Budget for historical racebike project

[Bvb45]

Hi all, I'm new to these forums and was lead here by a friend from Weight Weenies, who recommended this forum for my new historical project

Been pondering about a longterm idea, where I wanna build a historical roadie bike, but I'm unsure of what budgets I'll be facing.

Main ideas:
- Create a bike that's fairly high quality, like what a low-end pro would've had available in 1980-1985 and have the same feel of how the real bikes of that era handled and was to ride.
- Not to adhere to strictly historical specs, if very hard/expensive, but to at least not "cheat" with modern tech so the bike will be at least as slow and heavy as a 1980-1985 tour bike. This is paramount for the project. Pre-1981 would be optimal, but in the general area of that year would be fine.
- Currently my deadline is ready-to-ride and train on at Spring 2013 so if some things require time to get, make and get-use-to, no problem.
- Its not for official historical racing, it's for me, for trying to rewind time during training and to feel the wings of history.

Terms of the project:
- No parts on it, whose technology were not available to top-end pros back in 1980-1985. Ie it doesn't have to be marketed by 1985, 1987 is fine if it was used by Mr.X during Tour de Y of 1985.
- It doesn't have to be an authentic bike of authetic parts, retro parts or replicas will do if its too unsafe or hard to get 30 yr old parts.
- If a certain part is largely unavailable and/or difficult to get without having it milled from scratch and/or wildly cumbersome to use today, a similar technology will have todo. Not paying fx $2000 to have a hub made to exact 1980 specs.
- Safe for long rides, up to 200km pr.day, in all tarmac terrain with abilities to withstand short cobblestones segments. No max-75kg bodyweight parts on it etc.
- Race worthy and competitive parts for the era in question. If I can hit sub-9kg's, even better, but I know the frames were heavy as hell back then so not sure what to gun for


Questions:
- How hard is it to get these replica parts today?..steel frames, hub, spokes, wheels, grouppos, cranks.
- Will I be cheat too much by using modern tubs?...or can I just pick some that are heavy enough to compensate? (I don't wanna be flatting all the time, just NOT "roll better" than they did back then)
- What grouppos and stores am I gunning for?
- Should I gun for buying actual old stuff used or go for replica stuff?
- What budget am I looking at? (£1k / £2k / £4k..Not sure if its cheaper/same/expensive'r than a 2011 tour bike's cost(minus wheels) of $4k)
- Is it possible/realistic to make a historical bike and maintain it(historically correct) or will spare parts be wildly expensive?
- Is there any paramount online ressources for such a historical interest, ie a place(other than here of cause) where one can verify that ones bike build plan isn't "cheating" tech wise?

Thx in advance.

 

[keithglos]

Welcome,
I would think that 30 year old parts would be suitable and reliable.
I have just sold one of my Italian team bikes, built by one of the finest specialists, and supplied complete, probably done less than 2000 miles, 1980 with Columbus SL, Campagnolo titanium group set, blue SSC mavics, weighed about 19 pounds, with another older frame, for £300.
The chrome was a bit rough, but this is not a slow heavy bike. The favourite tubulars were Clement special silk 6 ounce. The mavics were not light, about 13 ounces, but very strong.

The frame would have weighed about 6 pounds, but the weights were always quoted complete with forks and bearings, includng bottom bracket.

Even if the frame was replaced, parts like this would be suitable for your requirements

Keith

 

[Bvb45]

Thx Keith.

That bike...for just £300??...whoa, that's like a factor of 5 cheaper than I thought they would be, damn! :shock:
..and it sounds like a really nice bike actually.

The Campy Ti set, was that the first SR from 1973 or another groupset?
(I only found an old Titanium reference on SuperRecord's from the Campyonly website)

This is REALLY good news as my finances are and will be small(er) for the next couple of years.

