sittingbull
Veteran
- Location
- South Liverpool
Very nice, that's the first I've seen with fluted tubing.
With a little "reverse engineering" it may qualify for L'eroica.
Unidentified steel frame
- Thread starter joshuabalmer
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
With a little "reverse engineering" it may qualify for L'eroica.
OP
OP
joshuabalmer
Regular
- Location
- Leigh
Sell off the campy groupset and wheels and stick and older set on?
sittingbull
Veteran
- Location
- South Liverpool
That should do it presuming the frame is pre '87 (I think to qualify for L'eroica).
It seems a little extreme though, I'd rather have a modern group-set.
It seems a little extreme though, I'd rather have a modern group-set.
OP
OP
joshuabalmer
Regular
- Location
- Leigh
I'm a sucker for the older groupsets. Much nicer looking IMO. Just ordered a ribble with a veloce groupset on so would be nice to experience both. May be worth making one from the frame up and letting someone else grab this as seller can't confirm builder. Or I could have a few more beers and then decide! 
sittingbull
Veteran
- Location
- South Liverpool
Just be careful of component prices if building from the frame up, particularly with sought after vintage parts. Modern group-sets shift so accurately and consistently, even those in the lower echelons.
I've got a 1987 105 group-set with down-tube shifters which work on indexing or friction, combined with a uni-glide cassette. I've owned it since '93 and the bike's been pampered. It shifts extremely well but it's not a patch on the Sora group-set on my Allez with HG cassette from 20 years later, I wouldn't expect it to be. The UG cassette is close ratio and replacements are rare and expensive (when I've looked anyway), although they do seem to last longer and the cogs can be flipped to double their service life (except the first which acts as a lock-ring.)
To some on here '87 is barely vintage. If you know what your looking for and are aware of the rear OLD/frame spacing anomalies then you could end up with a great bike. It would be interesting to see which you prefer, that or your Ribble
I've got a 1987 105 group-set with down-tube shifters which work on indexing or friction, combined with a uni-glide cassette. I've owned it since '93 and the bike's been pampered. It shifts extremely well but it's not a patch on the Sora group-set on my Allez with HG cassette from 20 years later, I wouldn't expect it to be. The UG cassette is close ratio and replacements are rare and expensive (when I've looked anyway), although they do seem to last longer and the cogs can be flipped to double their service life (except the first which acts as a lock-ring.)
To some on here '87 is barely vintage. If you know what your looking for and are aware of the rear OLD/frame spacing anomalies then you could end up with a great bike. It would be interesting to see which you prefer, that or your Ribble
OP
OP
joshuabalmer
Regular
- Location
- Leigh
Thanks for the advice @sittingbull I'll take it on board. I'm definitely the type that would get carried away! The Ribble is going to be my commuter, I got the audax. Would be an interesting comparison for me!
sittingbull
Veteran
- Location
- South Liverpool
biggs682
Touch it up and ride it
- Location
- Northamptonshire
and who bought it ?
smokeysmoo
Legendary Member
- Location
- Bolton, not very far from Nob End
Wasn't me 
OP
OP
joshuabalmer
Regular
- Location
- Leigh
Not me. Fell asleep reading........
