Re: Steel framesets with V-brake studs?

cyclintom, 2025-07-18 22:21+0200:

I have a steel road bike for sale that is an XL and it only weighs 22
lbs. I say that to let you know that a GOOD steel bike is only
slightly heavier than a carbon fiber bike and steel lasts forever with
very little maintennce. V-brakes are a good idea but not cantilevers.

I would agree on that. As I see it, cantilever were a very good
improvement over caliper bakes as they existed before (although there
are now excellent caliper brakes), but V-brakes are yet another
improvement on V-brakes. Easier to adjust and to maintain, constant
mechanical advantage… I would use cantilever brakes only if I have no
optio nfor V-brakes.

The problem with custom European builders is that they ae SO damned
expensive. While I do not particularly like disc brakes, I really do
like the 12 mm through axles. They perfectly align the wheels dead
center and the larger bearings roll a lot better.

I have nothing against 12 mm through-axles, although I would expect them
to be more expensive than 9 or 10 mm regular axles.

And the 142 mm rear wheel gives better room for a 12 speed.
I would be happy with 10 but the 12 speed stuff shifts so much better.

12 cogs is kind of too much for me. I mean, I a fine with my current 9
cogs, so I am not looking for more than that. :-)

As for the shifting ease, I think Shimano CUES would provide that, in 9,
10 or 11 cogs versions.

You might want to talk with Omar Khiel at Oasis Custom Bicycles, in
Glendale Arizona.  omar-oasis@cox.net. He's pretty straight up.
 
Suggestions: 1" Reynolds 531 and 1" steerer fork. Straight fork legs. Campy Chorus or Shimano 105. Only manual shifting.
 
I don't know how tall you are but I am 6'4" and am running 170 mm cranks. This keeps your hips more open and you simple adjust the gear ratios for climbing. Pogcar is running 165's.

I am quite smaller, 168 cm. That would be 5"6' I think.

If you prefer a name brand talk to Tom Ritchey who is now the go-to framebuilder in California.

This is a bit far from France. An I saw that, at least for standard
frames, he switched to all disc brakes.

--
Tanguy