Neo-Retro Moser Leader AX

I've been looking for one of these frames in my size for a few years, courtesy of @anidel I found one, so selling the generic carbon road bike and building this up with modern parts. Having said that I'll be sticking with the quill stem (crowd cheers).

I've sourced a Campag expanding seatpost but planning on modifying an inline Thomson Elite jobbie to improve position and weight - although no priority with this build. Groupset-wise I'll be migrating most of the parts from this, but like the idea of fitting a modern silver groupset further down the line. Potential options are:

Shimano 105 5800 silver

Shimano Ultegra 6800

Sram Red/Rival mix:

Campagnolo Athena 11:

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'cause you'll be most probably keeping the Dura Ace headset (as the steerer tube has been cut for it :/), probably the Shimano groupset is the way to go?
If you want I think I still have the original Shimano 105 1" Threaded Headset HP-5501 Silver headset that came with the frame.

Otherwise my vote goes for the Campy.

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Thanks for the offer, but think I'll keep the DA headset for now. Slightly torn between functional Shimano vs bling factor Campy but sure I'll have long enough to think about it.

For the cockpit leaning towards black Nitto pearl and silver Soma Highway One bars but open to suggestions!

105/ultegra actually looks neo-retro on older frames whereas campag just looks retro... but then i do just prefer shimano.. ;-)

Silver 105 is a bit boring for this IMO. 10 speed campag could look good in the non-silver department and OG Sram RED (10 speed). Otherwise silver Rival.

If it was me I'd go 7800 mainly because I am obsessed with that group atm.

Defo needs Nitto Noodle-esque bend bars. White saddle and tape.

Beautiful frame. Campagnolo, please.

@JT noted and understood

@amey like the sound of DA 7800, although with my OCD the cables not being under the bartape will eat away at me, so would likely upgrade the shifters.

@MrMister hmm

athenonze

https://instagram.com/p/BFMfWmlPVbw/

White saddle looks good.

I guess I just couldn't bring myself to put Shimano on a frame with costruzioni telai speciali written on it. Dura Ace looks good but it would just bother me, for no real reason. I get night sweats about having German tyres on my bike.

Naa it is ok :-) many rode it Shimano. At some point this bike had a Shimano groupset on it as its steerer tube was cut very short (and we all know Campagnolo headset are tall)

White saddle and bar-tape is the go-to combo for late-vintage era steel, I feel. And if you end up opting for black rims then a black quill stem to complete the look.

Interesting that you've posted a picture of that Concorde, because I saved the very same picture in my 'Random Bikes' folder on my laptop. Note how the prevalence of chromed/silver parts permits the inclusion of a black saddle.

I think MrMister meant to imply that it just felt wrong, not so much that it was a problem functionally. I must admit, I get a nice warm feeling inside from knowing that I have Campag fitted on my Fondriest; it feels right.

That's exactly it. I'm sure it would function perfectly, I just wouldn't have the same warm feeling as you describe. A bit like going for sushi and having a Heineken with it.

That said, what Anidel may have been alluding to was that Gianni Bugno/Gatorade rode these bikes with Shimano, so if you wanted to make an exception you could?

campag campag campag

Basically any retro build with flouro accents needs to follow Breso's Nag imo.

Spendy. :o)

@The_Kindness_of_Trees My initial hunch was: black flite, black stem. silver bars, white tape, open pro CD's. I've seen blue tape pulled off well but think it probably works better on earlier models.

@MrMister I'm imagining this is the same 'fizzy root' feeling James May talks about

@Ordinata Quoted for posterity

I wish I hadn't Googled 'fizzy root James May'.

With the chrome forks, chain stays and seat stays, I'd be inclined to stick with silver wheels. You could probably get away with neon pink tape too.

Saying that..

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😀

Vintage Campag cranks and then your groupset of choice imo - Shamals with the pink decals would look perf.

That Leader AX is the very same frame I was about to get in stead of this one I sold to Jambon. Actually that's his picture :)

That bike is my friend's Lanfranco who crashed it into a stupid driver's car and now's fighting the insurance. He's the one who sent me the tape and saddle I've had on the frameset @jambon is now building here.

Another one for inspiration:

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=222083089867&globalID=EBAY-GB

I've seen this one listed online, paint looks great. Find the campag logo interesting on the drops out - don't have this on mine.