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@SockToy
So, I'm a very new rider. This post is really me trying to understand if I understand right based on the reading I've been doing; sorry if a lot is repeats ;-p
I've been doing a small commute daily - just 7 miles in city traffic - on a relic of a hybrid for a few months, and am recovering a slightly surface rusted Rossin steel frame that I've stripped the components off and am going to get armourtex'd as a hobby project to get me and my girl out on the roads on the weekends for some longer rides. I've done basic maintenance (reindexing gears, adjusting derailleur limits, changing brake & gear cables, etc) but a whole build is going to be fun new stuff for me - especially the headset ;-p
I'd like to get the bike comfortable enough for some all day rides, looking pretty, and flexible enough for quick jaunts around town or 'fitness rides' to try and build my strength and speed for the future.
Right now it has a late 90's 9 speed Shimano Tiagra set on it. I've killed the bottom bracket getting it out (needed a lot of force), and the main chainring looks pretty worn to my novice eyes - uneven tooth sizes with many beginning to 'flop backwards' in a shark tooth fashion.
I figure at this point, new chainset. And, given the levers are scuffed and worn, with cables don't run along the bars, I'd also like to change out the groupset entirely for something that'll suit the frame with a bit more elegance - hidden cable, etc - as well as teaching me a bit more about maintenance and setup. As I said, hobby project.
It seems to me that of the groupsets available at the moment Campagnolo are the only ones to really do a modern interpretation of a classic steel groupset - the Athena - but this is going to mean rebuilding my wheels too, right? Currently Mavic OpenPro rims on the Tiagra hubs.
So; question time, any direct suggestions or websites/books to read up on a groupset, hubs, wheels, headset races and bb? I'll stick with the frame, seatpost, bars and pedals I already have, I think.
I know really nothing at all, and having sucked in a load on groupsets the basic state of the art seems to be 'outside the bargain sets, bike tech is at a level that if you're not competing they all work well'. Anything else to compete with the Campy Athena? True of hubs/rims/races/bbs too?
I'm currently noodling on a compact chainset 50/34 with a 12-25 cassette for a decent 'all round' starting range of gears - the majority of the time will be London, but I'd like to be able to take it out of town to some hilly areas too - sound about right? I guess eventually I can build a new wheel with a 'hill cassette' too, but right now I'm looking to make the bike flexible enough that I can just hop on most days and go; I guess the question is with a 12-25 cassette do I want compact front or the more typical 53/39? Thoughts?
I'm completely guessing at 172.5mm crank length (6 foot tall, 13 stone).
Final question; is an 11 speed going to be a complete nightmare of constant gear readjustments? How fiddly is it? Is this a retarded question to be asking on a forum for fixed gear and single speeds?
Oh dear.
Thanks all ;-p
Matt