Vote Now! What's more important when building an old bike
- Thread starter GoldenEraMTB
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We_are_Stevo
Old School Grand Master
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I think you should have had 'Aesthetics' as a fourth option...
...I have seen some expensive bikes that look like they've been built up from a boutique accessory catalogue and turn out like an explosion in a tarts handbag factory!
On the other hand there are so-called 'low-end' bikes that have been built up so tastefully they immediately make you want one for yourself
...I have seen some expensive bikes that look like they've been built up from a boutique accessory catalogue and turn out like an explosion in a tarts handbag factory!
On the other hand there are so-called 'low-end' bikes that have been built up so tastefully they immediately make you want one for yourself
i would at least attempt to get groupset uniformity - however, once (if) this is accomplished, i'd go for some creativity 
i think we all try to budget on here, but when 'that part' you've been looking for pops up at the last minute and you just have to have it to finish it all off, the budget just dissolves into a misty retro haze....
i think we all try to budget on here, but when 'that part' you've been looking for pops up at the last minute and you just have to have it to finish it all off, the budget just dissolves into a misty retro haze....
I think I would fall into the creativity pile. Sure there is good money involved but I rarely go for a complete groupset. Where possible I go for the odd and/or boutique.
Mant of my bikes have middleburn cranks. I have a passion for the crazy bonkers products of the French firm EGS. But at the same time these things do cost!
Mant of my bikes have middleburn cranks. I have a passion for the crazy bonkers products of the French firm EGS. But at the same time these things do cost!
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Good question Rob.
I'm a bit obsessed with period correct groupset builds but also need my bikes to be very functional. I shy away from ultra-lightweight, fragile, boutique bling because I tried that BITD and most of it broke.
This has the added side effect or benefit that I'm rarely drawn to spending huge sums of money on individual parts or bikes. Thankfully.
So as well as a eye for durability and reliability, I usually have a strong leaning towards aesthetics especially where colour is concerned. I spend alot of attention on details like cable length/routing and crimps etc as well as lining up valves with tyre markings. The usual mild OCD stuff.
Ultimately I like to have period correct or period sensitive bikes which look good and perform well. Each bike has it's own subtle variations in keeping with it's character and original place in a range.
That is to say that, if it was originally a mid-range bike in 1993, I'll build it up as a mid range bike from 1993.
Personally I don't see the point of homogenising an old bike by building it up with modern parts.
I've enough modern bikes to fill those requirements.
I'm a bit obsessed with period correct groupset builds but also need my bikes to be very functional. I shy away from ultra-lightweight, fragile, boutique bling because I tried that BITD and most of it broke.
This has the added side effect or benefit that I'm rarely drawn to spending huge sums of money on individual parts or bikes. Thankfully.
So as well as a eye for durability and reliability, I usually have a strong leaning towards aesthetics especially where colour is concerned. I spend alot of attention on details like cable length/routing and crimps etc as well as lining up valves with tyre markings. The usual mild OCD stuff.
Ultimately I like to have period correct or period sensitive bikes which look good and perform well. Each bike has it's own subtle variations in keeping with it's character and original place in a range.
That is to say that, if it was originally a mid-range bike in 1993, I'll build it up as a mid range bike from 1993.
Personally I don't see the point of homogenising an old bike by building it up with modern parts.
I've enough modern bikes to fill those requirements.
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My builds are uniform mediocrity across the range - matching groupset, shiny paint (where possible) and nice parts, but boring. I like my bikes to work straight away without the chichi. I made that mistake 'back in the day' with boutique/ expensive parts exploding left right and centre.
Now, back to the current 200GS build...
Now, back to the current 200GS build...
Whatever I feel like at the time.
I work on the theory that BITD the first thing you did when you got a new bike was start fiddling and changing bits. Normally the saddle and grips as soon as got home (Porcipaws obsession)
To be honest I find totally correct down to the type of grips a bit boring for me, impressive as they are in terms of dedication.
I work on the theory that BITD the first thing you did when you got a new bike was start fiddling and changing bits. Normally the saddle and grips as soon as got home (Porcipaws obsession)
To be honest I find totally correct down to the type of grips a bit boring for me, impressive as they are in terms of dedication.
