1982 Colnago Super

I bought this bike about a year ago. I'd been thinking about putting modern components on it for a while now, and finally today I took the plunge thanks to Ribble's sale on Campagnolo. I guess I would have struck at some point anyway - I had managed to date the frame to 1982, so I figured it had to be this year or 2022 since I am obsessive like that.

I want to keep it classic-looking - silver - so I went for Athena. What should I do for the rest?

For seat post and stem, I've been thinking silver Thomsons. Are there other options I should be considering? I'd like a seventeen-degree stem since I am a bit vain. I realize that I've got a threaded fork, so I would need to use an adapter. Is this the worst idea?

For wheels, I've been thinking twenty-millimetre Chinese carbon tubulars laced up with CX-Rays to Mack hubs. Is there a better choice for silver hubs? Is this the worst idea?

You bike looks great as it is! How about finding a nice old frame and building up a new bike - vintage frame, modern bits. Nitto stem, Suntour seatpost maybe? Athena is ideal.
I did something similar with an old Rossin frame using Campag Veloce (there's an OTT blog about it).

did the same with my 87 Master

I'd scour the web (and this forum) for Campagnolo seat posts, I ended up finding a load for my different builds.

did the same with my 87 Master

I'd scour the web (and this forum) for Campagnolo seat posts, I ended up finding a load for my different builds.
what have you done???

Made a shit old steel bike half decent and rideable?

IMO the biggest crime against bike aesthetics in the modern era is handlebar stems. If you want to keep it looking classic can't you just stick with a quill stem? Plenty brand new ones available. I'd go silver to match the seatpost, which I'd keep as well and just have a little polish up. Looks nice.

...and I like my Novatec silver hubs, although I was advised to use old style skewers for old style drop-outs on a steel frame, hence they've got Campag Veloce skewers.

Quill stems are shit and flexy as hell.

what have you done???

Ridden it through the ugly forest.

Made a shit old steel bike half decent and rideable?
yes, but look at it. it could have be done in an aesthetically pleasing way.

You bike looks great as it is! How about finding a nice old frame and building up a new bike - vintage frame, modern bits. Nitto stem, Suntour seatpost maybe? Athena is ideal.
I did something similar with an old Rossin frame using Campag Veloce (there's an OTT blog about it).

Fuck me, don't you ever tire of posting that bike at every possible opportunity.

cute comments, yes, i've made an old steel bike suitable for a training bike. not posing like some hackney cunt with skinny jeans :)

aesthetics aren't suitable all the time

cute comments, yes, i've made an old steel bike suitable for a training bike. not posing like some hackney cunt with skinny jeans :)

aesthetics aren't suitable all the time

But you've clearly done this with an aesthetic in mind, so maybe you need a pair of skinny jeans?

Fuck me, don't you ever tire of posting that bike at every possible opportunity.

^+1. That Rossin is everywhere...and that blog. Apologies for continuing the derail.I like the idea you are gunning for, Good luck, looking forward to seeing it finished,

Also see this http://www.lfgss.com/thread72069.html for more steel with modern groupsets.

IMO the biggest crime against bike aesthetics in the modern era is handlebar stems. If you want to keep it looking classic can't you just stick with a quill stem? Plenty brand new ones available. I'd go silver to match the seatpost, which I'd keep as well and just have a little polish up. Looks nice.

I'd thought about that - it would certainly eliminate the need for a headset converter. Will modern levers work correctly with the narrower-diameter bars? Might there be some hood looseness?

...and I like my Novatec silver hubs, although I was advised to use old style skewers for old style drop-outs on a steel frame, hence they've got Campag Veloce skewers.

Nice wheels. How is your experience with the Novatecs compared to that with more expensive hubs? The impression I get is that the law of diminishing returns applies rather steeply to hubs.

Also see this http://www.lfgss.com/thread72069.html for more steel with modern groupsets.

Gorgeous Gazelle you've got in there!

I'd thought about that - it would certainly eliminate the need for a headset converter. Will modern levers work correctly with the narrower-diameter bars? Might there be some hood looseness?

Someone cleverer will likely be able to confirm but as far as I know the clamp size on the actual bar is the same. The only issue I had recently was finding out that SRAM levers don't fit awfully well to Cinelli Criterium bars. Nothing to do with the clamp, just the shape of the bar curve meant the levers stuck out sideways. They work perfectly well with the more square shape of the Campione Del Mondo though:

Nice wheels. How is your experience with the Novatecs compared to that with more expensive hubs? The impression I get is that the law of diminishing returns applies rather steeply to hubs.

No practical experience as yet. I chose them partly on aesthetic grounds and partly on the recommendation of Harry Rowland who built the wheels. On Harry's website: "I have been using these hubs since 2001 and they are always the hub I would recommend. They are now available in 28, 32 & 36 hole and in both Shimano & Campag and are not expensive. Do not, however, be put off by the low price as the hub is of very good quality."

Don’t take this the wrong way because it’s your bike so you can do what you want … but … Are you sure? I don’t normally like Ed’s builds but something similar to his Colnago build in the 'more steel with modern groupset thread' is what I be trying to achieve if this was my bike and I wanted to update. Sorry but your plans sound very 'label' driven.

Thomson may make some good equipment but it does not belong here! If you’re building a renaissance bike, like the previous poster, in my opinion (everyone has one on the internet!) I’d suggest polishing the seat post you have and keeping the stem. Assuming you’re happy with your current position mark the insertion point into the frame then remove the seat post, mask below the insertion point (you don’t want to polish below as they’ll slip when you re-install) and start polishing. If you need new parts because they are in such a poor condition then look for some NOS parts on the bay or at CampyOldy which are in keeping with the frame era.

You mention a 17 degree stem .. assuming the stem is going to be mounted at the same height as you have at the moment this will lower your bars approximately 30mm for a 100mm stem can you ride in the drops in that position? If you can then slam your existing stem ..

The Athena lever clamps will fit the old bars the same as the latest bars, although there is sometimes an issue with the curves. If you need new bars then there are road bars available which will fit quill stems - Cinelli Giro D'Italia 64 Bars (26.0) re-issue and Deda Speciale 26 Handlebars (25.8) etc ..

On the wheels front take a look at the Ambrosio Nemesis or Chrono F20 rims if you want to use tubs partnered with some Ambrosio or Novatec silver hubs . Or Silver Open Pro. Something classic looking and still resonably light.

IMO the way to go would be new campag levers, brakes (skeletal) crank (or just modern outa rings) derailiers (possibly just back one) spaced out to 135mm rear end. Open pro rims, polished good quality rear hub, polished quill stem

Old front hub + skewers, seat post etc

No point getting a steep angled stem if you can't ride it comfortably

Just my opinion and how I plan to build one when I get money/a bike to do it with :)

Keep the Iscaselle Tornado saddle whatever you do. I remember Raas and the other Ti Raleigh riders using them when I first got interested in bikes. Did buy one and have been spent the last ten years trying to retrieve it from a mate who I sold it to in a moment of weakness