Geared bike advice for a noob?

Basically, in my mind, I just want a steel frame with horizontal top tube (cos that's what I like), and by default, this seems to mean that I'm looking at older bikes, as most new ones are alu or way above my budget. I'd rather a newer frame (90s) rather than say a 70s frame, as I think I'll just have more confidence in it. I do ride pretty hard, and the roads round here are fucked.
I don't have a particular interest in being faithful to 'period' parts, or certain brands etc. Take the Cia Battino at the top ^, Shimano 105, Stronglight & Mavic parts, and looks great! Just want parts that are strong, reliable, light, and easy to install/maintain/replace. (And look good).
http://www.matuzmaster.hu/_userfiles/image/2010-02-07-moser-fillet/14178-big.jpg
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That frame might well be over budget. But chuck them an E-mail with budget info, and I'm sure Geof Burges will find something for you. Not as cheap as a good E-bay find, but he does find some lovely stuff.

I would recommend getting something modern, but I'm not sure your budget will stretch to it.

The best advice would be to gather knowledge of tubesets and brands/makers. Then apply this knowledge to a EBay hunt. Search european EBay sites, as UK EBay tends to demand more of a hipster tax on retro framesets.

Tender-lion speaks a lot of sense.

Thanks for everyones advice, after a few days of doing nothing but reading and researching on the interwebz, I have ordered this in blue!

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/FRGURE/guerciotti-record-frameset

I know I could have got a whole bike for that money, but I prefer a new frame, and I'm not so keen on all the MAD paint jobs of yesteryear. And I like chrome, but I'll be riding the bike all year round so...

Here's quite a nice build I found, I'd have rather different wheels on it though:

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=136899&sid=970a84066f0aaca3db50f548fdffcf44

Just gotta decide on a groupset.

Anyone know if I can mix Shimano 5600 groupset with the 5700 STI levers?? I read that the spacing of gears is different on the 5700, so not sure about it...

Just need to strip down my old one and sell it on here now!

Cheers,

The silver veloce groupset would really look good on it, and is a decent groupset. £350
http://www.cyclingbargains.com/product_info.php/campagnolo-veloce-10speed-groupset-p-1303

Apex is'nt as pretty, but is arguably better (well folk will argue this, but its all personal preferance IMHO). £400
http://www.fudgescyclestore.com/index.php?p=107020

I agree that the Veloce would look excellent, but then I'd lose the hidden cables of the 105 5700.

Not keen on the SRAM for some reason...

I don't like the 5700 cranks aesthetically, which is why is thinking about the 5600 groupset, an switch the levers to 5700 for hidden cabling.

http://www.lfgss.com/thread56224.html

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Dura-Ace-9-speed-groupset-/220752504625?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3365dfe731#ht_500wt_1156

I wondered when someone would buy one of those Guercotti's. gotta be a bloody bargain at that price!

lots of decent road bikes come up on hear for around £200. keep your eyes on those European sellers (especially the dutch ones) they always seem to come up with some real surprises.

Good advice right here

also there was a nice geared GT on retrobike.com for £200 delivered last week

oh, late to the party :(

That frame needs campag more than it needs shimano. Hidden cable? Who care, cables look nice on a classic looking frame.

Veloce Veloce Veloce do it do it do it!

How does 105 have hidden cables compared to veloce?

This shifting of campag and shimano is quite different. Pick the one you prefer.

As long as its campag.

Do the Romanians make anything else as famous as Campag?

Probably OTP Guerciotti framesets.

Also. Its on a cannondale. I thought you'd like it......

Quick derail- what's your knowledge of London Rugby club signs like Smallfurry?

Where's this? (Best to PM the answer btw, you never know who is watching)

Oh you cheating scumbag...

Problem Edward?

Heh, not really...

Quick derail- what's your knowledge of London Rugby club signs like Smallfurry?

Where's this? (Best to PM the answer btw, you never know who is watching)

If you squint very hard, you can make out the club's motto!

^^ Scoblock Holmes ...

I've been trying but I cannot read it.

That would be a help, I admit

Anyone got a big monitor?

Or (in the words of CSI), can you enhance that?

Anyone got a big monitor?

Or (in the words of CSI), can you enhance that?

I think I've clicked on it 8 times.

Currently at work, going cross eyed, with my face 1" from the screen.

Its a road, a cone, a bike, a fence, and some grass. That any help?

Hi,

I got my Guerciotti Record today.

It's fitted with a Miche headset, though as I rotate the fork, at points it becomes quite stiff and won't rotate freely. It's not always at the same point in the rotation, it moves around.

Is this normal for this kind of headset? What could be the issue?

Here's a pic:

Bearings goosed?
Strip, clean, grease and put it back together again.

Quick derail- what's your knowledge of London Rugby club signs like Smallfurry?

Where's this? (Best to PM the answer btw, you never know who is watching)

is it that one on upper richmond road? queens something?