JackJohn

For your ideal vintage road bike, what would you pick as your BEST 60s-70s-80s components? No constraints applicable, just picking your “dream team” parts without worrying about period-consistency, compatibility, money, etc. For example you might want Simplex retrofriction shifters with Suntour Cyclone rear derailleur, Campagnolo SR crankset, Shimano Dura-Ace calipers, and so on…
I’ll aggregate the votes, curious to see what comes out…

~~~~~~~~

POLL RESULTS:

• SHIFTERS:
  • 4 Simplex retrofriction
  • 2 Suntour Bar-Con, Campy (Nuovo) Record, Dura Ace 7400x
  • 1 Campy retrofriction, Retrofriction, Dura-Ace, Suntour Symetric, Dura Ace 7200, Suntour ratcheting, Suntour Superbe (Pro), Shimano 6207
• REAR DER.:
  • 4 Suntour Cyclone
  • 2 Campy (Nuovo) Record, Suntour Superbe (Pro), Dura Ace 7400x
  • 1 Dura-Ace, Suntour Mountech GTL, Campy Record 60s, Dura Ace 7200, Huret Duopar, Suntour Vx-S, Shimano 6207
• FRONT DER.:
  • 4 Suntour Cyclone, Campy (Nuovo) Record
  • 2 Suntour Mountech, Suntour Superbe (Pro)
  • 1 Dura Ace 7400, Dura Ace 7200, Mavic SSC, Shimano 6207
• BRAKE LEVERS:
  • 3 Campy (Nuovo) Record
  • 2 Shimano 600, Suntour Superbe (Pro), Shimano 105 SLR
  • 1 Modolo Professional, Campy C-Record, Dura Ace 7400, Dia-Compe AGC, Dura Ace 7200, Dia-Compe 202 New Gran Compe, Mafac Racer
• BRAKE CALIPERS:
  • 3 Mafac Racer, Campy (Nuovo) Record
  • 2 Suntour Superbe (Pro)
  • 1 Modolo Professional, Shimano MC70, Dura Ace 7400, Dia-Compe AGC, Dura Ace 7200, Dia-Compe 450 New Gran Compe, CLB Professional, Shimano 1050
• CRANK:
  • 5 Campy (Nuovo) (Super) Record
  • 2 Dura Ace 7400x
  • 1 TA Cyclotouriste, TA Pro 5 Vis, Sugino AT,Sugino Aero Mighty, Dura Ace 7200, Stronglight 49D, Sugino Mighty Tour, Suntour Superbe (Pro), Shimano 6207
• PEDALS:
  • 5 Campy (Nuovo) Record
    4 Suntour Superbe (Pro),
  • 1 MKS Sylvan, Dura Ace 7400, Sugino Aero Mighty, Dura Ace 7200, SR SP-11, Specialized Touring
• BOTTOM BRACKET:
  • 3 Campy (Nuovo) Record
  • 2 Phil Wood, Suntour Superbe (Pro)
  • 1 EDCO Competition, Dura Ace 7400, Dura Ace 7200, OMAS Big sliding, Shimano 6207
• HEADSET:
  • 9 Stronglight Delta/A9
  • 5 Campy (Nuovo) Record
  • 1 Suntour Superbe (Pro)
  • 1 Dura Ace 7200
• HUBS:
  • 7 Campy Record
  • 3 Suntour Superbe Pro
  • 2 Phil Wood, Mavic 500-550, Dura Ace 7400x
  • 1 Suntour Superbe, Dura Ace 7200, Maxi-car, Omas (Ti)
• FW:
  • 4 Suntour Winner Pro
  • 3 Dura Ace 7400
  • 1 Suntour Perfect, Sachs 6 speed
• RIMS:
  • 3 Mavic GP4
    2 Super Champion Mod. 58,
  • 1 Mavic MA2, Galli anodized, Mavic Open Pro, Super Champion Gentleman, Mavic 330, Wolber Super Champion Alpine
• SEATPOST:
  • 4 Campy two-bolt (Nuovo) (Super) Record
  • 2 SR two-bolt/Royal, American Classic
  • 1 Sugino, Dura Ace 7200, Suntour XC Pro, Gipiemme aero, Dura Ace 7400x, Suntour Superbe
• SADDLE:
  • 3 San Marco Rolls
  • 2 Brooks Swallow
  • 1 ConcorProfile, Brooks B17, Brooks, Brooks Professional, Ideale 90, Selle Italia Turbo, Concor

steelbikeguy

The "best"?