19lbs is just fine. I have a modern TT bike that currently sits at just that weight, having not been slimed down yet, and that's actually a fine weight for my current skill level and the actual hills outside my residential area

----

I've done a little more research but I'm deffo no expert so pardons if these observations sound stupid or has errors in them, but I think what I would be going for now is:
- 1980/1981 or at least pre-1984 when frames started becoming too TT minded with downsloping Top tubes etc. Its for private solo rides, not group rides, but I wan't the classic roadie look and feel of it.
- Italian/French frame, Bottechia if possible, I like that companys modern bikes, but not sure if they made quality frames in the early 1980s?
(I don't wanna be too picky though)
- Wheels with Campy hubs(if possible, heard they rolled the best of that era). The Mavic SSC Blue's sounds ideal though!
- Campy grouppo just to complete the European bike package from before Shimano became dominant But that's entirely optional for now.

 

[Lazarus]

Hi BVB My Faggin is coming up to its 28th birthday. It was re-fitted with a complete Campagnolo Chorus group in 1989. Kept the 1984 Super Record Titanium BB and Super Record Hubs that came with it. Its as smooth a ride now as it was back then, with NO service history, not once, never. It was built, ridden circa 20km daily + long rides, and all this time not a squeek.

You say Campag SR hubs where the best in their time, well my friend, after you have ridden them, I suspect you might change that to the best ever made ... ever Your budget will certainly buy you a fine machine, very fine indeed. Your 1 disappointment might be that many old bikes where very light aswell as durable, hence being good to ride even now after 30years I suspect you are in for a pleasant surprise my friend when you finally get your new "old bike".

My best to you in your search, and good luck in your line of thinking, I am an advocate of training on a lesser machine. It makes you work harder, so that when you do race, the best bike you have will deliver twice as much as you are used to, for the same amount of effort. Never train on your best bike. Yours Laz.

 

[ekallus]

I think you'll be surprised by how much period equipment is still readily available, some of it even as New Old Stock (NOS).

Based on my own experiences, I would guess that you could build a bike like you describe for less than £1000, perhaps considerably less, and you should be able to source the components and frame (or indeed a complete bike) in a matter of weeks or months.

Good luck with your project.

Ernst

 

[Bastos87]

any updates on this project??

 

[monty dog]

Horizontal toptubes ruled the roost on road bikes until the late 90s, you'll find few sloping tubes unless you're looking at low profile TT bikes from the late 80s. £300 is a decent budget for a frame, but you could pay the same again for a respray so choose your frame with care. There's a healthy market and prices for Super Record parts - few could afford them in the day as they were seriously expensive for the average wage earner (or poor student )

 

[Bvb45]

Thx again for the info.

Yes, the project is still going, and I've done the research on what they had back then to deal with etc, as much as I had time to(nutrition wise, what was available etc) (cookies and bananas ).

Its just been postponed till Jan 2013 for now, as the crisis has hit me hard as well and even lousy £300 for a bike has now become a major effort to find

I hope to be back in a years time or so, but for 2012 its very unrealistic.

 

[nammonk]

project

Hi Bvb,

Sorry to hear that budget is currently an issue, but if you have time and keep your eyes open you can still find some real gems for very reasonable prices. There are a handful of marques that command high prices (Super Record, Colnago, Pinarello, etc.) but there are plenty of less prominent frames/components that are just as good. I picked up a very nice 531 bike with Suntour Superbe equipment from the early 80s for a price well within your budget. The Superbe mechs work better than Campag of the era, and the brakes are just as good if not better (IMO). Even within the Campag components, there is little to really distinguish Super and Nuovo Record, though you'll pay quite a lot more for the former.

Although it is more fun, sourcing all the components individually will be expensive --- there's a big market out there. Keep a look out for complete bikes with nice components, and try to stay a bit off the beaten track. That way you'll be able to get the feel of an 80s bike. If you like it (sure you will), you can then decide if you want to have a TdF bike.

I took this route in the early 90s when I was time trialling. I didn't like the low profiles (or the cost) so I built myself up a 1980s TdF standard Colnago and raced on that (and happily beat most of the people with their fancy disc wheels and skin suits). Much more fun that way. I've since had it resprayed and you can see the result in the "For Sale" section. Resprays are nice, but cost a lot and don't actually make you go faster though...

Good luck with the project, and I hope we'll see the results here.

Nick