brockd15 

I just finished updating my Davidson Discovery to Ultegra 11 speed with a Dura Ace crankset. The wheels are HED Belgium with DT 240 front hub and Powertap G3 rear. I've had only one quick spin on it, hoping for more time soon.



Here's the previous build, for last year's Eroica CA.

RiddleOfSteel

Looks great in 11-speed form! Those DA 9000 cranks are beautiful (having finally seen them in the flesh). Ultegra 6800 (if that's what you're running) is an excellent groupset, something I'm slowly cobbling together to, interestingly, likely put on my Davidson Impulse at some point. There will be a lot of selling and building to sell in between now and then, but that's the nascent plan...

brockd15 

Thanks!
I'm using 6800 shifters and long cage rear derailleur with an 8000 front derailleur (I'm not a fan of the long are design with 6800). I'm with you on the crankset. The four arm design grew on me, and I think the balance of silver and black in the 9000 crankset looks great for a retromod like this.

RiddleOfSteel

Yeah, modern cranksets require a 'commitment' of sorts regarding the other components to really make it work. The 9000 stuff is all gloss, which I think helps a lot. That in addition to there being silver (paint, but we'll take it).

RiddleOfSteel

Another entry, this time a bit more traditional (ie all mechanical!). A "greatest hits" of a number of components onto a brilliant frame to build the ultimate mile crusher. So comfortable. Such a companion. Make a light, dodge around an obstacle, (safely) negotiate a harried MUP--neither you nor the bike likes being upset or inconvenienced, but handle all scenarios easily enough...and here's the kicker, within a few pedal revolutions and you're back to your normal cadence, it is in its groove and reassures you that it will take you as far as you can pedal it. It just breezes, and looks amazing doing it. A lotta joy, this bike is.

1981 Trek 710 (frame), 716 as originally spec'd, more like a 719+ now (719s were 7200 Dura-Ace that year). 2x10 7800 Dura-Ace STI shifters, FD and RD. 7400 crankset and hubs laced to MA2 rims. RX100 brake calipers join the fun, as do Soma Supple Vitesse 33mm tires and a B17 saddle.

RobbieTunes

RoS, you have definitely hit your groove. You've picked up on the "vision thing," with an eye towards what the bike will do, balanced against the esoterics, balanced against the innovation needed to pull it off. The fun you're having shows through. You rig the rig. Great work.

RiddleOfSteel

I apologize for not seeing this a lot earlier, but thank you! With race frames (which I love) in the past, it's been easy to just do a full-gas build on it. All fast parts etc, and then try and figure out what it's trying to say. As I've gone along, the realization of what kinds of pieces and what particular pieces do to performance and ride characteristics has come along, as has my preference for things. The Trek 710 is a bike you can temporarily hustle when needed, but it really grooves on rolling miles smoothly (and it really lets me know that, all of the time ). My Prologue is a super light race bike, but a lithe, sinuous one--you can crank on it to accelerate etc, but she's happiest with a more loving touch. The Davidson is something you can totally hammer on--it loves big power inputs but is a hesitant steerer unless you tell it what to do...or lower the hood/brake lever height (the Prologue "falls" into a turn very naturally by contrast). I feel like I've finally got a decent handle on the non-racing bikes (tourers and sport tourers) and have matured to appreciate what they can offer, and how I can bring what I like into a sports touring setup to complement and (hopefully) enhance the good that was already present. The 710 and the black Paramount are prime examples of great frames limited in capability by their original components. They worked well enough then, but since their manufacture, much improvement has been made in componentry, and those pieces could make a great original frameset perform even better. So the trick was/is for me, to listen and discover what the frame is all about, and work with that, blending in the wants/needs of my riding style and (importantly) riding environment to create the best version of that bike as possible.

As the Prologue, this Trek, and my Paramount are my three for sure keepers, it is good that I've figured things out as much as I have. Building the best I can do. I've always tried to 'listen' to a bike and integrously build something cohesively, but only more recently have I felt that I'm really 'getting it.' And you have said as much!

