RobbieTunes

It's the least-kept secret in cycling, and the most ignored. To our benefit.

RobbieTunes

Looks like the "older" downtown area.
Wonderful saddle, just killer.


I have no doubt a bike like that would sell very well, were it offered in today's marketplace. Just looks right.

bres dad

Very nice. What seat is that?

tommyblair22

It's a Selle Success EXP. Titanium rails, carbon body, kevlar up top. It has a weird flex to it in a good way.

xPavlisx

Thanks! I'm really happy with with both the ride and aesthetics.

hoyc

Did anyone else have the dilemma of whether to go 10 or 11-speed? Prices on the new Shimano 105 5800 11-speed groupset are REALLY good, as little as $10-20 more expensive than a new10-speed 5700 series. However, then I would have to spring for an 11-speed wheelset. I was initially going to get the 105 to Open Pro on Velomine, but they only have them in 5700 10-speed.

And does anyone have any suggestions for a modern crankset that uses an external BB but has a more C&V style? The new shimano cranks are nice, but I think look a bit out of place on a classic frame.

PhilPub

I had to completely disregard Shimano for this reason when I revamped my Ron Cooper a couple of years ago. (Shimano cranks were even uglier then than they are now!) Some people swear by Campag Athena silver cranks for a classic look, but I decided that the SRAM Force cranks were just as nice, if you don't mind a bit of carbon. (The shape of the cranks and rings is still pretty classic, compared to the more modern looking SRAM Red cranks.) If anything I think the latest version is slightly less attractive, but this is the SRAM Force 2010 I have on mine.

Chrome Molly

Several of the modern wheel sets are already 11 speed compatible (Mavic, Vuelta, etc), so it's worth double checking that 11 speed can't be used on some of the cheaper options. Even if not, there are more options now in wheel sets because you can interchange campy 11 speed wheels with shimano 11 speed wheels (of course the cassettes still mount on different hubs, but as a unit a wheel/cassette combo is interchangeable between 11 speed RD's). Sometimes Campy compatible wheels are closed out on the cheap, offset a bit by the pricy cassette you'd need to have.

As far as external bb cranks that look OK, I have found the silver FSA cranks look reasonable on a C&V bike (if you lose the FSA decals and polish the arms). The FSA cranks can use older style shimano external bearings, so one of the FSA question marks is easily eliminated.

You could also take a silver SRAM rival crank and use one of the 11 speed inner "conversion" rings on it, and that should work also.

I personally wouldn't mount a Power Torque Athena crank on my bike, as getting it off the bike requires all sorts of unreasonable pullers, etc (a really poor design from a maintenance perspective as compared to a simple 2 piece crank). None of the current Campy Ultra Torque models are available in anything but black, and I'm more of a we'll see attitude to the one I have now in terms of the longevity of the hirth joint. Given the pricing of Athena groups, the PT crank, and 105's price point, I think they need to revamp either the pricing or the crank to make this group make sense. The triple group pricing is completely unreasonable. To me Athena is 105 level, and Chorus is Ultegra level. Athena doubles are priced along with Ultegra, and Athena triples are in DA closeout pricing territory.

To me, the silver 105 5800 crankset looks ok, and is sort of growing on me as far as looking ok on a vintage bike. Not the same look as something from VO or Sugino, but anything silver on a bike these days is rare.

bres dad

I recently upgraded the group on my Trek Domane with SRAM Rival. I had to find a crank set though as it didn't come with one. I found a SRAM Apex crank that has chrome chain rings and looks very classy. If my Schwinn 754 would take 110 chain rings, I'd put them on it in a sec and find different ones for the Trek.

himespau 

In general triple pricing (and finding components) is a real bummer. I keep hoping there's going to be a general switch back to them at some point, but I'm not hopeful.

metalpossum

There are only half a dozen manufacturers or so using external bearing technology... How lazy are you to not Google the major brands before asking such a question?

Here's some help to get started:

Shimano (Which you stated dislike for)
Campagnolo
Sram
FSA
...

Your best bet for a classic look is most obviously going to be Campagnolo, which you probably had your eye on anyway but found the price frustrating.
ribble.co.uk - This domain name is available to lease or buy now pick up a set of SILVER Veloce cranks or similar, problem solved. Otherwise get a classic looking square tapered crank such as Stronglight... maybe FSA offer something too.

Oh yeah, have fun with the 14mm hex bolt to hold the Campagnolo crank on, it's no common size Allen key!

vann

Although STI's did exist in 1992 Grant Petersen elected to use bar end shift levers on Bridgestone's RB-1 that year so I think this bike qualifies. Currently running Shimano 105 levers(I think they're better looking than the 600 STI's from that era) 8 speed and Ultegra dual pivot calipers. I also swapped the stem and bars. Wheels feature beautiful Shimano Santé hubs. I still have all the original components stashed away in case I ever want to go back to bone stock.

upthywazzoo 

I really like that splash of red from the cables and the frame pump

agchopz

been stalking ebay and as soon as all the packages get to my door ill have a full 6700 group for my tange 2 centurion. the suspence!

seypat

OP's 2 best friends! His trusty steed and his trusty sidekick. Nice color scheme. I agree with the poster who likes the splash of red.

TimmyT 

Seems like a standard color scheme for the trusty sidekick

growlerdinky

RobbieTunes

Great way to start posting!

TimmyT 

+1
That's a rolling start.

gomango

Agreed. That's a gorgeous Colnago.

Welcome!

Chrome Molly

Great frame with top end bits, what's not to like there...?

growlerdinky

Thanks everyone. Its still not quite finished. A Nitto S83 seatpost and a Selle Italia Flite 1990 will cap it off.

(And a proper photo)

upthywazzoo 

Too much? I might actually be leaning in the direction of "it's too much" myself. However, I do like the attention I get while riding it, as well as the ride Upgraded from a Kinlin/Record wheelset and 7800 dt-shifters to 7800 STI and H+Son/Superlight courtesy of Bike Hub Store. Really enjoying STI so far. It was a bit frustrating at first to tune everything and experiment with spacers (since there seemed to be competing thoughts on the internet on how many you need and where to put them), but the time and effort has paid off. The ease of shifting and increase in number of cogs has made the riding experience very enjoyable. I won't say that it's better than friction, but I notice myself shifting more often and on sections that I would have previously just gritted my teeth and put in more effort. Definitely recommend.

PS, for anyone wondering: I didn't notice any increase in drivetrain sound from replacing the plastic jockey wheels with sealed bearing aluminum ones. I had read about this phenomenon many times in other threads all over the internet--but my rear derailleur is just as quiet as it was before.

seypat

I'm just trying to figure out how the pink or orange parts came to be. I can see one or the other, but not both. Which came first, the seat or the tires?

upthywazzoo 

The seat did. I usually mock up a bike in BikeCAD first to see how the colors will play out. In its original configuration, the rims were black and so were the tires, but during the upgrade I decided I needed to go for maximum ostentation. At some point I will return the bike to a more conservative color scheme.