Is this expensive - ?

[simongt]

When I was locking my bike up on Saturday, the man at the next stand was locking up a Reynolds 531 framed Bob Jackson road bike of some years vintage. During our chat; I'm a sucker for quality 531 bikes, he told me he'd been quoted £900 for new rims and a Campag drive train by an LBS. This seemed a bit expensive to me; and him, as he's going for a cheaper option. Is £900 a lot for the 'package' - ? Obviously, it depends if you've been quoted high end equipment, which on a 20 - 30 year old bike seems a bit excessive. I'd have been more inclined to make the most of the frame and go single speed. But that's me - !

 

[Lonestar]

Guy at work has a Bob Jackson 531 but I don't know how much it cost.....Probably best to shop around...Where did he go Halfords?

 

[simongt]

No Lonestar, it was a one man LBS, who it seems is more interested in flogging high end stuff than asking the guy what he's going to be using the bike for and actually looking at the bike itself, then judging what would be best for both.
Which is why I stick to only two of the many cycle shops in Norwich - and he ain't one of them - !

 

[AndyRM]

It depends entirely on the components and rims. A mid range groupset will set you back around £300. £900 suggests to me something at the higher end of the scale.

If it's a one man operation you need to factor in the cost of labour too. Call that £80 (£40 an hour, two hour job). Double that if it's a full wheel rebuild.

 

[Lonestar]

It depends entirely on the components and rims. A mid range groupset will set you back around £300. £900 suggests to me something at the higher end of the scale.

If it's a one man operation you need to factor in the cost of labour too. Call that £80 (£40 an hour, two hour job). Double that if it's a full wheel rebuild.

Good point...

 

[Apollonius]

I think the LBS is saying buy a new bike. You can get a very nice one indeed for £900.

 

[AndyRM]

I think the LBS is saying buy a new bike. You can get a very nice one indeed for £900.

You can, but I'm not sure that's what the guy is saying.

Let's round it up and call it £400 for a new groupset and £300 for a decent set of hand built wheels. That's £700 before you start putting everything together. Yes, you could do it for less, but if you don't have the knowledge, tools or time then you're going to be sat with a frame and some parts going unused for a while.

 

[contadino]

Bob Jackson makes some pretty nice frames particularly in the 80s and 90s.

You wouldn't really want to wrap haute cuisine in chip paper...

 

[raleighnut]

Have you looked at Campagnolo prices lately.

 

[winjim]

You can, but I'm not sure that's what the guy is saying.

Let's round it up and call it £400 for a new groupset and £300 for a decent set of hand built wheels. That's £700 before you start putting everything together. Yes, you could do it for less, but if you don't have the knowledge, tools or time then you're going to be sat with a frame and some parts going unused for a while.

£400 would get you an Athena groupset, which is Campagnolo's second from bottom. £7-800 for Chorus which is the next one up.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

which is probably better than shimano's 105…

 

[winjim]

which is probably better than shimano's 105…

Assuming you're referring to Athena as I just edited in the Chorus price!

 

[simongt]

But then, going back to my earlier point, it really depends on what the bike in question is actually going to be used for. If it's weekend club riding / racing etc., then a £900 upgrade is ' reasonable ' . But if the bike is an everyday working bike, then why spend that money on something that is going to be mostly in traffic etc., - ?

 

[fossyant]

Can't see an old bike needing that. £150 max for rebuilding the wheels with quality rims (done this myself). Then chain/cassette etc.

I've got a 26 year old classic bike with Dura Ace and it wasn't expensive to get new chain rings etc.

 

[Gravity Aided]

A good Jackson 531 frame is immortal, you can just keep upgrading as far as you want. Whether it's worth Campagnolo drivetrain and new wheels is in the eye of the beholder, but it's definitely worth that for some applications. For an everyday bicycle, I'd use Shimano. Higher end, but still Shimano. I've found even their low-end indexed drivetrains to be quite reliable for commuting and utility service. Sram as well.