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Fitting out retro bike

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  1. Min
    Member

    I took the headset off my Orbit today, it needed a new one and before I knew it, I had removed almost* everything else and have now decided just to replace pretty much everything (it is long overdue).

    I don't really know anything about this. Is it best to get a whole groupset, if so how do I know it will fit?

    Or can I mix and match a bit? I want 165mm cranks and everything seems to come with 175. The groupsets also seem to come with caliper brakes (I have canti's) and brake lever gear shifters which I'm not too sure about as they look a bit complicated to me.

    Any recommendations? I can't justify spending ££££££££s but don't want cheap gash. Quality, hard wearing kit for the technologically challenged rider. Is it possible?

    Thanks in advance!

    *apart from cranks and chainset since apparently your newfangled crank removers don't fit.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  2. steveo
    Member

    Do you want to borrow a crank puller? I take it they are square taper cranks.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  3. chdot
    Admin

    "*apart from cranks and chainset since apparently your newfangled crank removers don't fit."

    Old Campag or Stronglight or?

    Mix and match - but get good advice if mixing brands of shifters/mechs/cassettes - or are you using original screw-on (?) hubs?

    Posted 14 years ago #

  4. Min
    Member

    "Old Campag or Stronglight or?"

    I'm given to believe it is Suntour but having just checked, it doesn't actually say anywhere. They are just held on with hexagonal bolts but the thread is just a bit bigger than my crank extractor-23mm instead of 22 I guess.

    "Do you want to borrow a crank puller?"

    Thanks for the offer. I think I will take it round to the bike shop in the first instance, they may have the right tool to remove it. Or will crowd round staring in disbelief. ;-)

    "Mix and match - but get good advice if mixing brands of shifters/mechs/cassettes - or are you using original screw-on (?) hubs? "

    Cool. I was hoping you would say that. Do you mean the shifters? Yes they are just wee levers attached to the frame. Just need a bit of wire.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  5. chdot
    Admin

    "Although all types use the same one-thread-per-millimeter pitch, there are three common diameters for the dustcap threads: Campagnolo, 22 mm; T.A. 23 mm; and Stronglight, 23.35 mm. All other brands that I know of use the same size as Campagnolo.

    There is one small exception: early Lambert cranksets were threaded 7/8-inch by 24 threads per inch.)To service a T.A. crankset, you need a T.A. puller. For Stronglight, ideally, you should have a Stronglight puller, but the T.A. is usable (although it fits a bit more loosely than it should). For any other brand, you have a wider choice available. Here are some things to keep in mind as you shop among the alternatives:

    [The above two paragraphs are out-of-date; all modern cranks use the 22 mm "Campagnolo size. Stronglight switched in 1982. TA still uses the 23 mm size for the traditional "Cyclotouriste" (5 vis) model only.]

    "

    http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tooltips/cotterless.html

    SO SunTour shouldn't be a problem - UNLESS someone has tried to take cranks off before and stripped thread(s).

    Posted 14 years ago #

  6. chdot
    Admin

    "Do you mean the shifters? "

    Do I?

    Was assuming you'd want indexed with more gears than the current setup - AND controls on the handlebars.

    If you're happy with non-indexed downtube shifters then fine, but...

    Was more talking about whether you planned to use existing rear hub. IF it's not a cassette then there is much less choice in gear ratios.

    ALSO depending how old frame is might have narrower rear drop outs than newer ones with room for up to 11 gears.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  7. chdot
    Admin

    You may or may not like something like this -

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Campagnolo-Record-Strada-LF-Hubs-BNIB-/200501940502

    Posted 14 years ago #

  8. Min
    Member

    "Was more talking about whether you planned to use existing rear hub. IF it's not a cassette then there is much less choice in gear ratios."

    Oh I see what you mean. I couldn't work out why hubs would make a difference but I wasn't really thinking about the cassette although more than 8 speeds would be handy. The shifters are actually indexed but to 7 speed. Somehow it worked though. Might be more trouble than it is worth to try and change.

    And having gone out to check my chain set again, it is a TA. That explains why my crank extractor doesn't fit!

    Posted 14 years ago #

  9. Min
    Member

    "You may or may not like something like this -"

    OooOOOooo.

    Apparently my wheels are in decent enough nick so I will just go for getting them retuned for the moment and stick to an 8 speed cassette.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  10. chdot
    Admin

    "although more than 8 speeds would be handy"

    That depends.

    If you are a real racer where the 'absolute right' gear is vital then perhaps.

    Otherwise top and bottom gears are probably more important.

    Do you have a triple - that would be a different "more gears" option.

    And/or change size of chainrings.

    http://sheldonbrown.com/gears/

    Posted 14 years ago #

  11. chdot
    Admin

    How about

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270614894788

    Posted 14 years ago #

  12. Min
    Member

    Hehe cool. At least you can still get them!

    "Otherwise top and bottom gears are probably more important. "

    You are probably right. I don't have a triple chainset but I don't think this would help since I would prefer more high gear without losing the low ones.

    Right, I'm off to work out gear options.

    Thanks for your help by the way, it is very useful!

    Posted 14 years ago #

  13. chdot
    Admin

    "I don't have a triple chainset but I don't think this would help since I would prefer more high gear without losing the low ones."

    Well with TA you have plenty of chainring choice.

    And 'modern' mechs will handle big gaps/wide ranges.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  14. Min
    Member

    Okay, I have formulated a plan.

    I will go for compromise with the shifters and get bar end ones. It looks like these are generally pretty compatible with anything but if I go for the same brand of shifters,cassette and rear derailleur I should be okay? And a TA chainset (bigger than the one I have for gear purposes)and BB.

    Front derailleur seems to be a bit more complicated withframe sizes and how the wires attach and so on. I will probably just clean up the one I have and reuse it-it'll be friction shifted anyway.

    Does this sound reasonable?

    Posted 14 years ago #

  15. chdot
    Admin

    "Front derailleur seems to be a bit more complicated withframe sizes"

    ?

    You mean tube diameter?

    Posted 14 years ago #

  16. Min
    Member

    Yeah that's what I mean.

    I knew what I meant.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  17. chdot
    Admin

    "I will go for compromise with the shifters and get bar end ones."

    Why is that a compromise?

    Sounds like a positive choice.

    I used to use these

    but found that the cable rubbed/frayed/broke. Presume other models have designed this out.

    My 2 main drop-bar bikes have thumbshifters...

    Posted 14 years ago #

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