That seems pretty subjective, but in the interest of generating some discussion, let me toss out one candidate.

This is the Stronglight Delta headset. Like the nearly identical A9, it is a lightweight but robust design based on the use of roller bearings.
The bearings and some conical washers are steel, but the rest is aluminum.





I've got two Deltas and one A9 on my bikes, and they have been great!
Two have over 50,000 miles on them, and the A9 has seen much less mileage on my Raleigh Team bike...



The only downside is that there is a bit more drag when the fork turns left and right. This can be a positive if there is a shimmy issue on the bike, but it does make it less clear when the bearings are adjusted just right.

These Stronglight headsets are no longer in production, but I believe there are some similar ones still being made

Steve in Peoria

JackJohn

Txs Steve, yes 100% subjective!!!
I will sum up the votes for each component in my initial message, hopefully we’ll see enough contributions to have a significant conclusion for the poll…

Erzulis Boat 

SHIFTERS: Dura-Ace
REAR DER.: Dura-Ace
FRONT DER.: Mavic SSC
BRAKE LEVERS: Modolo Professional
BRAKE CALIPERS: Modolo Professional (aftermarket shoes)
CRANK: Super Record
PEDALS: MKS Sylvan (new prod)
BOTTOM BRACKET: 2000ish Chorus
HEADSET: Nuovo Record
HUBS: Record
RIMS: Mavic GP4 tubular

panzerwagon 

Alright, I’ll play:

SHIFTERS: Simplex retrofriction
REAR DER.: Suntour Cyclone
FRONT DER.: Suntour Cyclone
BRAKE LEVERS: Campagnolo C-Record
BRAKE CALIPERS: Suntour Superbe
CRANK: TA Cyclotouriste
PEDALS: Suntour Superbe, Christophe clips, Binda straps
BOTTOM BRACKET: EDCO Competition
HEADSET: Stronglight A9
HUBS: Campagnolo Record HF
RIMS: thin and shiny, don’t care what
FW: Suntour Winner Pro

Had 70% of this on my Cino bike. If I ever downsize to a single bike, this would be it. Deciding on a frame would be torture, however.

JackJohn

absolutely, will never dare to ask that

AdventureManCO 

What might also be helpful would be which version (Dura Ace...7401, 7402, 7410, 7700, etc).

abdon 

A: the best to do what? I'm into touring so my components would be considered garbage to a racer.

B: the time range is just too broad to be meaningful. It is biased towards the latter years where all manufacturers kept improving components. Heck 1984 alone was a seminal year when the suntour slanted parallelogram parent expired and just about everybody jumped into that bandwagon.

My vintage bikes are not better than modern bikes. I just like them better than better bikes. Same for the components.

mpetry912 

the Stronglight A9, best headset ever ! agreed.

other candidates for the list: : TA Carmina cranks, Campagnolo "Doppler" shifters, Dura Ace MF-7400 Freewheel

etc etc

/markp

bikingshearer 

The one part I am 100% certain about: the old Campy two-bolt seat post. With the correct wrench (meaning a ratcheting 10mm closed-end, swivel head preferred but not essential), setting up the seat is a low-grade PITA (without the right wrench, it is a medium- to high-grade PITA). But it is truly micro-adjustable in a way that no one-bolt design is and once set, it will not slip, Period. When I was starting out, a Campy seatpost was the ne plus ultra, and any non-French bike worthy of attention had one. I still remember how thrilled I was to get my first one, and seeing one on one of my bikes always reminds me of that thrill. The more modern Nitto S83 (with the two allen bolts on the bottom) works as well and looks good, but it doesn't scratch that nostalgia itch the way the Campy one does. At least for me.

70sSanO

The younger me already went through this with Dura Ace 7400/7401 drivetrain and brakes, pedals, and Suntour Superbe Pro hubs.

I have also run Suntour Cyclone which is great, but DA edges them out.

My current road setup, on the same frame, consists of Ultegra 6503 crank, 7700 hubs, and XTR M900 derailleurs. For me the XTR M900 are DA on steroids as I’m running 14-36 8 speed with downtube shifters.

