Reviving an old bike
Discussion
My father in law finally ran out of room for new bikes so decided the best option was to give me his much loved steel racing bike from his triathlon days in the very late 80's / early 90's. It's an Argos frame (as in the Bristol based frame builder, not the catalogue shop!) and I believe it's Reynolds 735 tubing. The bike had been on his turbo trainer for years but he had the frame repainted (I vaguely remember it being blue) and chucked some bits back on it. Here's a pic:
As you may be able to see it's a bit of a mixture of more modern wheels, a period groupset (Dura Ace 7400 8 speed I think - no front derailleur however), saddle and bars along with brakes that are a bit newer and the down tube shifters have been removed. So the question is this: should I try to make it period correct by picking up some older wheels, brakes and the missing derailleur along with a new saddle (Selle Italia Turbos are still available new) and going back to the original shifters, or properly modernise it? I've no idea if a current Shimano 105 set would even fit.
As you may be able to see it's a bit of a mixture of more modern wheels, a period groupset (Dura Ace 7400 8 speed I think - no front derailleur however), saddle and bars along with brakes that are a bit newer and the down tube shifters have been removed. So the question is this: should I try to make it period correct by picking up some older wheels, brakes and the missing derailleur along with a new saddle (Selle Italia Turbos are still available new) and going back to the original shifters, or properly modernise it? I've no idea if a current Shimano 105 set would even fit.
Thanks :-) The thing is, I'd kinda like for it to have a defined role rather than be just another road bike. Going back to old school brakes, wheels and shifters would make it a different experience to my modern alloy road bike. This said, I've never experienced a steel road bike so that in itself may give it purpose. One thing it will definitely be receiving is a good clean (including degrease - my father in law loves to smear everything in grease!) and some new decals if Argos can supply something in keeping.
I think it had a 753 decal before the repaint (which was done by Argos) and it was bought from them originally. However I know it was secondhand back then so perhaps it isn't their frame? I'm sure it had Argos decals over it though. I was going to ask if I should expect any identifying marks or a serial number.
Mix it up a bit?
Shimano do nice 10-speed downtube shifters that'll go nice with a 10-speed DuraAce or Ultegra group.
Has it got internal top-tube cable routing too?
If you do go 'modern' with the groupset you may have to buy new wheels and get the dropout spacing 'cold set' wider to cope with a 10-speed hub?
Whatever you decide to do, it's a really nice bike. I love the proportions of older steel round-tubed bikes.
Shimano do nice 10-speed downtube shifters that'll go nice with a 10-speed DuraAce or Ultegra group.
Has it got internal top-tube cable routing too?
If you do go 'modern' with the groupset you may have to buy new wheels and get the dropout spacing 'cold set' wider to cope with a 10-speed hub?
Whatever you decide to do, it's a really nice bike. I love the proportions of older steel round-tubed bikes.
castex said:
What's the seatpost size? 26.8? Check under the bottom bracket. Does it have SB followed by numbers? Otherwise it could be a Peugeot.
I'll give it a better look later today. I couldn't see any sort of serial number stamped on it (I'd expected something on the bottom bracket). unless the repaint has been a little on the thick side and covered it.For those interested in the frame, it appears to have ARGOS 8741 stamped on the non-drive side of the BB. It was very hard to read though. Suspect the repainting has been a touch on the thick side. So I guess it is an Argos frame. I might email them and ask if they have any records of material used and year of manufacture.
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