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What gruppo for an oldschool steel frame?

mclarentmclarent Posts: 784
edited June 2011 in Road buying advice
I just acquired a mint condition Witcomb steel frame and forks, a 2008, one of the last they built. I'm having difficulty what gruppo to put on it. The construction is traditional, and part of me thinks I should try and get an old campag set, downtube shifters and all. However, given that the frame was only built in 08, I'm tempted by a newer gruppo, maybe SRAM Rival or similar... Any opinions?
"And the Lord said unto Cain, 'where is Abel thy brother?' And he said, 'I know not: I dropped him on the climb up to the motorway bridge'."
- eccolafilosofiadelpedale

Posts

  • geordieindevongeordieindevon Posts: 127
    Hi
    I have got a nice Columbus steel bike built by Sigma. It's got Campag Veloce gruppo....works lovely.
    Mind you on Italian steel what else could I have on it?

    I would go campag but not with downshifters because as you state your bike is new.

    All the best with setting it up- I am sure whatever you choose it will be great!
  • dbmnkdbmnk Posts: 217
    dura ace 7700 is easily the best looking gruppo ever produced still with excellent mechanics
  • mclarentmclarent Posts: 784
    Cheers. My race bikes are all Shimano, cos I like the performance and I don't want to have to think about shifting under pressure(!) but given that this bike is unlikely to ever achieve speeds higher than "sedate" I don't mind what it would take. Was just looking around, the new campag centaur "rivals" the SRAM pricing, and has a touch more history to it, seems like a good option....

    Btw, here is a pic of what it looked like prestripping:
    5765234833_a590c821bc.jpg
    "And the Lord said unto Cain, 'where is Abel thy brother?' And he said, 'I know not: I dropped him on the climb up to the motorway bridge'."
    - eccolafilosofiadelpedale
  • canbakaycanbakay Posts: 282
    on my two bikes i chose sram and shimano but in this case i would pick campy with out a doubt. i wouldn't (personally) even look at the others.
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  • BozmanBozman Posts: 2,570
    Athena
  • rozzer32rozzer32 Posts: 3,386
    Agree with Bozman.

    Alloy Athena.
    ***** Pro Tour Pundit Champion 2018, 2017 & 2011 *****
  • goody-agoody-a Posts: 44
    I think it would look awesome with carbon campag. With steel the modern through axle chainsets makes a massive difference to the stiffness and performance.
  • VelonutterVelonutter Posts: 4,749 Lives Here
    On my C40 Colnago I run Athena Carbon, but if I was running a Classic then would run Athena Alloy.
  • Avanti RomanAvanti Roman Posts: 189
    Alloy Athena or polished Veloce
    Ribble Gran Fondo
    Boardman CX Team
    Trek 8000
    Sirrus framed 'special'

    Prev: Avanti Corsa, Routens, MBK TT, homemade TT bike, Trek 990, Vitus 979 x 2, Peugeot Roubaix & er..Raleigh Arena!
  • AnonymousAnonymous Posts: 28,799
    I'd try and get hold of 10 speed record with the alloy record chainset :)

    Failing that athena.

    Dura Ace 7700 would be good too.
  • AnonymousAnonymous Posts: 28,799
    I'd try and get hold of 10 speed record with the alloy record chainset :)

    Failing that athena.

    Dura Ace 7700 would be good too.
  • davieseedaviesee Posts: 6,473
    I don't know if it is still available in alloy but I got the alloy Centaur for my Master and very nice it looks too!

    That's the trouble with "progress". All the new gear is carbon or anodised. It makes upgrading a retro styled bike tricky.
    None of the above should be taken seriously, and certainly not personally.
  • sheffsimonsheffsimon Posts: 1,282
    http://www.campyoldy.co.uk

    For the ultimate retro bike [email protected], http://www.campyoldy.co.uk/giossuperrecord.htm with hard-censored 13-18 straight through block.
  • calvjonescalvjones Posts: 3,850
    Athena Alloy all the way.
    ___________________

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  • mclarentmclarent Posts: 784
    sounds like a win for Athena, cheers!
    "And the Lord said unto Cain, 'where is Abel thy brother?' And he said, 'I know not: I dropped him on the climb up to the motorway bridge'."
    - eccolafilosofiadelpedale
  • flasherflasher Posts: 1,627
    +1 for the Athena alloy, looks lovely on the new Holdsworth (shame about the wheels!).
  • passoutpassout Posts: 4,609
    Carbon bits on a steel frame looks wrong to me.
    I've got Ultegra on mine but campag would be nice.
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • sweenerssweeners Posts: 1
    NapoleonD knows his stuff :P

    The Record 10sp alloy chainset looks the biz and works perfectly with 11sp bits everywhere else.

    Get it in 177.5 for £80 here:
    http://www.totalcycling.com/index.php/p ... d2004.html
  • Evil LaughEvil Laugh Posts: 1,412
    Trouble with Athena is the ergos are far from elegant.

    I'd be looking at the previous generation of Campag. Chorus, centaur or veloce in alloy finish. Maybe looking for a square taper chainset and older style single pivot brakes depending on how "retro" you want to take it.

    We just rebuilt my missus' bianchi in 10 speed alloy Campag. High polish planet x wheels, chorus single pivots, leather tape. Looks the biz.
  • APIIIAPIII Posts: 2,010
    The old record square taper certainly looks the part. There is noticeably more flex than current offerings, but that's not likely to be a problem given your intended use. The bottom bracket is also pretty much fit and forget.
  • sheffsimonsheffsimon Posts: 1,282
    http://www.gbcycles.co.uk/category/57/Campagnolo

    Geoffrey Butler usually have plenty of older shiny Campag bits at decent prices.

    Good service also, have bought quite a few bits from them.
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