Werkin

This Circuit came to me by way of ebay.





It wasn't quite ready to ride out of the box, and when it was eventually rolling several issues made themselves known. Fast forward through through function and fitting changes to today.






Upgrading from vintage brake levers to the SRAM levers & hoods was a major improvement on many levels. I owe big thanks to my girlfriend for these. Also updated with Nitto Noodle bars and Technomic Deluxe stem. More time is spent in the drops than I've ever done before, the Noodles fit.




I lusted after a set of SRAM calipers to go with the levers, but sanding the pads and the braking edge on the rims improved performance of the single pivot Royal-Compe II calipers to a point where little was lacking.

Two minutes from my door is a climb any direction I ride. The original 42/23 low gear made it tough getting up any grade, way tough on the 30+ degree grades, doable, but scary. The SunTour Sprint 9000 rear derailleur can only handle a 24t cog, so I swapped it out with a SunTour X-1 MTB rear derailleur from 1991, and made the freewheel more climbing friendly with larger wider gear spacing.





I've experimented with smaller inner chainrings, but the wide 7 speed chain limits options. I have a plan for another attempt when I get the funds.





At least the frame is great for climbing, it's low weight, and stiff; there's no flex in the bottom bracket.





I really dig the details on the QRs. SunTour sealed cartridge bearing hubs are incredibly smooth, with no resistance what so ever.





I started this project with a plan to upgrade the groupset, but ran out of money quickly. There were too many small issues that demanded immediate attention. I damaged the rear derailleur's index shifter and it was less costly to just replace the levers with NOS; big difference, and it helped to use real shifter cables instead of the brake ones that were on originally. They're good enough for the time being. It's only been about 40 years since I last used DT shifters, it's all coming back now.





More photos can be seen in this gallery.

bloom87

sorry ! the original setup was more appealing to me... by a longshot.

In short I contend you kind of killed the spirit of this bike.

red cable... the kind of thing you try and then revert in this case -- the brake levers (why oh why ?) -- the bottle holders are horrible...

Bianchigirll 

nice looking bike. for a few minuteswhen I saw the new levers, I thought you had put some STI levers and actually had the suntour working with them.

it seems someone is jealous.

rccardr 

I disagree. I like everything you've done to it, especially the red cable. Not a big fan of the SRAM levers myself, but have used similar Ergo-style Tektro lever sets on my personal rides (and a number of built-to-order bikes) and they do seem to be more comfortable and better operating than the late 80's DiaCompe levers.

cb400bill

Nice job! I really like this pic, too.

WNG

Beautiful! I need to try a set of those Nitto Noodles...so many raving reviews.
I like the red cable, brings out the head badge. I wasn't familiar with the SRAM levers either. Like BG, I thought they were brifters. I would have kept a white seat though, albeit a PITA to keep clean.
If you don't have a use for the orphaned Dia Compe aero levers, pm me.

bloom87

i am merely stating i would have gone with period-correct stuff (or leave it like that) and not mess with the stock color scheme..... that is a new definition of jealousy maybe you should submit to wiktionary and while ure at it webster !

cehowardGS

I like, I like, I like,

In the next few days, going to study all what you done to this gorgeous bike,and copy some of it..

Again, great job, and the black is killing with looks too..

cehowardGS

OMG, just caught on to the red cable, me thinks that will be my first copy going on my black 85 Raleigh Prestige..

brockd15 

How so? My interpretation of the spirit of a Circuit is performance, and it sounds like every change made will lead to an increase in performance. Now adding a super tall stem, cruiser bars and a 3 speed IGH to a Circuit would be killing the spirit.

Oregon Southpaw

Sprint 9000 will wrap 28 teeth, FWIW.

afilado

And with aplomb.

J

Werkin

The local bike shops share you aversion to red cables. It wasn't easy finding bulk red SIS housing for the RD just for 13", and the only low cost brake specific set I could locate came from the UK. It wasn't a frivolous impulsive decision. One of the bottle holders is from a woman's mountain bike I rode for a few months (another girlfriend gift, thanks Kim!), it is the most versatile I've used, and even holds conventional water bottles in place over lumpy chip-seal at 40mph. Unfortunately, the same model produced 7 years later isn't exactly the same same color, but one can't tell at a distance.

The levers are adjustable for reach and they flare outward, which allowes them to be easier accessed in the drops. Also, because of the angle I prefer the hoods to be at, the levers can be aligned vertically for looks. I wrapped my hands around the Tektro/Cane Creek levers on bikes and the SRAM's, the SRAM housings fit my hands a little better. They improved braking performance even with the old cables.

If I had the funds and the luxury of planning that purchase, I would have used a new white saddle of the same model I'm riding. The Fizik Aliante XM is a cushy MTB saddle that fits me very well. Extra saddle info, the Aliante utilizes a hammock design, some seat posts like the original Sakae have tall top brackets that interfere with the give & flex of this saddle. If I didn't need additional set back I would have kept a pantograph style seat post I was using too, the carbon fiber one with more set back was available at a time when needed and at a reasonable cost. I tried to keep carbon fiber off this build, but I'm over that, and I think the saddle and seat post match, so in this component pairing the saddle color is appropriate.

As WNG mentioned, the red color works because of the original red color accents like under the Circuit decal, red rim decal, and the head badge, add to that the ones on the pedals and seatpost back, and it looks appropriate. It might "pop" on an all black bike (I don't know what yours looks like) and be distracting. Black looked at home on an earlier update.




A gentleman at Yellow Jersey told me the 24t was the max for good shifting while retaining the index feature, so I followed his advice. I read that it was possible here on BF (may have been from you), but that was after I went forward with the change. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for all the kind comments everyone!

rat fink

Ha! Me too. I was like, "How did they do that?"

It looks great! I like the enhanced looks and performance. I've been known to enhance my bikes a little too... The Circuit is a fabulous bike. It's good to see another preserved (through riding).

kimberlein

Beautiful bike! I'm sure it's more fun to ride now than when you first got it.

Actually, jealousy/envy is a good guess... it can lead someone to behave hatefully or contemptuously or in some other destructive way in order to devalue the thing that is envied. Whether it's jealousy or something else, your first post is pretty hateful. This post I've quoted shares your opinion without hate, but the first one, Jeez! WTH?!

x136 

I'm not a huge fan of plastic bottle cages, but that aside, I like it.

I think there was a miniature Golden Age of bicycles around 1986-1989 or so. So much great stuff around then.

Pars 

Other than the red cable housing, I like it!

Oregon Southpaw

+1

buldogge

Just swap out to red cages and you'll be more balanced (color-wise) and good to go.

My 2c.

miamijim

Does this mean I get to post pics of my Circuit......again?

brockd15 

Yes please.

Werkin

Yes please; I was about to post photos from this thread showing other 87 Circuits with red accents.

miamijim

Only because you both insist... Its looks much, much better than in these pics. It now has a mostly white seat with black accents. Regardless, its an '87 Circuit w/ a full Dura Ace 7410 groupset including the BB and seatpost (I have the headset), Michelin tires, ceramic coated rims, Bontrager threadless bar and stem combo and white Shimano NOS SIS cable housing

jeebusaurousrex

Ooh, missed out on that one, nice.

Here's mine from the vintage with sti/ergo thread. I have since changed out the large chainring to a 52T TA Specialites with ramps for better shifting and replaced the rear brake cable with Yokozunas to match the front (tight fit through the TT guides).

jeebusaurousrex

Everything looks good, but that pie plate has to go!

(oh and welcome to the club!)