Advice on buying first vintage road bike?

[Canuk]

Just for fun couple o years back I bought an Old Focus Mares, the cyclo cross version with Cantis. It was a great bike and relatively lightweight, but I'd seen these cheap Chinese disc forks and thought why not. 435gr. Chunky.

Six months later in December, I went gravel bike full 180. Not only did I have very smart and brisk effective TRP on the front, I managed to convert the rear to disc with an adapter also. It could stop on a dime.

I then proceeded to take it to hell and back through a Scottish winter. It was silver grey to start with but come February it had a nice crust of white salt in every nook and cranny.

Try as hard as I could, I could not break this bicycle. The carbon disc forks took a load off the front end, and piece by piece I had it down to 19.5lbs. Not bad for full discs, 40mm tyres and SRAM Red. What a load of fun I had on the tracks and forests of the Scottish borders.

When the spring came, it was an exceptionally mild march and April, and I used the bike less and less as the better weather arrived. I eventually sold it to a local kid for a song who was getting into cyclo cross.

What a mistake!

Every 3 months or so, I scour eBay for the all Carbon Mares bikes which are mostly disc and temptingly cheap.

If you've never tried the fat tyre, 40mm lightweight ex cross bike, I'd say go for it. Certainly put a smile on my face for a whole winter, even great as a comfortable, unbreakable commuter.

Those Germans really know how to build a tough bike. Oops I'm having these Teutonic daydreams again!

 

[Nob]

Time will come when 700x23s are as hard to buy as 650c, or even 600a's

The sensible folk general keep stocks

 

[bikeworkshop]

The sensible folk general keep stocks

In a temperature and humidity controlled store - under the cigars

 

[fiveSixteenths]

What @bikeworkshop said.

That is a beautiful machine! Lovely build, great colours. Right up my alley. Given its size I would expect the tubing to be SP.

Without mudguards you *may* be able to squeeze in 28mm tyres, which I find to be a good compromise for allround use, including light gravel.

That said, nice 25mm tyres and guards also provide an attractive combination for spirited road use in less than optimal weather conditions.

I have a bike built up like that with 25mm Vittoria Corsas and like it a lot:

View attachment 955008

+1 for 25s-n-guards, thousands of reliable miles on that combination.

 

[Nob]

In a temperature and humidity controlled store - under the cigars

That’s where mind will be once the arrive

 

[LondonClassic]

I'm quite settled on 25mm gatorskins. A couple of years ago I tried 28mm. I found them relatively energy sapping so relegated them to a winter bike

I don't do tubeless. I've seen folk puncture on tubeless and it's done the job well. I've seen just as many failures down to a variety of reasons. For me to ride at 70psi with tubes is asking for pinch punctures.

I started using this Silca PSI calc a few years ago. The move out to 25s and then 28s as being the norm...well I hadn't adjusted my 'science' of pumping everything 23 and under to 100psi and 25s to 90psi.

Accoridng to the calc was I was going too high on pressure for every condition / tyre combo. The ultimate acid test of the calc was doing the Roubaix sportive (the proper one organised by VCRCT not the fundy ASO one) last year with all 50 odd KM of pave. I ran my 28s on MA40s at 60/62 psi (as suggested by the calc) front/rear with no punctures. I am 15 stone (more after curry). I can't say it was 'comfortable' given the terrain but I probably bounced less than the 5 other times I've done that ride where I whacked the pressure up because like you I was fearful of pinch punctures.

*Depends on individual weight and that of course, and road conditions.

 

[bikeworkshop]

Here are some that have caught my eye, although I can’t quite judge if they meet my requirements below. If anyone wants to weigh in, I’m all ears (eyes, rather).
1980s Cilo, Columbus Aelle https://velomarkt.ch/veloboerse/zue...-bis-chf-2000/cilo-rennvelo-80er-jahre-324982
Motobecane Jubile(e) Sport, Vitus 888 https://www.ricardo.ch/de/a/motobecane-jubile-sport-rennvelo-1288578684/
Miyata 750 SR, Miyata 1024 tubing https://www.ricardo.ch/de/a/rennvelo-miyata-cycle-750-sr-klassiker-1980-180er-leute-1286250542/
Peugeot St Gothard P100S https://www.ricardo.ch/de/a/renn-velo-peugeot-1288845488/
Peugeot P10 SA https://www.ricardo.ch/de/a/retro-rennvelo-peugeot-p10-sa-great-road-bike-1288443370/
LBS house brand, Columbus tre-tubi https://velomarkt.ch/veloboerse/zue...bis-chf-2000/columbus-vintage-rennvelo-319232
Allegro resto-mod (maybe too small?) https://velomarkt.ch/veloboerse/zue...bis-chf-2000/allegro-vintage-klassiker-304871

I’m just shy of 180 cm (5’11”) with an 87 cm PBH, so I’m looking at 57 and 58 cm frames. I don’t want a project bike. I’d love to be able to fit 28 mm tires, no less than 25 mm; I’m willing to forego fenders (either to make room or if the frame doesn’t have mounting points). Ideal set-up would be with not much saddle-to-bar drop so that the drops are in a useable position (I could also see switching to compact drops in place of the old style). This bike would be used for 50-100 km solo day rides.

No1, the Cilo
The stand out bike in the group.
Quality classic, and probably really nice to ride.

(The last one is nice, but too small, as you say)

 

[Canuk]

I'm 5'9" and a bit. So I'm always on the lookout for 55/56cm franes. Fortunately in France it's a very common sizing so the choice for road bikes or randonneurs is pretty extensive. Definitely spoiled for choice. Those Cilo bikes are the nuts. Colnago quality without the price tag.

It's weird with French builders, even quite tight road Frames will take a 25 no problem and a 28mm with no guards. They seem to adhere to the philosophy that a bike, even a dedicated road iron should be able to do a bit of everything. I use a vintage sweetie pink Gitane straight road bike for the shops on 30mm tires. It's a treat to ride after any carbon horror show!

 

[bikeworkshop]

A few decades ago, most cyclists could only afford one bike, so a few fittings and compromises were quite usual on quality frames.

 

[bagpuss]

IMHO unless you are racing why have a frame with tight angles, go for relaxed angles. Avoid toe over lap . Go for an all rounder. Depending on your age look carefully at gearing. As we get older spinning is far better.