Amesja

Hear me out:

I've got an old C&V Raleigh Pursuit 502. The frame fits me fairly well and rides well (other than it pulls a bit so I'll be dropping a new fork into it.)

I'm thinking of building a nice wheelset out of hubs I have laying around Alex R-450 rims in 700c and wearing Panaracer RiBMo tires. This gives me a more modern 8-speed cassette (have that in my parts bin as well as the hub) The wheelset with tires is going to be the bulk of the costs of the project but could be used elsewhere or sold for at least as much as I have into it.

Then I am planning on dropping a Shimano Tiagra derailleurs on the bike controlled by a pair of Ultegra bar-end shifters. This is going to about $150 for the drivetrain as I've got the hub and cassette already.

The DiaComp brakes seem to be pretty decent so I'll keep them as is and I will probably look around for a used crankset that is better than the heavy double that comes with the bike. I've got a nicer pair of areo bars and hooded areo levers in my junk pile as well as a bunch of other parts, bits and pieces laying around from scrounging over the years. I live in Chicago so Working Bikes is a short hop away and I can find a lot of used stuff for a bargain (except for the prices on decent modern derailleurs and barcons are no better than what I can find at Niagara.)

So basically I'm putting together a decent mix & match "groupset" and wheelset that I could move to any frame in the future and I can dump this frame for something better in the future for what I have in it. I haven't had a road bike in a long time and want to build one up on a vintage frame. This way I can have one for just about $300 in parts.

Or should I just look around on CL and buy a bike in that price range? I don't see much on CL around Chicago that is decent. Good bikes with decent components run much more than $300 around here.

The other reason I want to do this project is that while I've built/restored many vintage 3-speeds and such my experience with road bikes is limited. This is going to be a learning process and gaining experience working and building a road bike. I'm sort of running a hobby business with the 3-speeds but feel that my qualifications with road bikes is a bit weak. Learning to source parts that work together and integrating everything is much easier when one is DOING it.

Am I being crazy? It's not like it is a lot of money. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be able to sell this bike for what I've got into it as a running bicycle but I could strip it back down and sell/trade/barter the parts (especially the wheelset) for what I have into it and put the bike back to stock (keeping all the parts) and sell it for more than I picked it up for.

4Rings6Stars

You're not crazy. Lots of us update vintage frames with modern parts.

In fact, the only thing I really like about vintage bikes are the frames.

I would vote you try to find used parts (here, ebay, craigslist...etc) or even a donor frame.

rat fink

The thing to remember when upgrade an older bike, is that it's only an investment if you aren't thinking monetarily. What I mean is, that the bike is easily worth less in it's complete form than when you sell the parts separately. This is true of most bikes, though. What I like to do, is obtain nice parts that will last a long time and move them from frame to frame. All of my bike would be difficult to sell for $500, but have better parts than most bikes you might find on bikes that cost $2000.

Aside from that, I have a Tiagra rear derailleur, various FDs, cranksets, and more languishing in a box right here, if you are interested in getting a deal.

Amesja

Other than the derailleurs and the barcons most of the stuff will be used except for the rims spokes and tires. I'd like a matching wheelset and don't want to build on used rims (especially if they don't match.) I just don't think I will be able to find a nice set of used rims in 32h drilling (which is what my hubs are) that will be worth saving the money as the Alex rims are only $25/each.

Used barcons are sort of hard to find around here and sell for nearly as much as the new ones at Niagra cost. The Derailleurs are cheap. $40 and $30 front & rear. I'm sure I could probably find some older/cheaper used ones but I feel with derailleurs they get better every generation so why bother with older ones unless you are going for a vintage look? I figure I'll buy fresh/new lower mid-range (upper low-range?) like the Tiagra and not have to worry about stuff that is messed up by the previous owner.

Everything else will probably be used. I won't bother with trying to find a new BB until I figure out what I'm going to scrounge for the crankset so I can get the Q just right. With the Tiagra FD-4503 I can run quite a bit of choices and if worst comes to worse I could swap it out.

