Yup. I have an old Specialized Rockhopper MTB from the days before suspension existed. Replaced the tyres, cleaned everything up, new fancy grips, cables and brakes. Rides soooo nicely and the leather saddle is a dream. Paint scheme also looks badass. Thinking about mking it a 1x as well...
all bikes are super 👿, even the bodgy ones! and yes, I've bought about loads of bikes over the years, always making sure they were super (i.e. fit for triathlon)
Yes, I just replaced the frame, the groupset, the wheels, tires, and handlebar, and levers, and the sadle and the saddlepost :-) : edit the best upgrade I did to a cheap bike I had was to replace the wheels, and the shifter and brake-cables and housing. Made it to a completely new bike with easy rollin, and muich better shifting performance. Oh, almost forgot, the cheap brakes were changed for some cheap SRAM Apex that was like 10 times better :)
I love this idea of turning a cheap bike into a super bike, GCN we need a new channel from you guys focusing on cheaper bike that people can afford, it could feature bikes that cost no more than 2000 dollars at the highest end of the spectrum.
Yeeaaah! Those are the stories we wanna see! Better then the fiftiest "why carbon disc brake wheels (only from vision) are 5 watts faster at 40kph" :-)
Really looking forward to this series. I think you guys can continue the series afterwards with build wars where two different teams can battle it out to see who can build a cheaper bike with a budget.
Don't get mad if all the upgrades are from sponsors and at a price not accessible to regular people. But I think a genuine effort would be to keep with rim brakes and upgrade with used but higher end components.
@@newttella1043 That frame couldn't take discs anyway. You'd also think that if the aim is to turn this into a fast superbike, that discs aren't really a concern. Braking is important, sure, but they're not a contributor to speed. It's got to be about wheels and components and everything that makes it lighter and more watt-efficient.
Can't wait for next week... You really have my attention on this one. Back in Sept I bought almost the exact same bike here in the US from someone via Facebook Marketplace for $600USD. Looks almost identical except it is carbon, Ultegra and Rolf Vector Comp wheels... and a triple crank. I've made a couple minor changes, but anxious to see how much bang for the buck you guys get.
I did with an '03 Trek 1500 SLR done to US Postal specs. Deda 215 bars with Newton stem, full DA 7800 groupset modified with Ti bolts coupled with a 7410 post, Selle San Marco saddle, and a custom 1450 grams wheelset with Bontrager R455 rims laced with CX-Rays to DT Swiss 240 hubs. I also accessorized my bike with a pair of Bontrager XXX cages and a Vetta wireless computer. Bike weight came down to 7.65 kg. Love every minute riding this bike. Future upgrade will be a carbon wheelset.
I have the same trek currently. I bought it whilst at uni on a shoestring budget but over the years have added to it and turned it into a bit of a machine. The build quality (my handy work) isn't the best but it's delivered results. Not a bad bike overall!
Wow! Nice Trek. I had one just like it back in the day. It motivates me to turn a cheap bike into a super bike. The hardest part is try8ng to convince my wife why I need another bike. Excited to see the results. 👍😁👍
about 5 years ago my first road bike was a mid 1990's raleigh with 8 speed 105. I updated the quill stem and bars to threadless, eventually changed to compact chainrings (although I raced it on 53-42!) and got a powertap. Served me well, I only got rid of it because the geometry didn't totally suit me but folks can make it a long way on these old road bikes with decent fitness.
I really really LOVE this video idea! The more GCN I have watched the more I have started to appreciate Jon's specific brand of nerdiness. He's such a nerd, but in such an awesome way. Since he's constantly dropping deep knowledge, it's exciting to see him actually demonstrate some of his real ability as a mechanic. I cannot wait to see how this turns out!
About a year ago I traded a set of single speed wheels for a Cannondale R500 frame, fork and breaks. I built it up with parts I had lying around and now it looks great. Its good to see a 90's bike is going to get a nice refresh. Thanks.
This has grabbed my attention . Everyone can relate to this. A budget is very relatable. Having gone through this process to make a winter bike I can say it’s an amazing process
Funny... After watching 100+ GCN videos, I bought an Aluminium Trek 2300 Sl from around 2000 with Ultegra groupset about a month ago. Was already thinking about what to upgrade and today I stumble across this vid....so excited 😁
Really looking forward to this series. I picked up a used 2004 Trek 1200 for $250, still in great condition, and I want to build it up as a budget event bike.
Great stuff! I have that bike in the OCLV carbon frame and I bought it used when it was about 2 years old. I added Dura Ace, Mavic wheels, and a bunch of other goodies and put 10k miles on it. I still ride it occasionally. Can’t wait to see what you do with your bike!
I’m glued to this because I have a 2015 Aluminium Trek from new which is bottom of the range so your upgrade path looks like it could be my template. Thanks so much.
Cycling has become status with the bikes. It's become about brand and specs. Weights and numbers. People forget cycling a gritty sport at its core. It's a sport of heart and "who wants it most" mentality. No machine can gift you with grit, rough and tough mentality when your HR is 180 bpm and cadence at 120 in a sprint. That, my friends, is priceless and comes from within. Lance avg 25+ in 1993 at the world championship over 160mile race. When was the last time your road 25MPH for 160 miles on your 10000 dollar carbon bike?
this time ago last month, i had no care about what bike or rode, or even if I rode at all or not. GCN happened and i'm off to buy my first road bike today :D hooked for good.
