Vintage looks, contemporary performance

shame they don't make it any more..

Is that oversized steel tubing or al? BLB have one on their website for £695...

Nope, it's a Naultilus Squadra Corse. It's featherlight Ultra Foco, and rides like a complete dream. Mine, with full DA, will be up for sale on here soon. It's the gorgeous metallic blue colour.

Check out superprecise's Mercian.

Josh's bike is my favourite (and I've still yet to see which I'm quite offended about considering I've known the chap for 8-9 years!)

BUT

It's modern components. I would go for that myself (looking at my old 600 group and thinking hmmm) but if you want the downtube shifter experience you're never going to be that fast.

Can't find it now, but no doubt someone will post up that Ride test of new gear v 80's downtube steel thing that resulted in a 19 second difference over an hour's race or whatever it was.

Can't find it now, but no doubt someone will post up that Ride test of new gear v 80's downtube steel thing that resulted in a 19 second difference over an hour's race or whatever it was.

Not sure what percentage of us are racers. Personally I take part in some, but its something like 2% of my road cycling. So time doesnt really come into it. Its all about feeling fast, and skinny steel tubes and 1" threaded steerers just dont feel fast to me*.

(sweeping statement, as I havent ridden every old steel bike)

Can't find it now, but no doubt someone will post up that Ride test of new gear v 80's downtube steel thing that resulted in a 19 second difference over an hour's race or whatever it was.

19 seconds an hour is a HUGE difference!

It's almost a full 20 secs.

+1 to ‘precise’s Mercian – you can see the meticulous care taken and attention to detail in that bike.

Anybody got a shot of Skully’s Dave Yates?

More pertinently for those of us who aren't actually racing most of the time, the steel Pinarello (IIRC) scared the crap out of the riders on the descents compared to the modern carbon bike. But I would imagine a modern steel frame is designed to be significantly stiffer than 80s models (mainly due to the stronger and stiffer steel tubesets available now) so the difference might not be quite so dramatic.

Nope, it's a Naultilus Squadra Corse. It's featherlight Ultra Foco, and rides like a complete dream. Mine, with full DA, will be up for sale on here soon. It's the gorgeous metallic blue colour.

Size? Rough Price? dibs if it's 55/56 :)

It's 58 seat, 57 TT, so may be a bit too big for you.

Can't find it now, but no doubt someone will post up that Ride test of new gear v 80's downtube steel thing that resulted in a 19 second difference over an hour's race or whatever it was.

I remember that - though it was kind of a stupidly biased test if I remember correctly. Cottered cranks, friction shifters, single pivot brakes etc etc.. There is a middle-ground to be found. My geared bike is late 80's frame and a mix of modern-ish parts and I love it.

I'll admit that when I got my 88/89 Merckx Corsa Extra the descents did scare me, but now i barely touch the brakes (unless it's wet!).. though to be honest Columbus slx is not that stiff, nor is it that forgiving in terms of ride as steel goes - hence looking for something a bit modern in the long term

It's 58 seat, 57 TT, so may be a bit too big for you.

I'll make it fit - i'm more 56 really :)

My current road bike has a 57cm tt - I don't find it too much of a stretch, and my seatpost is almost at the max (it's a short DA one) so I could take a longer ST..

(that's right dan.. keep telling yourself it will work....)

That was the one. I've not really hammered a proper old steel frame down a hill, but do know that the Cinelli is absolutely fab to ride; totally smooth solid and planted (has CF fork too of course).

Always good when the carbon boys pick it up and get pissed off too!

That said, it's going as I'm picking up my new CF ride this weekend, and it's just too nice to have as a trainer (already have one of those anyway) and with 14 bikes in the stable, it's got to be one in one out.

14?!

Fuck, would you mind telling my housemates that 4 bikes is NOT excessive?

That was the one. I've not really hammered a proper old steel frame down a hill, but do know that the Cinelli is absolutely fab to ride; totally smooth solid and planted (has CF fork too of course).

Always good when the carbon boys pick it up and get pissed off too!

I think that Cinelli is a perfect example - I've not ridden one, but you can tell from the shape and size of the downtube and chainstays that it's going to be a damn sight stiffer than an old double-butted 531 frame.

Well, I've told the Mrs that 14 isn't excessive, but to little avail. They mount up:

Best road bike.
Training/winter road bike.
CX bike
Galaxy
Brompton
No sus SS MTB
Steel hardtail MTB
'Dale hardtail MTB
Full Susser MTB
MTB tandem
Road tandem
Touring recumbent
Racing recumbent

Edit...that's only 13....D'OH! The steel SS roadie!!

Then the missus has 3. Kids have 3. Plus 2 tag-a-longs. Plus a trailer.

wow. That's a lot of bikes

Nope, it's a Naultilus Squadra Corse. It's featherlight Ultra Foco, and rides like a complete dream. Mine, with full DA, will be up for sale on here soon. It's the gorgeous metallic blue colour.

Ah my bad, BLB site said Supercorsa, lovely frame though. Pining for a modern bike at the minute, or at least a modern groupset on a decent frame.

Might have to blow my tax refund...

Ah my bad, BLB site said Supercorsa, lovely frame though. Pining for a modern bike at the minute, or at least a modern groupset on a decent frame.

Might have to blow my tax refund...

The SC is a bit more trad, but very nice (and not cheap):

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With Mr S' set of suggestions, I think the Condor Acciaio fits the bill quite nicely and could be had for a very reasonable price. I rather wish they'd build the Fratello with a zero frameset. I'd snap one up as a cracking all rounder.

...Ideally i'd like to put something together with vintage looks, but contemporary performance. Having never owned a road bike I know next to nothing....Any advice greatly received, particularly on components.

My 2p. Don't waste your money on building a new/old bike. Buy a 2nd hand steel road bike made from a half decent tubeset from the Dutch on here or ebay. Then you'll workout what you really want (which will be a modern bike in the end).

ahead stem, oversize modern steel not old stovepipe, a new groupset not some part worn overpriced relic.
roberts/rourke/enigma.
853/columbus spirit/deda zero replica. all oversize.

if you want a heavy, bendy, quill stemmed, steel forked, luddite bike why have a new one made when you can buy an old one and respray it....

oooff... a bit harsh, but there is a point there. That's why (especially for your first roadie) I'd say buy a 2nd hand bike. You can then work out what it is you like or don't like. Upgrade the groupset etc. once you think it's still worth it.

...There is a middle-ground to be found. My geared bike is late 80's frame and a mix of modern-ish parts and I love it....

True. I've got a early 90s Roberts with a DA 7400 groupset and imo I love it... altho when I have the cash I will be buying a modern road bike.

I thought this thread was about me...

Anyway...
I've spied Jaygee's bike in real life, it is the tits.

yuk...