The only thing that really bothers me about the project is the derailleur hanger. The bike came with a claw-type one that I can remove from the old Shimano RD that came on the bike. I can re-use that but I wish there was a more elegant solution for this old horizontal drop-out for a nice hanger bracket. The only thing that I know of that fits this bike is a suntour cheapo that is just like the heavy steel unit that I already have.

rat fink

That said, I don't think I would waste the cost of spokes building a wheelset with Alex rims. Here are some other inexpensive rims that seem to get good reviews: https://www.bikewagon.com/Sun-Ringle-...-p9629494.html

Amesja

I'm making a big order from Niagara this coming week for this and some other projects I am working on (my garage is full of bikes I'm planning on selling as soon as "riding season starts" -more like buying season!) -so shipping cost isn't an issue since when you spend >$300 on parts the shipping on each one is negligible. I'm a big fan of Niagara but that is another thread

These are the parts I'm looking at

Shimano FD-4503 Tiagra Front Derailleur (3x9-Speed, 28.6/31.8mm, Silver) $31.84

Shimano RD-4500 Tiagra Rear Derallieur (GS Medium Cage, 9-Speed, Silver) $43.84

I depends on the deal I appreciate the offer but I think at this low price and since I'm buying a bunch of other crap (including the rims so the boxs will be big anyhow) that I might as well go new unless I'd be saving a whole heck more.

Amesja

I wavered between the CR-18's and the Alex. Is thee a big difference between the two really? The Alex look pretty cool and are in black -which is what I would like. If I could get/find the CR-18's in black I would probably go with them. I still might even. I've not ordered the spokes yet and haven't 100% decided between the Alex R-450 and the Sun CR-18. I've got both in my shopping cart via Niagara and will delete on set when I chose the other. Hopefully I don't forget which would mean more rims hanging in my garage that I don't need.

If only I had a stockpile of nice used 700 rims like I have of gently-used 559's that I've got hanging from the rafters i wouldn't be shopping for these. Like I said before, I've not done lot of work on road bikes so haven't built up a stockpile of parts. C&V raleigh 3-speeds and modern comfort bikes are what I do a lot of. I do have a really nice Mavic Open pro rim in 700 that came off of a garage sale wheel I picked up for $2 (people are stupid -this guy had it laced up to a coaster hub that he tried out and didn't like. The hub rusted in his garage it had sat so long and he just wanted to get rid of it -you find the greatest bike stuff at garage sales but that is another thread too But that rim it is in 36-hole drilling and I can't use it for this project. Even if I could use it buying a matching rim would cost nearly as much as 3 CR-18's or R-450's

As far a spokes go, they are cheap when you know where to buy hand-built/cut ones (Lee's -you get exactly what you want, how many you want, and no fuss) I don't build wheels with expensive spokes. Buying from an LBS or even name-brand packs of 100 online gets really expensive and you waste a lot of money buying more than you need.

X-LinkedRider

You are not crazy. Especially as a taller person, the older geometry offers many taller bikes. They were also very quality and comfortable if you have a good one. (There were several levels of that bike) Check around the forums. There are plenty of Awesome older bikes updated to new Campy, Sram and shimano

calamarichris

XLR99

You'll shoot your eye out!!
If you're watching the budget, you could probably pick up a set of 600 Tricolor derailleurs for less than the Tiagra stuff, unless you're going for a more modern look to the components. Picked up the latest one for $14 including shipping, but they sem to be in the 25-30 range right now. All of my current road & cross bikes have 6401 RDs, and they work great. I saw somebody using one with a 9spd setup with no issues.
People seem to love CR-18s, and use them for a lot of different types of riding, from C&V to MTBs. They sound indestructible. I have two sets, both of which I just built up and have only put a few miles on so far.
Whatever you choose, the rule of 'pics or it didn't happen' requires that you post pics within 2 hours.

elboGreaze

If you're crazy, I guess I am too ( 1983 Schwinn hi-ten, 8 speed 105 STI) ! If you're making the conversion , may as well throw some brifters on there , go all out !

rat fink

That makes sense. I didn't mean to decry your preference, by any means. Also, I sort of assumed that you would have wanted silver rims there.

thirdgenbird

crazy? i dont think there is anything better than an older steel frame dressed with modern campy.

rat fink

huh? huh?

RobbieTunes

Yes, you are crazy. Most of us here would never think of doing that.

