Take one mid-90s Orange C16R...

[Pupp]

... ride the bejasus out of it seriously until, say, 2002. Replacing all the worn out bits on the way. Then Just hack it around for fun until it's now a bit, well, worn out in the gruppo department (7 Spd STX/XT mix).

Frame fine, fits like a favourite shoe. Want to revitalise and upgrade in an old school style. What group and where from...?

[neil_bolton]

SLX groupset, bonkers value and perfomance.

Deore V Brakes, as you won't have disc mounts, unless you consider getting the welded on (a popular thing to do if you have a steel frame).

Nuff said. No need to go any higher, as SLX is rumoured to be as light as XT and as tough as LX. But all cheaper.

[markoc]

I'm doing something similar with my P7, but going down the singlespeed route (which means living without my trusty DX thumbies for the first time in a very long while)

I'd say that e-bay is your friend if you're looking older skool, or even something from the last few years. Frankly, there really isn't anything wrong with a well set up set of v-brakes (I remember when they came along and turned the world on its head) - and there is loads out there to be had in the way of drivetrains etc.

Also, if you're going proper retro, worth checking out the for sale ads on retrobike.com (or .co.uk - I can't remember which)