How important is a full groupset, to you?

[Ian Raleigh]

On my Raleigh I was always being criticised for the aero brake levers & stem & headset,
reckoned I should have a cinelli stem & campag headset, there was some stuck up cycling buddies back in the 80's

The stem & headset are still on my bike but I've now ditched the aero levers, gone back to campag' levers.

Headset is Miche stem is ITM.

 

[Percybigun]

Another benefit to having a full group set, is there is less temptation to keep spending money on changing this or that!
I’ve only just recently realised buying a full group is much cheaper than buying all the bits peace-meal

 

[ManekiNico]

If you had asked me this question in 1993, the answer clearly would have been “Not one whit”. I bought this bike as a frameset in 1986 and built it up with whatever was available and affordable (often 2nd hand) from the local bike shops:

• Nuovo Record derailleur group (w/ aftermarket Bullseye pulleys)
• Regina (America?) freewheel
• Athena crankset
• NR bottom bracket
• Look Carbon PP76 pedals
• Triomphe headset
• 3ttt Synthesis stem
• ? bars
• Mismatched Modolo brakes (Mach 3 levers + Professional calipers)
• Wolber TX Profil rims
• C-Record hubs
• San Marco Concor Supercorsa saddle
• Victory/Triomphe seatpost

Apparently back then I also didn’t know about photographing your bike from the drive side with valves at 6 o’clock…

I’m in the process of restoring it and will be throwing on a period-correct mid-80s Nuovo Record groupset.