Henry III

I did a mixture of modern Ultratorque and later retro 8spd ergo stuff on my mid 80's Ciocc. I like the outcome of it and it plays well together. No reason not to use modern technology with a quality steel frame. You'd pay decent money to get something like that nowaday and still be stuck with an asian built steel frame...Surly, Salsa, etc. Their good bikes but normally don't start till around the $1000 range and your still stuck with mid to lower level range stuff. The Pursuit is a pretty basic frame though isn't it and uses a stamped dropouts and straight gauge tubing? Here's my Ciocc is finished up earlier this winter.

Beach Comber

Guys have been putting new parts on old 2 and 4 wheel vehicles since the beginning of time. And women have been calling us crazy for just slightly longer.

TugaDude

I think one of the coolest things about this hobby is the fact that you can take a bare frame and create your own vision of what you want a bike to be. Obviously it is very personal and that's the point. Don't concern yourself with what others like, they might or might not agree with you. And to that point, even your taste will likely change as you age and experience more types of bikes.

I for one didn't think I'd ever like fixed-gear riding and now I am so totally hooked it is funny. When I go to my garage to take a bike down I keep gravitating towards the Miyata 312 that is fixed-only. Can't help myself. I get on it and it just flies. It fits my body perfectly and I smile from the first revolution.

Go for it! Create your own bike to reflect your personality. Maybe it will have fatty tires, maybe skinny racing rubber. Chrome fork or nude carbon? You are limited only by your budget I suppose. Have fun and post pics once you have created you vision.

mazdaspeed

At least do it right and get dual pivot brakes, tektro levers, non dirt cheap wheels and tires... If you shop carefully instead of paying full price for tiagra derailleurs you will have a far better bike in the end for the same $ imho

Glennfordx4

I guess we are all a bit crazy when it comes to building up some of the different bikes I have seen here at C&V, I built up this Jetter road bike using almost all the stuff you are considering for your build ( Except I used 8spd Sora STI's I had). I like the bike and it is very comfortable for me to ride, I am not so crazy about the Sora STI's but I have a set of 9spd 105's I may put on it later unless I find a better frame that fits me.

The only real problem I encountered in the build was setting up the Tiagra RD as the shimano claw hook wouldn't give me enough clearance between the upper jockey pulley and my cassette, I was able to modify a Suntour claw hook by doing a little grinding to it and now it all plays well together.

Glenn

Amesja

That looks great Glenn!

I had a similar worry about the Shimano claw that came with the Raleigh. I guess I could always mill something up myself that works. I'm a madman with a chunk of steel, a hacksaw, a drillpress and some files. I can make anything flat like that with some time. When done just keep sanding it down with finer and finer sandpaper until it is baby-smooth and paint with High-temp Duplicolor paint and bake in the oven for 6-8 hours at about 400-degrees. This makes for an almost factory finish on steel or aluminum. The end product is similar in feel and toughness to that found on military rifle parts.

Those brakes looks really sweet. I know that after I get a nicer set of cranks than the junk cranks that came on the Raleigh the next thing to start looking for are better brakes than the single-pivot DiaComps. They will work but better is better. Maybe something will show up at a swap or something for a decent price.

Then it will be a waiting game to keep an eye out for an even better frame than the entry-level 502 Raleigh. I'm not married to it but it's just a scaffolding to hold the groupset I'm building up. As long as it fits and it is an upgrade and is a bargain I can always jump. Swapping components isn't much more work than getting dressed in the morning

TugaDude

"Those brakes looks really sweet."

They are. I put an RX100 that I purchased NOS on my All City track bike and the braking action was so good and so sudden that I did a header the first time out.

After that I learned to modulate the brake better. I was riding on the freewheel. If it was fixed it wouldn't have happened.

Point is, nice brake!

Amesja

And inexpensive too. Looks like Niagara has them for $28 each. If I can't find something used at a swap or at Working Bikes I might just order at least one pair for out front.

mcarter

+1

ChicAgo steel

Amesja, WOW you're asking the loonies at C&V if you're crazy? Of course they're gonna say NO! I'll tell ya the plain truth. You're not crazy but you are a wingnut! Now get crackin so we can ride together when IAB puts out the call for the pancake flat 30 miler.

My .02, Ron at 'Nearly New Bikes' Broadway South of Irving, he may have your barcons at the right price. The Suntour ones he sold me for $20.00 are very responsive, easy to trim, terrific shifters.

Brake a leg with this build. ; ) Yes you are crazy not to have a road bike. ; )