New road bikes w/ downtube shifters and straight top tubes?
 

All,

Does anyone know of any manufacturers out there that still make classic road bikes with down-tube shifters and straight top tubes? I know Bianchi does, but I'm looking for something a bit cheaper. I'll build my own one of these days, but time is lacking right now.

Thanks a bunch,
Robert

Rivendell makes the Roadeo, which you could probably get with downtube shifters instead of brifters.
https://www.rivbike.com/collections/...nt=23335434625

"Time is lacking"? Damn, that's all I got.

...and Bottechia makes this:
https://steel-vintage.com/bottecchia...ca-bike-detail
It's expensive but looks beautiful.
(a few other retro modern road bikes on there too)

There were a couple of brands that put something like this out a few years ago, but I think the appetite was slim and the bikes were short-lived. I'm thinking of Public and Linus, which can be solid bikes with mediocre components and heavier frames, but styled to look retro. If you're itching for downtube shifters and a level top tube, vintage or very expensive are your only options, I think. If you can do your own work, you can find great deals.

The Bombtrack Oxbridge from last year.
https://99spokes.com/bikes/bombtrack...xbridge-geared

The problem with newer steel production frames, typically having 1-1/8" steerers, is that they tend to be significantly heavier and stiffer than vintage equivalents.
Not a problem though for the heavier riders though since a proportional increase in material is appropriate in that case, better allowing the modern frames to meet safety standards that were created with the heaviest-possible customer in mind.

Hence the advantage of a custom (or higher-end vintage) frame for the lighter rider.

The Creme Echo Uno, but not with drop bars.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...77a5d3d0cb.jpg

Huh? My cromo steel Black Mtn Cycles road w/ 1 1/8” steerer and steel fork weighs 21 lbs. My ‘71 Raleigh Intl, Reynolds 531 throughout, weighs 24 lbs. Or is that not a “vintage equivalent”?

I'm not familiar with the Black Mtn Cycles bikes, do they sell frames or complete production bikes?

How is your bike equipped, wheels/gruppo wise? Tubing?

And I guess that the 24lb International would be a 23lb bike with a non-leather saddle?

ah yes, the $2,800 "push-me-pull-you"

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/14...g?v=1550260371

Basso makes the Viper...I think it’s over 2k for the frame though

Ciocc is making the "vintage" but it's made in Italy and you need to request a quote. If you've gotta ask... https://www.ciocc.it/en/product/replica/ I am not entirely sure the top tube is level though.

https://www.ciocc.it/wp-content/uplo...ca-845x522.jpg

That makes a lot of sense. I understand why people buy Bianchis and Rivendells, but if you don't want to pay the name brand fancy bike prices you're going to end up with something nondescript. In that case you might as well just buy vintage. You can get a very nice vintage ride for less than a grand. I'm not sure what's in there now, but the Classic & Vintage sale section here often has some beautiful machines that are well outfitted at affordable prices. You'll have a much better bike than you would get buying new at anything close to that price range.

No more Surly Pacer.
No more Milwaukee Road?
No more Black Mountain Road.

Go Gunnar maybe. Cheaper is something from Bikes Direct.
edit: bikes direct has no DT brazons.

A number of the makes shown have sloping T.T's and for me even though a few later makers used them would rule them out IMHO.
Best, Ben

Umm, Surly Crosscheck?
 

I mean, it's as close as you can get to a modern vintage bike. I really really really wish I'd kept mine. Other than that, I think Velo-Orange has (or had) something with the characteristics you're looking for.

https://blackmtncycles.com/frames/

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...bfc2ecdd_b.jpgUntitled

Those frames are awesome, I'm bummed I didn't jump on one while he was still selling them. I built one up for my mother and I was surprised at the quality of the frame for the very reasonable price asked. She rides a 52 compared to my 58-62 so it's not an apples to apples weight comparison, but for a steel frame with a steel fork her bike is definitely lighter than I expected it would turn out.

You might like this vintage inspired road bike by State:

https://www.statebicycle.com/collect...-green-8-speed

A few different colors are available.

I was lucky to find a second one on eBay for a very good price (it was NOS). Had couplers installed and powdercoated. Mike sent me replacement decals. Running it currently with a carbon fork though I might put the original back on at some point (which I had powdercoated to match the rest), but once travel commences, it'll be my travel bike.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5bb3dea1cb.jpg

Many members here ride bikes that are as good or better than new. At times, these bikes are sold.
If I were you, I’d post a WTB in the For Sale section. Be as specific as possible with regard to size, intended use and budget.
Lots of nice, well maintained bikes out there for a grand or less.

How cool is that!? Steel vintage-y and 1x. At $550. Not a bad start for somebody not ready to dive into the everybody-for-themselves wild world of craigslist. Looks like State is out of product till the end of the month, though.

Heckeroonie, they even have a Rick & Morty Portal bike!
https://www.statebicycle.com/collect...rtal-core-line

I haven't been barking up this tree for a while. I'm not so surprised, I guess, to see my former usual go-to's for affordable road frames all going disc and dt casing stops i/o dt shifter mounts: Surly, Salsa, All-City.

Having trouble getting on Ben's Cycle site with two different browsers, but in the past you could get a Milwaukee frameset, or complete bike from them, and the road model had a level top tube and dt shifter bosses. And was rim brake. I think they ran $700-$800 for the frameset, without too many fancy options. I got on to the site once, briefly, don't know how I got to the page that showed up, but they had a 60cm or 62cm Mwke Road True Temper Verus (4130) frame for $600 i/o $770.

Sure seems like pickins are slim, not many of us would be likely to see something like this stocked at our LBS, even pre-covid.

If OP doesn't have a month to wait for State, and if Ben's doesn't have anything in Mwke, then it's BF C&V classifieds, other forums, craigslist and ebay, I reckon.

Oh, and forgot to mention that if OP were to tell us their preferred frame size, budget and location, they could have lots of suitors knockin' on their door...