*******

Side note: The biggest thing for the joy of it all, is just being able to ride and pedal without knee pain. I've been fighting a shifty, multi-faceted knee/foot/shoe/pedal issue lately (to say nothing of that issue being a stealth one for several years running, off and on), that began in earnest in early February, as I attempted to train for an early March three day tour with some other BF members. That set in motion yet more examination and resulting experimentation with my already very dialed in setup/fit. Turns out having a heel-to-ball-of-foot difference between feet (a few mm) AND a ~5mm shorter femur really muck things up, and it can take a while to finally discover that, and then rectify it. These last two weeks or so have seen a lot of learning, as well as a lot of being bummed out trying to find a solution while greatly limiting riding due to my left knee just saying 'no' until I sort it out. But between last Thursday's initial confirmation and then today's test ride, I'm finally out of the forest and it feels amazing to have both legs feel/pump the same. It's time to ride.

brandenjs

RobbieTunes

Head-turner, nice balance. Bringing the potential out of it.

ascherer 

Andy_K 

As @Choke was explaining to Jim Merz why Campagnolo always has been and always will be superior to Shimano, I quietly kept to myself that this build was in the works. Sorry Italophiles, but I think by 1997 when this frame was made even Colnago was going Shimano.

RiddleOfSteel

In true form you found the last generation of modern era Shimano road groupsets that featured a triple! Excellent. Looks like 6700 for the brifters and RD (at least)? As an owner of same-generation 7900, I enjoy these and think they perform very well. The lever can feel like it's a lot to grab onto when braking, but it seems that geometry change (which I think they changed again on the levers at least in the next generation) allowed for more initial modularity before really clamping down. Not that anything was wrong with 7800/6600/5600, as I've found the sentiment that "the old brakes were more on-off and these ones modulate much better" to be an indication of someone who cares not for dexterity nor anything subtle.

Anyway...Beautiful Colnago! Composition is spot on, as usual. How does it ride?

[oh, and you will always have a friend in the Shimano business with me, especially the Italian-frame-with-Shimano-components business!]

noglider 

@brandenjs, bravo!

tyler_fred

seypat

Hot!

zjrog

I teased a pic of this frame on a work stand a couple years ago. Now that I am healthier, and lighter by 110 pounds (!), I am ready to ride again. The wheels are for the pic only, I am still too heavy for low spoke count wheels, but the rear is just fine on my traner... 1986 KHS Fiero, Shimano 105 5600 brifters and derrailures, FSA Vero compact crankset. Ultegra 6600 cassette, Alexrims with Formula hubs, SRAM Apex brake, WTB Speed saddle. The quill, bars and fork were from a Nishiki Prestige much like the one above, that was wrecked. Bought the bare frame 30 years ago, used from a bike shop. Built up with parts from other bikes, and other people's cast offs. It served as my primary transport for 5 years in Hawaii, took it on deployments, ridden in Perth Australia, Hobart Tasmania, Singapore... But, I let it sit after retiring from the Navy... A lot has happened these last 10 years, left knee replaced, broken back, weight gain and now losing... Of course, this is my original adult bike. My original "N+1"...

BFisher

@brandenjs, WOW! Thank you!
My modest contribution to the madness.

zjrog

Very nice! I like the mix of brifters with the Suntour components, but the wheelset sets that bike apart! I knew a guy (many years ago) that wrecked his, just like yours, that I used the fork, quill and bars from for my KHS.

nomadmax 

I broke down and put a set of Campy Bullet Ultra wheels on my resto Merckx that I use to mix it up with local racers. They do make a difference.

Andy_K 

brandenjs

Thanks guys. This bike was hanging on the wall at the LBS for years as just a frameset and Cyclone groupset with the original Araya bronze wheels. The shop had an auction and this was my only target to buy. I was going to stick with those wheels, but the rear had taken a shot on a curb or something. Had a bump in it that I could not get out. These wheels came up on the local Facebook marketplace for $50 and I snagged them quickly. Added that nice race car look.

Choke 

Ha...I don't blame you for wanting to keep that secret. Yeah, a lot of Ernesto's team bikes used Shimano, there must have been some back story to that.

Andy_K 

RiddleOfSteel

Rocking brand new Sora R3000! I'm so glad Shimano updated the STIs to the modern shape. They feel really nice. And the groupset is very clean looking. Looks great on the IM!

BFisher

Thanks, @RiddleOfSteel! I'm very pleased with the group so far.
It performed flawlessly through the end of last summer and early fall.
You were partially influential with this build.
I asked you about your Peloton last year as I was deciding my stem setup.
Very glad I went with the threadless adapter. No complaints.