Are classic parts reliable enough for regular use?

I've always lusted after a variety of classic bike parts. One item in particular is the Campy Pista high flange hubs. Then I spoke to a friend/shop owner who specialises in older bikes/parts and he said that for regular use they're just not durable enough.

He noted that in most cases the parts are old and even if NOS it's still not a good idea to ride them as they'll eventually fall apart.

So, what do you guys think?

I've recently aquired a track bike fitted with what appears to be a late 70s/early 80s Dura Ace high flange rear hub and want to use it on my first fixie build. Is it, or any other component from the 50-70s, a viable option for regular use or are they better suited to just being admired for their history/aesthetics/?

Thanks

Campagnolo Record pista hubs, high (with 6 oval slots) or low flange, are great and will last for years.
Campagnolo C-Record high flange pista hubs ('sherriff stars') are pieces of shit that snap if ridden on anything other than smooth boards. Low flange ones are the dogs bollocks, however.

These things might be old but they were high-spec things designed for racing on. Tootling round the city is hardly going to kill them.

Ride that Dura-ace. It's only a hub, and only a Shimano one at that - you can always buy another if it breaks.

My frequently-used Raleigh roadster is riding on 56 year old Sturmey Archer hubs and rims and they are like new. And that weighs as much as the moon.

Campy high flange track hubs aka Sherrif Stars are quite well known for breaking when subjected to day to day street riding, i imagine that for their intended purpose they would be fine.
Same goes for most stuff, for riding on the track as it was designed for, fine. Riding on the street, beware.
Not just classic/vintage parts mind, modern dura ace high flange hubs lack sufficient sealing to be reliable for all weather street riding.

BQ - I had similar thoughts regarding the fact that these were high-spec parts so should really be fine for day to day use, Sherrif Starts excepted of course....have heard of them being fragile.

MV - That was one of the things he mentioned, lack of proper sealing on track hubs.

Thanks for the replies!

The lack of sealing just means you have to keep on top of maintenance, and check, clean and regrease the bearings more often. There are some hubs you can put road seals on I think.

Actually, Blue Quinn, although Sherif stars have the worst rep, all older high flange pista hubs should be track use only, as even the more robust ones are not that happy on street and pave

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-RACING-CYCLE-Frame-Fork-Mercian-Strada-Speciale_W0QQitemZ180490218781QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR?hash=item2a060e2d1d#ht_1824wt_911

Helpful thread - apologies for a slight hijack, but having just become the owner of the above, I was intending to convert this to fgss so as to reduce daily wear & tear and change the wheels to some deep v's/phils on clinchers (mainly because the above has tubs) and not sure how robust those GP4's would be. An alternative would be to rebuild the wheels with open pros and run it geared, using it pretty much as it stands....any additional thoughts?

I think it's just perfect the way it is. I'd leave it personally.

But I only had tubs years back and would not fancy trying to fix a puncture too frequently?.....or should I htfu & enjoy it?

If you're getting extra wheels and keeping it geared then go for Campag hubs and Open Pros - keep it looking classic. If fixed SJS hubs are fine. Deep Vs would spoil the look.

Until they puncture though, ride the hell out of those tubs :-)

Actually, Blue Quinn, although Sherif stars have the worst rep, all older high flange pista hubs should be track use only, as even the more robust ones are not that happy on street and pave

Good job I barely ride to work on mine then. My commute appears to be on a minefield.
SJS sealed bearing hubs on my daily ride.

....any additional thoughts?

do not put deep v's on that.

many thanks for your responses - much appreciated, thinking of going fixed for winter use and geared for the summer, rebuilding using orig hubs with silver open pros

Er I had been watching that ebay listing... wasn't it frame and forks only or did I misread it entirely? If you've got it and you got the wheels etc too then good effort, that's an awesome price!

Are classic parts reliable enough for regular use?

No...

Er I had been watching that ebay listing... wasn't it frame and forks only or did I misread it entirely? If you've got it and you got the wheels etc too then good effort, that's an awesome price!

Blimey that would have been a v good price.... sadly no.

He was selling the frame/fork, but he really wanted to shift the whole thing.

Actually, Blue Quinn, although Sherif stars have the worst rep, all older high flange pista hubs should be track use only, as even the more robust ones are not that happy on street and pave

had my campy record pista nr hf hubs for five years now, never had a single problem, i'm not heavy thought :{) but you have to maintain them quite often, phil wood waterproof grease is brilliant for loose bearing hubs, bb, headsets and etc., in general well maintained parts last much much longer, true wheels and right spoke tension helps tooo...

I think it's just perfect the way it is. I'd leave it personally.

Went on it last night..... what a superb bike!

Campagnolo Record pista hubs, high (with 6 oval slots) or low flange, are great and will last for years.
Campagnolo C-Record high flange pista hubs ('sherriff stars') are pieces of shit that snap if ridden on anything other than smooth boards. Low flange ones are the dogs bollocks, however.

These things might be old but they were high-spec things designed for racing on. Tootling round the city is hardly going to kill them.

Ride that Dura-ace. It's only a hub, and only a Shimano one at that - you can always buy another if it breaks.

My frequently-used Raleigh roadster is riding on 56 year old Sturmey Archer hubs and rims and they are like new. And that weighs as much as the moon.

Bullshit

The only problem is if the front hubs are laced radially and that adds stress to the flange, saying that I've got some 1st gen Sherrif stars that are radial front and haven't been trash. But I suppose I only roll around the smooth boards of Manchester, Newport, Berlin, Ghent, Dortmond...........

Bullshit

The only problem is if the front hubs are laced radially and that adds stress to the flange, saying that I've got some 1st gen Sherrif stars that are radial front and haven't been trash. But I suppose I only roll around the smooth boards of Manchester, Newport, Berlin, Ghent, Dortmond...........

Here's a picture of a normally laced rear hub. It was one month old.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/record-track.html
I believe RPM can show you more evidence.

You might be interested to read 11.4's research here
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?144795-campy-sheriff-star-hubs
or Matchsprint's research here:
http://www.fixedgearfever.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&printertopic=1&t=6126&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&vote=viewresult&popup=1

Don't know about the sheriff stars bu in general all the bikes I ride have 70's / 80's era campagnolo bits on (all record) and perform flawlessly on a regular basis.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/record-track.html
I believe RPM can show you more evidence.

Not me Guv, never used 'em.

Oh Teddy!

https://www.lfgss.com/post797519-1.html

Makes me shed a tiny tear

All vintage racing parts (if they were not murdered by the pros previously) will outlast the modern cheap knockoffs.
Also, it's better to used them for their planned purpose - track parts on track etc. and if not, make sure they are serviced properly.

Saying that, I've got a high flange Campy Pista hub laced to the 16H rim. I'll let you know how it goes if there will be reception in the A&E.