So confused!

[HGuthertz]

I have two suggestions:

Look for an early 1980s Trek and have the entire bike retrofitted with Ultegra, brifters, etc.- whatever you want. Look for a frame with Reynolds 531 steel.

The frames were beautifully made and are really great for sport touring - carrying 20-25 pounds. They are sturdy bikes - real classics. This route should cost around $1,500 - buying the old bike just for the frame and then the retrofit.

Another route is to buy a Terry Isis Sport - very light steel with carbon fork. The bike has eyelets for a rear rack.

I have gotten into a mid-life bike collecting phase and actually have done both options, and have done 50 plus mile segments on each of them. They are both comfy in their own way. I chose the bar end shifters for the Trek, because I like the option of switching to friction shifting on a tour - uncomplicated.

I test rode the Surly LHT, and also thought too heavy - and without the charm of the old Treks.- but maybe that's my age showing. Also go with down bars - you can use a taller stem-Nitto- to raise the bars to a more upright position.

Hope this helps.

[OakLeaf]

HG, as someone who's got an old custom steel frame collecting dust in the basement...

is it really that simple?

Early 1980s will be 5-speed. Can you spread the drop-outs enough to accommodate 9-speed, which I think is still available in Ultegra? Would it be better to go to 10-speed, bearing in mind that a cassette won't last forever and 9-speed may not be available forever; and if so, can the drop-outs be spread that far?

And for you, as well as Margo and Deb if they're listening: does spreading the drop-outs weaken the rear triangle or cause chain alignment issues?

Bearing in mind that you'd have to replace at least the rear hub, can it really be done that cheaply? Or are you talking about parts only, and building the bike herself, just going to a framebuilder for the cold-setting? Little things like chain, cables and handlebar tape add up...



ETA: and what about the front derailleur? If it's a clamp-on, will a modern front derailleur clamp fit narrow Reynolds 531 tubing? My old frame has a front derailleur braze-on - so am I right that that limits what gearing I can put up front?

[HGuthertz]

I brought the bike to Yellow Jersey in Madison for a package deal.- they specialize in this sort of thing.

They took everything off, spread the frame, and returned a "new" old bike - complete with Ultegra 9-speed cassette, new FD, new wheels, etc. They finished the job quickly - brought the bike in on Friday - picked up on Monday.

They can quote you a package price, and you can ship the bike.- I drove in as it wasn't that far.

I am very happy with the result.