John

RiddleOfSteel

Race bike:

Shimano Dura-Ace 7400 7-speed ~1988 which would come with 7402 levers, my absolute favorite.
Shimano 6400-era 600, 7-speed as well. Both full groups, including hubs and headsets. I have 7s 6400 on a bike right now. Beautiful aesthetically and functionally. Not that expensive either.
Suntour's Superbe Pro peak would be the very early 90's with 7/8-speed Accushift Plus, which I've more or less had and really enjoyed, but for the sake of 60s/70s/80s classification, it gets left out.

Touring bike: all-80s all the time

SHIFTERS: Retrofriction shifters (classic looped teardrop shape) with no label/engraving
REAR DER.: Suntour Mountech GTL (longest cage) or Superbe Tech GTL RD (which I've had, are wonderful, just require a weird cable routing...--honorable mention)
FRONT DER.: Suntour Mountech (gotta match!)
BRAKE LEVERS: Late-'80s Suntour Superbe Pro aero levers
BRAKE CALIPERS: Shimano MC70 cantis (match the Suntour/Sugino/Dia-Compe gang better)
CRANK: Sugino AT, 175mm length
PEDALS: Shimano Dura-Ace 7810 or Ultegra 6620 SPD-SL pedals (sorry, need it for the knees!)
BOTTOM BRACKET: Suntour SA (Superbe or Vx), adjustable chainline
HEADSET: Suntour Superbe/Superbe Pro (Tange Levin/Campy NR-esque style)
HUBS: Suntour Superbe Pro FW hubset (mid to late-'80s)
FREEWHEEL/CASSETTE: Suntour Perfect/Compe/Winner wide-range 6-speed (12/13T - 28/30/32t)
RIMS: Mavic MA2, 700C, 32H, polished

This means I really need to find a 1983 Trek 720....

JackJohn

agree 👍

JackJohn

Still have to find that wrench… not that I searched much admittedly…

bikingshearer 

Most hardware stores will have one, Thye are also readily available on line. With a Brooks or Ideale saddle, you can usually work the nuts from the side. For most others, go in from the back - the range of motion will be small, but the ratchet makes quick work of it. Make sure the ratchet end is 12-point, not 6-point, to amke sure you can get the initial grip on the nut.

nlerner

https://www.amazon.com/Flex-Head-Rat...8CKVB9GL/?th=1

79pmooney

The Campy "Z" wrench also works well. Just not as fast. I believe it will do a Brooks Pro from the side. I think I can still find mine if somebody wants it.

The post that fits the C&V style perfectly though is in production now (I believe) is the lugged steel Nitto with its ton of setback. Elegant, a lot lighter than it looks (makes the old NR feel like a boat anchor) and is a joy to set up and use. Beautifully made. My Mooney is wearing one.

JackJohn

Thanks guys, I always had the Campy 771 “Z” wrench in mind but never crossed path, in alternative the ratchet/flexible-head one on Amazon will do. 79pmooney if you have that campy 771 I’ll be interested.

JackJohn

Anyway, back to the poll: updated results in the initial post…

bikingshearer 

Two more parts have come to mind:

Saddle - San Marco Rolls, especially the Titanio, but the steel-railed version is more than fine. Rolls saddles are on all my bikes because they just work for my butt. Saddles are the ultimate YMMV component, but once I found the Rolls, I stopped looking.
Shifters - Suntour barcons. They shift better than any other friction shifter I have encountered (Suntour Power-ratchet down tube shifters work as well, but they are on the down tube and I don't want to have to reach that far any more), the are easy to work on, and they look good.

mpetry912 

do an ebay search for "10mm flex head ratchet wrench" and you'll find a number of choces. these work even better than the campy wrench.

I like to set the saddle angle with the front bolt and then tighten the rear bolt till snug.

as for the "best vintage components" I built this bike (853 frame by Kevin Sayles) with best of everything vintage gear including Phil hubs, Paul centerpull brakes, Campagnolo derailleurs, TA Carmina cranks, etc. I rode this bike today as a matter of fact. Very nice ride.

