Funny you should mention it. I was just out this evening on my 1972 Follis model 172 set up for touring/ commuting. Most parts are classic or classic type, but no attempt to keep the bike 100% original. Frame, Nervar crank, Simplex RD and shifters and (believe it or not) SunTour 7 FD are original, as is the Pivo stem. Engraved Pivo bars are a period-correct upgrade. But the wheels are early/mid 80's right at the end of the CR timeline - Campy Ypsilon aero rims on Miche Competition hubs. Actually built up (I think) in the late 80's with DT butted spokes. Panaracer Pasela 28 x 700C tires. I tried 32 x 700 Paselas, but kept getting pinch flats, I think these rims are just too narrow for 32 mm tires. Since I went to the 28 mm tires and 19-25mm tubes, no more problems.
SKS mudguards, certainly made after 1983 (a couple of decades after) but I think components as well as frames can be KOF. Same story with the Zefal HP pump - works twice as well as any pump available in 1983, but still looks classic. Thin plastic bar tape, made in Taiwan, but very much like the classic Hunt-Wilde. Velox bar plugs, made maybe 5 years ago but virtually identical to those made 30 years ago.
TA road pedals, again maybe 5 years old but the design is decades old. Brooks Pro small rivet saddle. Actually late 90's production and more like "medium rivet" as the copper rivets are smaller than Team Pro but larger than late 60's/ early 70's Pro.
The cables and housings are modern, teflon coated cables and lined housing. I never agonize about this. Modern cables and housings are just plain better and you have to be a foot away to tell the difference. There is a limit to how anal one should get in the name of originality. And the Weinmann 500 SP's have Malthauser pads. Finally Sigma Sport wireless computer, because I like to keep track of miles logged, even if they are much fewer than I'd like. Wireless does less to clutter up the classic look.
I think this is what Grant at Rivendell used to call a BOBish bike. Mostly classic or classic inspired, but using modern bits where availability or just common sense dictates. I think most CR members have at least one or two bikes like this. Won't win any prizes at the shows but tend to actually get ridden more often the the 100% original showpieces.
Regards,
Jerry Moos Big Spring, Republica de Tejas
Steve Leitgen <sleitgen@charter.net> wrote: My marriage of the classic and the modern includes Shimano spd pedals and a Nitto angled riser stem. I put the downtube shifters just a smidge higher so they aren't quite the reach. 28 mm tires on modern Mavic rims, Campy SF hubs. Modern bar tape completes it. The rest is mostly french. Simplex derailleurs and retro friction shifters, Mafac Comp brakes. I used an Avocet triple crank. Classic old Raleigh Team Record is now a very comfortable rider. The eclectic combination of parts might offend some but since I am the original owner from 1978 and it came as a frame, original parts are whatever I say they were.
Steve Leitgen
LA Crosse, WI USA
On Sep 25, 2006, at 7:50 PM, Craig Ryan wrote:
> Yes, nice observation and it brings up a very good point. What is
> the best
> way to make an older bike more useful/practical for serious riding?
> What are
> the concessions we can make that would keep the spirit of the age, but
> provide better service. I know many would say that the old is great
> and it
> shouldn't be changed in any way. But are we willing to trust those
> 30 year
> old pedal axles for the stomping we'd like to give them? And how
> about that
> nice looking stem? And best of all, how can we best take that
> racing frame
> with a 15cm saddle to bars drop and get it to fit our "mellowing"
> body. At
> what point are we going too far? Tires, wheels, pedals, bars? I have a
> couple of bikes I can only use to cruise on would never think of
> taking on a
> training ride. But it would be really neat to be able to trust them
> on a
> hard ride. I'm interested in what people think.
> Craig Ryan
> Noblesville, IN USA
>
>
> On 9/25/06 8:22 PM, "Bianca Pratorius" wrote:
>
>> I was out riding last night when I happened upon another cyclist who
>> lives in my neighborhood. He usually is found atop a high end Obrea,
>> but he has mentioned a few times his love of old steel, and his
>> preference for the feel and ride. On this day he rode up on a
>> completely overhauled Raliegh from the late 70's or early 80's I
>> would
>> guess. The bike was stripped down for a good DIY garage paintjob and
>> painted in that sparkly kind of paint that I usually find a little
>> harsh. I'm talking about the paint that has the little metal flake in
>> it. This paint job was a deep but not dark blue done without any
>> decals
>> and it only retained the Heron headbadge for an instant
>> identification.
>> This was obviously an upper level Raliegh as could be told by a quick
>> look at the decent lugwork. The brakes were the original non aero
>> Weinmann's as was the stem an original too. The specialness of the
>> look
>> came together from the ultra modern wheelset in deep v silver
>> configuration. The tires were almost the same deep blue as the paint
>> and the bar tape was a nice medium blue cotton style. The crank was a
>> nice older Stronglight. The overall look was of a unified blue souped
>> up version of the original. Stunning was all I could think, even
>> though
>> I am usually not fond of altered older bikes. This marriage of old
>> and
>> new got me to wondering ....
>>
>> Garth Libre in Miami Fl. USA