A Retro Road bike with that can keep up with the modern bikes - advice please ?

[taken4aride]

So is this Dawes Horizon a good configuration (despite not being 531) for a long comfortable road trip (Britich roads mind you)? I won't be putting heavy panniers on it - just my own heavy weight of 15 stone.

 

[pigman]

The bike as it is, is quite rideable and would make a decent urban commuter. However, it looks to have stamped dropouts and cheap lugs so is quite low-rent.

And going back to the original point of your thread, this is not a frame I would be hanging modern, race quality gear on, hoping to have something comparable to a modern lightweight bike

 

[Tootyred]

"Keep your powder dry" as my dad always said. Rushing to buy will nearly always leave you disappointed after a bit more post purchase research.

Good bargains are out there and well well within your budget.

Dorris just scored a 1987 Orbit pro 531 with shimano 105 kit and new tyres for the grand sum of £80 off gumtree! We only bought it for spares for her other one, but its a fantastic condition bike.

Find something you really fall for and wait out the search.

 

[widowmaker]

"Keep you powder dry" is a saying that I have used for many years - great minds !!

 

[taken4aride]

"Keep your powder dry" as my dad always said. Rushing to buy will nearly always leave you disappointed after a bit more post purchase research.

Good bargains are out there and well well within your budget.

Dorris just scored a 1987 Orbit pro 531 with shimano 105 kit and new tyres for the grand sum of £80 off gumtree! We only bought it for spares for her other one, but its a fantastic condition bike.

Find something you really fall for and wait out the search.

I won't rush to buy - I have an average bike already - but the easy formula for me is, well, two numbers right now.... 531 and 105.

 

[Nob]

https://officinabattaglin.com/

 

[Peachy!]

I won't rush to buy - I have an average bike already - but the easy formula for me is, well, two numbers right now.... 531 and 105.

Erm…
If you do get 531, try and aim for double butted or after 1985 531c
Also most but not all 531 will still have 125mm rear spacing restricting your cassette choice.
Keep an eye out for 90’s 653 as well

 

[taken4aride]

Erm…
If you do get 531, try and aim for double butted or after 1985 531c
Also most but not all 531 will still have 125mm rear spacing restricting your cassette choice.
Keep an eye out for 90’s 653 as well

Thanks - that does help.

I've just bagged the good lady a Raleigh Clubman (ladies bike) with 531 tubing in excellent condition - will perhaps need info on that one later if I get stuck.

 

[hamster]

Re-spacing a 531 frame to 130mm from 126mm is an hour's job, with care.

However that cannot be done with 753 or 653.

 

[taken4aride]

Re-spacing a 531 frame to 130mm from 126mm is an hour's job, with care.

However that cannot be done with 753 or 653.

Soooo much knowledge from you chaps here.

Another 'modern' alternative bike I was recommended (by a local bike shop) is a gravel bike. Gravel bikes can tour well on the British country roads without much effort - yet if you want to spin across a dirt track you can do that too. Sounds quite versatile - and it's the modern competition of these wonderful vintage bikes. The exact bike I was recommended was a Brick Lane Gravel Bike. Brick Lane (BLB) use Steel frames. Over £1k mind you !

This one I think: https://www.bricklanebikes.co.uk/blb-hitchhiker-adventure-bike-version-5-2