Help! Friends budget first build

So my friend is looking to get his first bike for commuting to and from work and the occasional relaxed weekend jaunt.

He's a bit of a nervous rider and we are on a fairly tight budget of £300.

I've managed to get hold of an old steel frame (60s Claud butler) for free - could make everything much easier or shit with all the compatibility issues..

Requirements;

• 1 by 9 speed for easy maintainence and longevity
  
• sti shifter as downtime and others scare him
  
• he prefers the classic styling of lugged frame, droop bars etc.
  
• possibly a rack for strapping his bag to
  
  

Any advice in good / cheap systems would be much appreciated! Or even cheap alternative frames without the issues (no rear mech hanger, old brake bolt size etc.) he's a 54-55

Subbed as I'd like to do something similar.

With that budget, you're/your friend is better off buying a nice second hand complete bike. Building up a bike requires quite a bit more money than buying the equivalent complete.

60s Claud butler

Such an old bike does present a few issues:

• the OLD will be 120mm, whereas a 9 speed freehub will be 130mm.
  
• it will have been built for 27" wheels, so you'll need long drop brake calipers to use 9 speed compatible, 622 wheels.
  
  

The frame can be cold set to 130mm, but you might then have to realign the dropouts and I'd brace the seat stay bridge to protect it while you're bending the tubes.

Tektro make a long drop, dual pivot brake with an external, hex nut fitting: R559.

Having said that, for £300 you won't have any trouble buying a second hand bike that meets his criteria, or something well under budget that doesn't require significant work and use the saving to tweak it to suit.

Money being tight, not sure of the best plan with the wheels. Could try to build him a set with some cheap hubs and kinlin ADHN rims, or some pro lite gardas?

Looking into second hand sora 3500 for gears

Yeah, thanks for the advice so far. I agree it would be best to find a full bike but I forgot to mention he's pretty set on building it up!

Spot on with the 120, although I think someone has had a crack at cold setting this one before to 126, so it isn't too much of a stretch.

Thanks for the link to the brakes, knew something like it existed but I couldn't remember the name for the life of me!

I'll get some photos up once the balls rolling

Building a single speed bike will be much more straightforward (and cheaper), particularly for a novice builder: could he manage his commute like that?

If someone's already had a go, then you'll need to check the frame alignment: you'll also find details of how to do this on Sheldon Brown.

you'll also find details of how to do this on Sheldon Brown.

Or on his website, if you're not into grave digging.

;)

We're Bristol so fairly hilly - the commute itself is flat but I think he wants it for the odd ride further too

Once cold set, you'll also need to be careful that you still have adequate clearance between the crank/chainring and the chain stay and also between the top sprocket and the chain stay.

Haha, miss rep at times like these

Ha!

I heard it was tattooed across his back.

Potentially I'll keep an eye out for a more modern frame with some useable 9 speed and just update wheels etc, might be worth saving the effort

Not only would that save effort, but also frustration.

If your friend is interested in building a bike, I suggest he buys a complete one and takes it apart.

Having rebuilt it he'll have a much better understanding of what's involved and the potential pitfalls.

And a (hopefully) well-sorted bike.

What's the oldest era steel frame that you could easily fit a 9x1 groupset on?

This is great advice.

I wish I had done this as soon as I bought my first ever "proper" bike.

It would also mean that you have all the tools needed to service the bike.

Don't forget to budget for tools btw, if you are starting from scratch it can add up.

What's the oldest era steel frame that you could easily fit a 9x1 groupset on?

130mm OLD became the standard when 8 speed was introduced, which was in the early Nineties.

A 126mm OLD frame will take 130mm OLD hubs with minimal faff: the stays can be pulled apart to allow fitting and removing the wheel.

Thanks!

Good point about tools.

Nice, cheers

Get some 126mm shimano 7 speed wheels, they're usually cheaper than 130mm 8/9/10 speeds and they should do for a beginners (who are seldomly shifting a lot to keep a steady cadence). https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/311032/#comment13871767