So my old road bike is just chilling in the basement being ignored. It’s a allez comp with mavic open pro wheel set. It’s a 8 speed rear with a triple. It’s a mix of suntour, 105 and ultegra. It’s a square spine bb that’s tight and smooth. The back wheel could use a rebuild or at least a re-tension. The spring in the FD broke so that definitely needs replaced.
I can do the work myself fairly but I was wondering the best way to bring it into working order. I was thinking of hunting down new old stock 105/ultegra 10 speed stuff (I think 11 speed is a different free hub body) and going that route while replacing the cranks since I never really needed a triple and it’s harder to find. I was gonna leave the BB since it’s in good working order instead of upgrading to the external cup splined stuff.
I could also get a new back wheel and go 11/12 speed but I’m not sure if the frame spacing is different. 11 speed stuff is a lot easier to find but more $$
by AffectionateOil5517
5 Comments
Coming from someone who takes old bikes and modernizes them for my own riding, I tell myself I won’t do it anymore every time. It’s a pain. New standards, sizing, frame space allocation is a headache. If i were to offer advice…
replace bottom bracket/chain
take off drivetrain parts and inspect. Clean and lube.
see if you can rebuild wheel hubs. If so, do so and go have wheels trued. If not, buy some new wheels in same width
replace housing/cables
check headset. If it doesn’t feel good see if you can rebuild. If races or crowns are damaged replace.
rewrap bars
…….…………………..
you can potentially have a really good ride for years to come
that’s my .02
What sort of riding have you got in mind?
10 speed ultegra will be a nice improvement. If it were me, I’d upgrade the cranks and BB too. Hollowtech 2 is much stiffer, a big improvement over square taper.
Contrary to what another poster said, in my experience frames that came with triples can be switched to doubles.
Honestly the amount of modifications, adjustments and tinkering and hack around you will have to do aside from just installation to make more modern parts work mediocre.ly… As someone that has done this. It is just not worth it imo (unless it’s work of passion, some attachment to the frame or something). What I would recommend is do some good maintenance and replace anything that needs replacing with the same gen components you have and enjoy your bike. You can still have an awesome time and do a lot of good riding with this setup. And if by next year or whenever you start to feel the bike is holding you back or you are not enjoying this hike, use that upgrade money and get a new/new model used one then.
If you’re cool with a 11-34 cassette you can fit one on a 10 speed wheel so that actually isn’t a problem. I threw r7000 105 on a 1992 bridgestone RB-1 and r8000 ultegra on a 2001 litespeed ultimate, so it’s definitely not a big ask if the bottom bracket isn’t some press fit insanity. The groups don’t go for much on Ali, so check that out for sourcing