What are your rules when upgrading to more modern components?
02-08-19, 12:47 PM
#102
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No rules for me, the bikes I own just have to be functional, and make me happy to own and ride them. I don't own anything especially valuable or unique however.
My Gitane is largely original, apart from a 105 rear mech that the previous owner fitted, and new handlebars I put on when the original broke. My Peugeot Premiere on the other hand, that I've owned from new, has very little in the way of original parts left now - frame, fork, seatpost, stem, and that's it.
And isn't that the great thing about C&V bikes - after 30 or 40 years of ownership we can keep on upgrading them and the bikes keep on being reliable transport that makes us happy.
My Gitane is largely original, apart from a 105 rear mech that the previous owner fitted, and new handlebars I put on when the original broke. My Peugeot Premiere on the other hand, that I've owned from new, has very little in the way of original parts left now - frame, fork, seatpost, stem, and that's it.
And isn't that the great thing about C&V bikes - after 30 or 40 years of ownership we can keep on upgrading them and the bikes keep on being reliable transport that makes us happy.
02-08-19, 01:00 PM
#103
Banned
I bought a different bike ,
My 1 road bike has C&V components... I had on another Frame, I had in the 80's , a screwed and Glued AlAn that developed some "Lug" cracks
in 90 I got a steel RB1 frame...
My upgrade was to folding bikes with Internal gears..
My 1 road bike has C&V components... I had on another Frame, I had in the 80's , a screwed and Glued AlAn that developed some "Lug" cracks
in 90 I got a steel RB1 frame...
My upgrade was to folding bikes with Internal gears..
02-08-19, 11:00 PM
#104
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02-08-19, 11:08 PM
#105
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I'd like to amend my previous rule thus:
My choices must grievously offend at least one other rider's rule per ride.
My choices must grievously offend at least one other rider's rule per ride.
02-09-19, 01:08 PM
#106
Senior Member
About all I'm willing to 'upgrade' to new components is in the braking department. Aero levers, dual-pivot brakes and lined cable housings with slick cables. The aero levers to clean up the cockpit for a handlebar bag. Just about any dual pivot brakes are an improvement on springy DiaCompe sidepulls...
02-09-19, 01:57 PM
#107
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A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
02-10-19, 11:10 AM
#108
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I wouldn't say rules more like suggestions to myself , like for one of my first C&V bikes I changed things that made it stop better (brakes and levers) and ride better (sew up tires) and a little bling (a chromed fork and a fluted seat post)
IMG_0191 by mark westi, on Flickr
IMG_0191 by mark westi, on Flickr
02-10-19, 01:43 PM
#109
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02-10-19, 02:04 PM
#110
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I don't have any "rules" per se on this topic. Each bike has it's own vibe and I try to follow that. One of the nicest and most important "upgrades" that can be done on vintage bikes is to go to compact cranks (50-34) for obvious reasons. Here in hilly Bainbridge Island, it's pretty hard to any meaningful riding with 52-42.
I've also added modern Campy rear derailleurs, but run in "analog" mode, without the indexing, run from conventional DT levers. This is a very sweet shifting setup. I believe the JP Weigle built "concours de machines" bike uses a setup like this.
My Brian Baylis "Wizard" (now sold on) had a full on Chorus alloy gruppo with Record hubs and it was a fantastic ride, so I don't believe that any of the vintage vibe is lost with a tasteful upgrade.
In short, since you're going to ride the bike, well, it's up to you.
Has anybody tried Campagnolo doppler shifters ? They are something else. Worth a separate thread.
Mark Petry
Bainbridge Island, WA USA
I've also added modern Campy rear derailleurs, but run in "analog" mode, without the indexing, run from conventional DT levers. This is a very sweet shifting setup. I believe the JP Weigle built "concours de machines" bike uses a setup like this.
My Brian Baylis "Wizard" (now sold on) had a full on Chorus alloy gruppo with Record hubs and it was a fantastic ride, so I don't believe that any of the vintage vibe is lost with a tasteful upgrade.
In short, since you're going to ride the bike, well, it's up to you.
Has anybody tried Campagnolo doppler shifters ? They are something else. Worth a separate thread.
