Current Projects chat and miscellany

thanks man, really helpful, i actually have a 7 speed mavic 501/ gp4 tubular wheelset one them in that picture, but its too narrow spacing, so i think it must have been built for an 8. the cosmic elites sound like the way to go, maybe a set of cxp33s i saw for not much moneys. not sure about downtube shifters, the stops are horrid, but downtube shifters are pretty annoying. thanks again for the top notch info

In that case, DuraAce 7400 (i.e. anything from 7400 to 7402), ideally with downtube levers as those stops that fit on the lever bosses look shit. If you're going to use clips and straps, you'll want the PD-7400 which are nice but a bit pricey. Substitute 6400 for 7400 as and when you like - we all mixed according to budget and you're not trying to recreate a specific pro bike. 7 or 8 speed, not 9 as that comes later with STI.

Wheels are tricky - these frames were road raced with normal box section tubulars like Mavic GP4, and time trialled with a disc/trispoke (Comete/3G) combo, the former is not very aesthetically pleasing and the latter is hardly practical if you want to ride it a lot. Fortunately, Mavic introduced the first Cosmics about half way through the life of the KG196, and that's what I'd use if it were my bike. You should be able to pick up a good pair of Cosmic Elites for under £200