclofiend.com/cc/2005/cc...orsky0805.html

I have not found any of the Tektro R556 yet but in my search for longer reach, dual pivot brakes, I found THESE. They are not as nicely finished as Tektros usually are (I have some 521AG tektros on one bike) but seem to work as well. I also have a set of short reach Promax brakes on my Super Sport... no bad news there either. The long reach Promax are 48-64mm, longer than Tektro 521AG but shorter than the R556.

That's a sweet ride! love the colour... What kind of wheels are those? Look like ambrosio Radar's with campy skewers... not a bad idea.. nice touch.. Maybe I'll do that to mine..

I'll tell you what doesn't work here... It's the touring geomoetry of that frame. Notice how far away the rear wheel is from the seat tube. Also, look how far the front wheel is from the downtube.... at the risk of sounding like a snob... not sexy at all. I hate to refer to cars again, but this one's like an '85 Maxima with 20"... but it's not even lowered, it has that tall tractor-like suspension... anyone else feeling me?

Notice the tight geometry of the Caldaro... that bike could surely pull off a pair of Ksyriums... but I think that caloso kept it classy by going 32h. I think the ultimate sporty retro wheel upgrade is 3x 32h stainless spokes with black anodized rims, if the bike's color lets you pull it off. (like a white, silver, red, yellow, blue etc)

I think this bike looks good aside from the fact that the owner is too large and really needs to let the frame go to a more appropriately sized owner and find another to hang his parts on.

HAHAHA! You ride a 58, do you?

actually, this is mine
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j2...arinoni002.jpg'

sorry about the pic, having trouble uploading right now, that's all I got ATM.

Thanks for the kind words. The wheels are 2006 Campy Protons w/ the skewers from my 2005 Eurus. I love the protons! They are strong as hell and the hubs are sooo smooth. Radar's are pretty sweet as well.

JR

I have always like the idea of a Hot Rod Vintage racing bike :)

Vintage frame, custom road parts, and cool (mag) Wheels :D

http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/3...5000red5ab.jpg

This is my Hot Rod Bicycle. A 1989 Frame with Modern Components

What's that a 63cm? Nice looking bike.... I'm digging the blue steel frame and black 32 spoke wheels.

Just making a point here....
Here's my fugly looking 80's Fuji commuter with a Ksyrium front wheel borrowed from my Cannondale....

62cm c-c so yes basically.

^^^^^ That's not your typical vintage steel lugged frame, now is it? ;)
That 5000 is HOT, but you already knew that. :D

Ok, here's a mix - though not technically a newer drivetrain. What's newer are the rims/spokes, tires, saddle, bars, pedals, chain and the combination of pads and holders.

55/Rad

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/697...relaxedem2.jpg