Globalti
Legendary Member
I am 99% a MTBer but a couple of years ago I wanted a road trainer so I bought an old Peugeot 3000 Performance road bike in absolutely pristine, almost unused condition for £150. It is definitely an old model entry-level bike with shifters on the downtube and cheap soft alloy wheels. I replaced the comedy Bio Pace cranks with a Shimano 34/50 Compact, which is fantastically stiff and ended up with a nice old road trainer which for me at least is exhilaratingly fast compared to an MTB, but has a good wide range of gears for spinning up the Lancashire hills. Total expenditure: £ 210.00
Then last month someone offered me an old Harry Hall racer also in immaculate condition with more modern, compact geometry, Columbus SLX tubing, good Mavic wheels, STI and a Flite Ti saddle, all for £150. I bought it and spent another £70 on new tyres, cables and bar tape. Total expenditure: £220.00
Now I have discovered that there is a fault with the RH RSX shifter; it's reluctant to drop down to a smaller cog. It seems like the cable tension isn’t enough because when you pull the cable the derailleur works fine and the shifter clicks through its positions okay. My local Shimano agent tells me there may be a knackered spring in the shifter and I will probably need to spend £80 - £90 on new shifters. (Though he would say that.) I would also like to replace the 39/52 Campagnolo cranks with the same Shimano 34/50 I fitted to the Peugeot, which would give me better hill-climbing gears. Alternatively I guess I could fit a smaller ring to the existing cranks.
I am advertising the Peugeot in the local rag tomorrow and I’m sure I will get lots of calls. But now I’m beginning to regret everything I’ve done and to wonder if I shouldn’t have just been content with my old fashioned low-tech Peugeot, which was comfortable, fitted me fine and rode nicely even though heavy and not as nice handling or as the Harry Hall. On the other hand the HH is a classic bike, which probably cost nearer to £1000 when it was new. It was built in the basement of one of their several shops in Manchester, they tell me.
So what advice would you give me? Most of you know a lot more about road bikes than I do. Should I stick with the old Pug or persist in spending money on the Harry Hall?
Then last month someone offered me an old Harry Hall racer also in immaculate condition with more modern, compact geometry, Columbus SLX tubing, good Mavic wheels, STI and a Flite Ti saddle, all for £150. I bought it and spent another £70 on new tyres, cables and bar tape. Total expenditure: £220.00
Now I have discovered that there is a fault with the RH RSX shifter; it's reluctant to drop down to a smaller cog. It seems like the cable tension isn’t enough because when you pull the cable the derailleur works fine and the shifter clicks through its positions okay. My local Shimano agent tells me there may be a knackered spring in the shifter and I will probably need to spend £80 - £90 on new shifters. (Though he would say that.) I would also like to replace the 39/52 Campagnolo cranks with the same Shimano 34/50 I fitted to the Peugeot, which would give me better hill-climbing gears. Alternatively I guess I could fit a smaller ring to the existing cranks.
I am advertising the Peugeot in the local rag tomorrow and I’m sure I will get lots of calls. But now I’m beginning to regret everything I’ve done and to wonder if I shouldn’t have just been content with my old fashioned low-tech Peugeot, which was comfortable, fitted me fine and rode nicely even though heavy and not as nice handling or as the Harry Hall. On the other hand the HH is a classic bike, which probably cost nearer to £1000 when it was new. It was built in the basement of one of their several shops in Manchester, they tell me.
So what advice would you give me? Most of you know a lot more about road bikes than I do. Should I stick with the old Pug or persist in spending money on the Harry Hall?
