Choosing a groupset & ratio for a steel frame

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

bear in mind that you may need a longer dérailleur if you were to go for a bigger cassette (says 11-28), what's the length of the cage on your current dérailleur? long or short?

your gearing sound pretty idea as an all-round ratios TBH, take it out on hilly area and see whether it's enough for you, then you can able to figure out whether you need a bit more range.

thanks Ed ;-p There is no current derailleur (or at least, its the Tiagra wedded to the horrible flappy brake levers I hope to get ride of) so I should be able to choose a groupset to fit the casette.

don't suppose you have any advice on the rest this bright sunday morning? ;-p

You might be able to keep your rear wheel with a Shimano cassette with the rest being Campagnolo. It depends on how many speeds you decide to run up at the back and if you are wanting to buy only new components.

The campy Athena group is a wonderful bit of kit, but you will need campag compatible wheels as they are the only company that are using 11 speed. 11 speed does require finer adjustments than 10, and that more than 9.... as long as you get it set up by a decent bike shop you'll be fine.

50/34 and 12/25 is 100% standard, and you shouldn't have any problems climbing with that setup. Lowest gear will be around 35GI and that's fine for hauling yourself up a hill provided you're out the saddle.

Certainly not open to only buying new - in fact one reason for the athena set is just how damn ugly everything else new appears to be (or at least - how poorly the carbon look will fit the frame). Pity that Pista isnt right for my barely competent ride skills ;-p

I figure I'm going to do the setup myself. I might then get it checked over by a decent shop before comitting myself to a clowncar long ride with bits falling off ...

Perhaps building my own wheel is a bit too aspirational to start with? ;-p

One thing you'll need is a £200 campagnolo chain tool for 11 speed...
best leave that bit to a shop

campag do the silver colour group in veloce as well.

tbh if you're going campagnolo it will probably be easier to sell your wheelset and buy a campag hub one.
Also shimano 10sp cassette doesn't really work that well with campag shifters in my experience, the spacing is slightly different.

silver Veloce is OK no? Also a shit load cheaper than Athena.

(totally failed to read the above - fail.. but.. whatever)

SockToy, your London ride will be a mass of stop/start, so the chances of actually getting to use all those gears is minimal. You need no more than 10 gears, and the compact chainset is perfect. You'll be able to skim along at 25 mph on the 14-tooth sprocket using the compact, and you can exceed 30 on the 12T if your legs are strong enough: do you envisage going faster than that between lights? If so, you may need the 53/39, but you say you are a novice: I suspect those ratios may be too much for you if it's some time since you you rode seriously.

In truth, you will use maybe six of the 20-22 gears available to you on a London commute. Even a 10-speed is over-engineered for what you are proposing. Don't waste your money - buy a decent but relatively inexpensive cassette that will fit your existing wheels.

Thanks Dixie - Part of what Im doing is hobby horsing, building up the bike as an exercise in understanding it, another is building a bike that'll serve well as my road ride for the commute and for long out of town jaunting, and finally its partly an excercise in seeing just how damn pretty I can make the thing. I take your point though, and have settled on the 50/34 for now.

I appreciate the help from everyone - ta ;-p once I have final decisions I'll pop up some pics in the projects thread as things develop, and then hopefully see some of you around LMNH. If you're ever short of tools around there drop me a PM, I'm nearby ;-p

One thing you'll need is a £200 campagnolo chain tool for 11 speed...
best leave that bit to a shop

Park tools do a cheaper one, and KMC do a lighter 11speed chain with a quick link.

For some stupid reason I have both.

My bit of advise on the gearing subject.........34 - 25 is my littlest gear and the 16% hill I live on can be done sat down, abielt with difficulty. Just to prove I'm stronger than my dad cos he was stood up. Also I can do over 30mph on the 50-12 gear :)

So unless you weigh 30 stone, are unfit, carry weight on the bike or for other reasons your gearing will be fine :)

Speaking of restoring a Rossin frame... http://rossinproject.blogspot.com/
Campag Veloce comes in an all alloy version. V. nice imho.
Good luck with your project.