New Gruppo on older bikes

Damn those downtube levers they must be shit, it couldn't perhaps be the rider? no its absolutely nothing to do with the rider. After all there was no tour de frances when there were only downtube shifters and if there were they took place only on the flat to avoid climbing (they also avoided riding in groups.) Whilst we are on the climbing comment could you explain why lance armstrong continued to select downtube shifters for his mountain stages then? even in 2004 when bar shifters were available.

If you think heavy stuff sucks then you shouldn't even be considering an old frame, because you could get a far lighter carbon frame for a lot less money direct from china. There is a also a difference between being completely anal about trying to pick up specific year parts or putting something from the same general era onto a bike. Putting new stuff on an old bike is like putting new stuff on an old car, just as a 1960s car looks stupid with modern alloy wheels and neons so does a bike with new gear...but then again it is as always only an opinion.

I do agree that people waiting a year to put a bike together is stupid, but you can happily ride the bike with lesser parts whilst getting the parts together (plus I bet most people on this forum have more than 1 bike, so it's a bit of a mute point)

The most important thing is that it is ridden and in the end that's all that matters, if someone wants to build up a classic bike with modern gear then that is their choice. After all it is far better that it is ridden with new gear than not being ridden at all. So basically we agree... /ends rant.

I thought Lance ran a downtube shifter on the left for the front mech, and an STI lever on the right for the rear mech?

This is only a vague memory of seeing him with a miss-matched pair of 7400 series levers however.

BTW, Moot.