Colnago Master Olympic extra lite Shimano Dura ace advice

[plasma2873]

Dear Forum,

I'd appreciate some advice:

I have a lovely Colnago Master olympix x-lite with Shimano 8/9 speed dura ace components. The problem is I live in Sheffield and the 39-23 low gear combination is just too hard for me to haul around the Peak district.

I'd love to keep the look of the bike but really want to move to a compact or triple set up with Silver chainset rather than the ubiquitous black.

My thoughts were:
1-Change to 7703 Dura ace- I have all of the components but my 7703 triple chainset needs a new middle chainring, which seems impossible to obtain. I've always found this set up hard to keep in trim.
2-Move to a Campagnolo compact chainset and bb and use 9 speed Dura ace components elsewhere on the bike. Change the rear cassette to a 12-28 or similar.
3-Something else I haven't thought of yet.

I kept the bike with a predominantly 8 speed set up as I just like the reliability of the wider 8 speed chain and it was period (1995-1997) but I'm prepared to move up to 9 speed if it helps.

The forks need rechroming too, but I need to be sure I can get them out of the frame.

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks,

Stuart

 

[hamster]

Simplest is to attack the front end as you suggest and swap to a compact.
Firstly I'd go fo a 12-28 and see how you get on. If that doesn't work then swap the chainset. There are plenty of nice 110 pcd ones out there, or use a 94pcd MTB chainset (XT or XTR?) and set it up as an Alpine double: say 44/29 with an 11-28 on the back.

I agree that indexed shifting on the front always seems more hindrance than help.

 

[FiveAlpha]

I would look for a nice Campagnolo compact - I have a bike with Dura Ace 7700/Ultegra 6500 and have put a Campagnolo compact chainset on it - I think it looks nice and it gives me the gears I need. Shifting isn't compromised either.

 

[Nob]

A nice silver Campagnolo Potenza Groupset would be a nice upgrade if you want to go a little bit modern yet keep the beauty of your colnago.

See below

 

[plasma2873]

Dear Retrobikers,

Thank you for the advice. I agree that triple chainsets are not the way to go, unfortunately this will leave me with an almost complete Dura Ace 7703 groupset to dispose of.....

Now whether to make the change to Campagnolo is another big decision.

Best wishes,

Stuart