Retrobike New School Parts

[fatandforty]

Hi all back for another go!!!

Rebuilt my retroride a couple of years ago and now I've got another itch to scratch.

I've tried to search for thread but I just can't seem to get on with it?

Anyway do new school parts fit old school bikes? I fancy tarting up an old team marin frame (maybe even a disc conversion) but if I buy a new donor bike what are the chances of stuff fitting?

 

[gradeAfailure]

Pretty good - I toyed with the idea of fitting a full Deore 9sp groupset to an older frame as it'd all fit.

 

[jimmythefly]

Pretty much everything will fit with a few exceptions:

-Seatpost might not be the right size.
-Stem might not be the right size/type.
-Bars might not be the same clamp diameter. Many bars (and stems) now have a 31.8mm clamp diameter.
-Might need to add/remove spacers depending on BB shell width.
-The fork might have a different steerer size and length and headset type.

But basically, yes, all the cranks/shifters/BB/saddle/grips will fit fine. Canti brakes and V-brakes use the same bosses in the same location, too.

edit: also , front derailleur clamp diameter is probably bigger/may not fit from the new bike).

 

[fatandforty]

Cheers I thought that was the case. I knew there would be a few oddities but thats half the fun, no?

Now which one should I choose? The Team Marin or the Alpinestars Cro-Mega.

On another note has anyone done a front disc conversion on skinny old school forks?

 

[Whatleymeister]

I modernised my old Saracen frame (bought from here). Rides like a peach

 

[xerxes]

If it has a 1&1/8" Ahead stearer and a 68 or 73mm bottom bracket width, you're pretty much good to go. You can fit a modern A-head stem and 31.8mm diameter bars and pretty much any chainset/BB combination will fit, square taper or modern hollowtech II types. And with a suitable rear wheel you could have a 9 or 10 speed sprocket at the rear and 1, 2 or 3 chainrings up front.

Adding disk brakes is a bit more complicated, you could fit newer forks suitable for disks, but you will need an adapter or frame modifications for the rear. Personally, I wouldn't bother with disks and would fit a good set of V-brakes.

 

[NeilM]

1992 Roberts D.O.G.S B.O.L.O.X

Sram X0 2 x 10 grip shift, X9 2 x 10 F&R mech, S1400 2 x 10 crankset running in a Hope external bearing bottom bracket (with GXP adaptors). Hope XC disk hubs running Mavic XC717 rims. Bars are USE Atom, carbon, Cane Creek v-brakes, Avid SD7 levers. The only old bits are the forks, stem and the bar ends.

I have also done pretty much the same thing with my daughters mid 90's Orange C16R.

Both bikes ride extremely well.

I use modern components on all my retro bikes, mtb and road. A few of the purists get a bit sniffy, but they are my bikes, so I figure I can build them as I please.

 

[Explosif Phil]

I totally agree. I try to use parts or brands available a few years after I bought the bike originally and upgrade as I would have done BITD. Personally I like to create a bike based on this. There are lots of great examples of factory standard bikes to be admired or possibly even, dare I say it, Riden lol. I joined a couple of months ago and with lots of advice from Retrobike members I am currently rebuilding my 1995 KONA Explosif along these lines.

 

[We_are_Stevo]

I use whatever I think looks 'right' for any given build...

...my blue Kili Wot developed a 7-speed Ritchey spec. as it seemed to gain a life of its own during the build; as will be seen, the red one is a considerabley more 'modern' 9-speed affair

Whilst having two cro-megas I would go with the Team Marin in your case

 

[marker]

You can get some great results fitting modern to retro frames
I have done it a Merlin and am looking at doing the same to a Rocky Mountain hammer
The old frames ride as well if not better than any modern equivalent in my opinion
As said above keep the v-brakes though