/markp

georges1

road bikes
brifters for all other road bike projects : Dura Ace ST-7801
shifters on two bikes: Dura Ace SL-7900
brave levers for two bikes : Dura Ace BL7410
bottom bracket: Dura Ace BB7700/BB7800
crankset: FC7700/7800 on four steel road bike frame , carbon cranks on four alumnium road bike frames and one steelroad bike frame
brakes: Dura Ace BR 7700 on my Peugeot Prestige, the rest of the bike BR 7800
front derailleur: Dura Ace FD 7700 on the Peugeot for therest ofthe bikes FD 7800
rear derailleur: Dura Ace RD 7800
cassette: Dura AceCS 7800 on all bikes
chain: Dura Ace CN 7800 or Ultegra 6600
headset: the Grandis , the Pinarello and the Coppi have a Campy record headset, the CT Wallis a Modus headset, my Vetta a Stronglight XD94, my Peugeot a Cane creek headset,my Veneto a Campy record heaset, my Trek a Tange Levin, the Cannondale will have a Cane Creek, the Daccordi will get a Campy Record headset since the Chris King was defective
saddle: Flite or Turbomatic 2/3 or Century
wheels: Most of my steel road frames will get mavic Cosmic Pro, my Grandis will get my Mavic Cosmic Expert, my Vetta the Mavic CosmicCarbon first generation my CT Wallis will get the Mavic Helium,my road aluminium frames Zipp 60 and 404.
pedals: older look delta
seat post: Dura Ace 7402/7410/Look Carbon/ Easton Taperwall/Flite Carbon
tube: slime tubes
tires: conti grand prix 4 seasons

mountain bikes
shifters: Shimano XT SL T8000 on all of the bikes except the Gary Fisher
front derailleur: Shimano XT FD T8000 L Top Swing on the Merida, Scapin, Jamis /Shimano XT FD T8000 H Down Swing on the Kona, Trek6700 SLR and Trek 6500SLR/Shimano XTR FD T980H Down Swingon the Gary Fisher
rear derailleur: RD XT 780 T on all of the bikes except the Gary Fisher which gets the RD XT 980 M Shadow derailleur
brake levers:XT BL 780V on all bikes
V brakes: XT BR-T780 on all bikes
pedals: Shimano Deore XT-PD8000T on the Trek 6700SLR, Trek 6500SLR, Gary Fisher and Giant Bronco/Shimano Deore XT-PD780T on the Kona, Scapin and Merida
rims: Mavic D521 which be laced to Hope hubs with DT Aerolite spokes and Conti Race King tires for the Trek 6700SLR, Trek 6500SLR and Gary Fisher, the Giant Bronco will haveMavic Crossmax Mk 1 Wheels with Hutchninson Python Gold Tires, the Kona, Scapin and Merida have Mavic XM819 rims laced to DT hubs and fitted with Conti Mountain King
cassette: XT CS 771M 10 speed on all my MTB
cranks: XT-FC781T and XT -FC781M exception made of the Trek 6700, the Gary Fisher and the Giant Bronco
tubes: michelin protek
tires: continental race king or mountain king

79pmooney

Found it! (Well it's a Made in Italy Campagnolo. No model number.) Barely used. Only seen the bolts on my Fuji Pro's Hupel Rider post, then the sweet fluted Zeus post I won at Smuggler's Notch after permanently bending the Hupel Rider on a 50 mph frost heave! (Heave kicked me two feet into the air by my butt.) Pretty sweet - winning that post before I'd even noticed the bend.

But to keep this transaction proper and above board, it should be a fair trade. Do you have anything that would look in place on a sweet Pro Miyata race bike? (Currently Campy triple cranked, Cyclone FD, RD and brakes. Not perfectly period but all totally fitting in the context of '83 race. Sewups, GP4s. I think it was Superbe in its former life.) Or maybe a sweet something you'll never actually use. (Like this wrench I've carried around almost 50 years.)

Nemosengineer 

Dura-Ace 7700 crank 7800 mechs, 7900 cassette and downtube shifters.

Untitled by nemosengineer, on Flickr

: Mike

embankmentlb

The bike that lives in my dreams:
3rensho Aerodynamics
Suntour Symetric shifters
Suntour Cyclone front and rear derailleurs
Sugino Aero Mighty crank & pedals
Sintour Superbe hubs
Diacomp AGC brakes and levers
Sugino stem and seat post
Galli anodized rims
Concor Profil saddle

All based on emotion. Based on function replace all with Shimano 7400/7700.