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Old 08-03-20, 06:39 AM
  #21  
abshipp 
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Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Greenville SC
Posts: 4,192

Bikes: 1975 Motobecane Grand Jubile, 2020 Holdsworth Competition, 2022 Giant Trance 29 3

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I've found that my tastes in bicycles is rather cyclical. Sometimes I like friction shifting and 5-6 speed freewheels, sometimes I want indexed integrated shift/brake levers and as many gears as I can get.

I don't get rid of parts that I remove - you can fit the drivetrain from a few bikes into a single shoebox without many issues, and it's pretty easy to switch between modern and vintage components without making permanent changes to a bike.

I do sometimes regret the 650B cantilever conversion on my 716, but I only feel that way right now since I've been loving how fast I am on my Super Le Tour 12.2, "modernized" with 8s Campagnolo Mirage levers and a modern aero-ish lightweight wheelset. Comparatively, as-built the 716 is a heavy, plodding bike but it's time to shine will come soon enough when good full coverage fenders become a welcome feature, and downtube shifters are so much easier to operate when wearing bulky winter gloves.
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