Advice on buying first vintage road bike?

[pigman]

You’ll never see me ride a gravel or mountain bike…….to old to change now……

Never say never

 

[pigman]

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!

Is Cilo French? I'd always assumed they were Spanish

 

[pigman]

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.

I could never understand the obsession with avoiding toe overlap. The CTC make a big thing of it when reviewing bikes
When one corners whilst cycling, one hardly steers, so toe overlap should be no problem. If it is you've taken the corner all wrong and are about to crash.
The only time I had problems was a generation or so ago. I'd probably supped a gallon of ale on a pre Xmas bike ride and had an oo-er situation with my toe clips catching the guard stays in the pub car park. I didn't fall, but I'm sure the beer had some input into the mishap .
In recent years, I've only had one bike that had no toe overlap. And it felt horrible. The front wheel was way out front, I thought I was steering a barge. Both my spa audaxes have toe overlap, and long may it continue. They handle like race bikes with mudguards

 

[bagpuss]

Horses for courses . We are all different with regards what we feel comfortable riding.
Try debating saddles. Earlier in this thread tyre size preference ranged from 23 upwards.
I tend to break kit so a tandem rear hub 40h was on my old audax / touring bike....bomb proof . I still won't use less than 36 h f/ r

 

[SteelNipple]

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.

I only buy used bikes and for me part of the hobby is about tinkering. And how I see it is when buying used you are essentially buying someone else's bike, so they all end up being projects because I dont want to just own someone else's bike and I don't trust the bike to be 100%. I want it to be "my bike" and fit me and the purpose I want the bike to serve, if that makes any sense. Anyways...
If you buy from a private seller you'd want to check that nothing is loose and there is no play in BB, hubs, HS, pedals etc. On longer rides comfort is the key and getting the frame size right is important as stem, bars, seat and saddle height can maybe be adjusted to get the position right. Is there any stores near you that sell vintage bikes? Maybe think about buying from a bike shop as they propably can help you to set the bike right.

Here is some I found.
https://velomarkt.ch/veloboerse/luzern/rennvelos/rennvelos-bis-chf-2000/rennrad-324431
https://velomarkt.ch/veloboerse/zuerich/rennvelos/rennvelos-bis-chf-2000/cilo-prestige-310837
https://velomarkt.ch/veloboerse/bas...elos-bis-chf-2000/cilo-knobel-rennvelo-307559
If you really want something vintage that Legnano looks great. But I would maybe get that Cilo Prestige because of that SLX frame.

 

[SteelNipple]

Is Cilo French? I'd always assumed they were Spanish

Cilo is Swiss. Fun thing is they were never sold here, but I found one in a skip on a small island over a 1000 miles away from Switzerland.

 

[pigman]

Horses for courses . We are all different with regards what we feel comfortable riding.

So true.

On a tangent to my post (rant?) the other measurement I can never get my head round or see the importance of is bike stand-over height. If it fits whilst you're riding, it fits.
Moser's hour record bike must have the worst stand over height ever

 

[highlandsflyer]

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.

You seem to be looking at 56 frames too, which makes sense. I find I can get comfy on 56-60 or so, (and happily ride smaller and larger still), with just a slightly higher pubic bone height of ~90. It's not an exact thing, so getting a leg over a few bikes is usually the best way to judge.

You're not looking for a project, but don't discount frame only deals if you want a particular 'bike' or don't want to settle for someone else's wheel choice, etc. Saying that, you have some solid choices in your list and a ready to ride bike is well inside your budget.

 

[bikeworkshop]

I could never understand the obsession with avoiding toe overlap.

It's 2006,
track stand at traffic lights on your fixie,
Little cap on backwards,
casual shirt,
cards in the spokes...

Oh how they laughed.

Toe overlap is a disaster!

 

[non-fixie]

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.

57-58cm frames will be too small for you, if you want not much saddle to bar drop.

My cycling inseam is 89cm, and I generally ride 62-64cm frames. Check out the pics I posted earlier of 63cm and 64cm bikes for how that looks.

Translated to 87cm that would be 61-63cm.