What are people's thoughts on 'retro modding' a steel frame?
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I'm a big fan of a nicely considered RetroMod, but there are a few things that can really spoil it for me...
31.8mm bars on skinny steel frames just look bulbous and awful
Most modern cranks again just heavy-looking lumps of horrible (Middleburn are always a great option)
Gaudy modern logos (as oppose to gaudy retro logos which obviously are fine!)
Quill/Ahead converters, just no, ghastly things
Unused canti stops*
Ritchey and Syntace kit is nice and simple, classy looking, or Zoom and Uno for inexpensive retroish stuff. I've found that there's a point where wider bars inhibit an older bike that wasn't designed to be bullied around - different for each bike but usually 620-640mm for a rigid, 640-680mm absolute max for a hardtail. Be interested to hear if anyone has had the same experience?
Just scrolled back to the pic - that frameset is absolutely gorgeous! Best looking bikes bar none in my opinion (not to derail the thread with that discussion!
). Presumably '96? Nice age for doing whatever you fancy! Think I might even have some champagne Ritchey Classic kit that could look good...
Same as others have said - so long as you don't take a grinder to it, it's all just garnish really, nothing's irreversible just enjoy the ride
*for anyone who's seen my Mojo, I apologise for being the very worst kind of hypocrite but it's just temporary, alright???
31.8mm bars on skinny steel frames just look bulbous and awful
Most modern cranks again just heavy-looking lumps of horrible (Middleburn are always a great option)
Gaudy modern logos (as oppose to gaudy retro logos which obviously are fine!)
Quill/Ahead converters, just no, ghastly things
Unused canti stops*
Ritchey and Syntace kit is nice and simple, classy looking, or Zoom and Uno for inexpensive retroish stuff. I've found that there's a point where wider bars inhibit an older bike that wasn't designed to be bullied around - different for each bike but usually 620-640mm for a rigid, 640-680mm absolute max for a hardtail. Be interested to hear if anyone has had the same experience?
Just scrolled back to the pic - that frameset is absolutely gorgeous! Best looking bikes bar none in my opinion (not to derail the thread with that discussion!
). Presumably '96? Nice age for doing whatever you fancy! Think I might even have some champagne Ritchey Classic kit that could look good...Same as others have said - so long as you don't take a grinder to it, it's all just garnish really, nothing's irreversible just enjoy the ride
*for anyone who's seen my Mojo, I apologise for being the very worst kind of hypocrite
but it's just temporary, alright???
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Yep that was exactly my worry - OS bars/stem looking butt ugly on a skinny frame.... :?
It is a '96, yes, and actually I'm starting to realise that I have most of the retro kit I need apart from bars and stem, so I may as well keep retro with those too...
Hints of gold are an option, as there are gold highlights on the frame around the decals, etc...
Yep that was exactly my worry - OS bars/stem looking butt ugly on a skinny frame.... :?
It is a '96, yes, and actually I'm starting to realise that I have most of the retro kit I need apart from bars and stem, so I may as well keep retro with those too...
Hints of gold are an option, as there are gold highlights on the frame around the decals, etc...
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Ritchey force lites come in silver.
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One that matches the kitchen?
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Ignore TheBigCheese don't go near that bike with any anodised CNC shite.
That's a stunning classic frame and colour tastefully moddit yes, bikes 'do' evolve but dont go over board. Your friends on here will keep you right :mrgreen:
LikeClockwork":1s2iicjl said:There's both at the back, canti cable guide and a proper V brake stop....nice!
Have some silver Avid's here, although to be fair I do have my eye on some Pauls V brakes....
Ignore TheBigCheese don't go near that bike with any anodised CNC shite.
That's a stunning classic frame and colour tastefully moddit yes, bikes 'do' evolve but dont go over board. Your friends on here will keep you right :mrgreen:
Re:
Think I have a silver Ritchey Force Lite spare if you're interested Kaz.
Also a F/L stem in white, but that's a 130 I think, and with a canti hanger.
Avid Vbrakes are my favourite Vs btw
Those Classic seatposts are good too, have one on a road bike
Think I have a silver Ritchey Force Lite spare if you're interested Kaz.
Also a F/L stem in white, but that's a 130 I think, and with a canti hanger.
Avid Vbrakes are my favourite Vs btw
Those Classic seatposts are good too, have one on a road bike
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