Mark Petry
Bainbridge Island, WA USA
02-10-19, 03:20 PM
#111
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@calamarichris . Hehe , glad you like it bro . @mpetry912 , you nailed it "each bike has it's own vibe and I try to follow that" .
02-11-19, 01:07 AM
#113
Newbie
I agree with Fahrenheit531!
I am loath to upgrade—to the point where recently the forty-ish-year-old DiaCompe brake shoes/pads on the "springy DiaCompe sidepulls" belonging to my flea-market-find Norco Monterey migrated to the equally springy Shimano Tourney centrepulls on my garbage-find Sekine after the Monterey passed away...
I am loath to upgrade—to the point where recently the forty-ish-year-old DiaCompe brake shoes/pads on the "springy DiaCompe sidepulls" belonging to my flea-market-find Norco Monterey migrated to the equally springy Shimano Tourney centrepulls on my garbage-find Sekine after the Monterey passed away...
03-01-19, 09:07 PM
#114
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One of my bucket list items is to get to the C+V museum on Bainbridge
03-01-19, 09:44 PM
#115
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Some modern stuff are just unbelievably fugly.....like those cranksets with 4 arms..... just does not look right/balanced. SMP saddles look scary ugly too......
And then there's the modern way of positioning the bars, tilted up so high to the front, combined, with the angular, small radius bend of most modern ergo bars, it's just looks all wrong...........but what do I know, I'm just a C&Ver, happily stuck in the 80's......
And then there's the modern way of positioning the bars, tilted up so high to the front, combined, with the angular, small radius bend of most modern ergo bars, it's just looks all wrong...........but what do I know, I'm just a C&Ver, happily stuck in the 80's......
03-02-19, 12:30 AM
#116
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I have two vintage bikes currently sporting Dura Ace 9000 (four arm) cranksets and SMP saddles.
I wasn't a fan of the four arm design at first but it's grown on me. There's a "silver" 5800 that's kinda satin, which I don't think is a good substitute for silver. I like the 9000 because it's silver (mostly) and black, so it kinda ties in the silver bar/stem/seatpost with modern components that are usually black.
The SMP saddles I used to not like at all, then I rode one. By far they're the best saddles I've sat on and now I even like the looks, at least of the ones with minimal passing, which luckily is what I prefer (Forma, Dynamic, Composit, etc).
Otherwise, I don't like colors being too matchy matchy, and I don't like overly big/loud/garrish decals on vintage bikes.
My only real rule is to not do anything that isn't reversible, with the sometime exception of cold setting to 130mm. Parts can be bolted on or taken off in minutes and replaced with period stuff, so no biggie if the frame is wearing something different for a while.
03-02-19, 06:32 AM
#117
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Ha, funny how tastes vary so much.
I have two vintage bikes currently sporting Dura Ace 9000 (four arm) cranksets and SMP saddles.
I wasn't a fan of the four arm design at first but it's grown on me. There's a "silver" 5800 that's kinda satin, which I don't think is a good substitute for silver. I like the 9000 because it's silver (mostly) and black, so it kinda ties in the silver bar/stem/seatpost with modern components that are usually black.
I have two vintage bikes currently sporting Dura Ace 9000 (four arm) cranksets and SMP saddles.
I wasn't a fan of the four arm design at first but it's grown on me. There's a "silver" 5800 that's kinda satin, which I don't think is a good substitute for silver. I like the 9000 because it's silver (mostly) and black, so it kinda ties in the silver bar/stem/seatpost with modern components that are usually black.
Can you post a picture of the Dura Ace 9000 on your bike? I'm considering this crankset as a replacement for an Ultegra 6800 compact. The dark gray anodized finish on that crank is really annoying me.
03-02-19, 08:56 AM
#118
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My 1988 Davidson is the other one but I need to get some pics of it since being updated.
03-02-19, 09:44 AM
#119
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Above is my latest upgrade/downgrade.
What I mean is its an early 90s frame and nothing is period correct. It has brand new components, like the drivetrain, brakes, wheels, which is the upgrade, and it has decidedly old school parts such as bars, cotton bar tape, stems and saddle. So it does run the gamut of periods.
I would not do this to my 78 Colnago Super however. I consider that untouchable and it will always stay original. This Pog was a frame I felt I could put some of my own individuality into.