I had an Alchemy over a dozen years back that I had built up with all the components that were going to go on a Ciocc frame I was waiting on (Campy Record, Mavic, etc). I loved riding the Alchemy so much that I put a cheap build on it when it was time to move the components onto the Ciocc frame and relegated Alchemy to being a commuter. Time ticked on and I was recently thinking I'd give it a major upgrade but sadly a fire took it from me ... I've had my eye out for a bargain Alchemy ever since to do the kind of thing I think you're about to do here. I don't think it's quite right to say it'll be turned into a "Super Bike", I think borrowing from the auto industry and calling it a "Restomod" is more accurate :)
I must have got a great bargain with my bike. 2006 Trek 1500 SLR for £185. Carbon fork and seatpost, Ultegra groupset, Bontrager racelite wheels, and climbs like a dream with a 3x10 drivetrain as well as being super slippery on the flat and descents. Seems in pretty good condition and has given me many happy miles
I just started the same project a week ago on a Cannondale CAAD8. So far: 1) Bike fit 2) Replaced square tapered BB/crank for HollowTech II with shorter crankarms 3) Swapped for lighter and shorter bars and stem to adjust with new fit dimensions 4) Recabled Last thing to do is get new wheels. I thought about changing groupsets, but the return of investment for small weight savings wasn't worth it for my budget. Hopefully your findings prove I did a good job!
I finished a budget build over the weekend. Btwin triban 500se £50 and 105 standard chainset + bb £10 from cyclists fight cancer charity bike shop. Transplanted components Donor bike, costing £110 from ebay, dura-ace shifters and brakes, Ultegra rear mech, 9 spd ultegra cassette, bontrager wheels and itm carbon handle bar had to £5 worth of inner cables from LBS. Rides so much better and I have a bunch of parts to sell on.
What I've found is that thanks to enduring standards, it's pretty easy to upgrade / replace these parts, especially with rim brakes, 130/100mm spacing, and especially the trusty BSA 68mm bottom bracket, parts that are made a decade later fit fine on an old bike.
5 years ago, I bought a really cheap Stevens San Remo with a Tiagra 9-Speed from 2008 for 200 EUR... served me quite well, but had to repair many things, even the freewheel in the rear wheel broke. I still love it, exspecially the bright red color.
I did something similar... I restored a Basso Viper frameset and build a bike whith Campagnolo Chorus 11s 2018. and Mavic Ksyrium tubular wheelset. the bike is great! Cr-mo Frameset and 7960g the final weight. Great bike and smooth!
I did this a year ago with, funnily enough, a 20 year-old Trek 1000 Lance Armstrong TdF Replica that was given to me by my neighbour. I've stripped the old paint off with nitro mors, resprayed it slate grey, took all the old components off, upgraded it to the latest 105 groupset and with Deda finishing kit. And the bike is brilliant. Is it faster, don't know but it's certainly more stable and enjoyable to ride and for me, that translates to faster. It's now my winter training and adverse weather bike. This'll be staying in the family for sure.
GCN Tech I literally just contacted an eBay seller about a 5200 b/c I wanted an iconic road bike to train on...they don't want to ship it?!! So I decided to go to my local shop instead. I serve in the USAF 🇺🇸 and said as much to the eBay guy...no dice! I'll live vicariously through your channel!!! Thanks;-)
This is a really great idea. I am playing with a similar idea of building a bike with inexpensive components to see how it compares with my other bikes built with higher dollar parts.
I did exactly this for my winter bike. Build consisted of: Mint condition second hand Cannondale CAAD 12 frame set; mint 2nd hand SRAM red mechanical groupset (cranks were unused - 30 quid paid on ebay! Just £70 for shifters) coupled with a brand new Campagnolo Scirocco wheelset. Yes, all for well under £1000! Problem is, it's so good that I now need a winter bike to cover for my winter bike! First World problems.
I had an almost identical Trek, bought new in 2001. I upgraded the Wheels to Shimano Ultegra. It was a great machine. My first road bike. I remember it was great at climbing. Sold it in 2005 to upgrade to a Giant 😊
Hmm. Aluminium old Trek... I bought a 1983 Carlton Pro mk 5 frame, and built it with Campagnolo Record / Comp Triple / Centaur mix with Deda / Fulcrum finishing bits for under £500 all from forums and eBay. Absolutely superb, great ride. Only downer is previous owner sprayed it as a Raleigh. Which I'll change when the paint is gubbed.
Done one of these for myself - picked up an old Allez bike minus wheels on the Bay - stripped it and re-assembled with some decent Shimano gears, upgraded Spesh bars/stem/seatpost and Fulcrum wheels. Its putting my Tarmac to shame!! Its the future!!
Dude, I'm utterly dismayed right now. This is a brand new upload today, so I actually have to wait for part 2???!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Should come with a warning! :D Anyway, really nice score on that bike, that frame should be nice and stiff. Can't wait to see what you do with it. I did something similar with a $200 Craigslist Specialized Allez 105 9 speed. Put another $400 in it and won a race against a lot of super bikes. (hint: The go fast is in the wheels and crank/BB, and a really dirty trick is a Sora crank with Ultegra BB). I still feel like its much quicker than my Trek Speed Concept
I have the same bike, bought new in about 2001. Mine was setup with a triple on the front (no compacts back then) and did many thousands of km. Some of the wear components have been replaced - rear mech is ultegra (I think I couldn't get a long arm 105 mech when it needed replacing), shifters are Sora (no more triple shifters in the upper ranges when those were replaced), wheels are Shimano RS10s and I had to replace the seat clamp (I can't remember why but I do remember that it was my first purchase at Wiggle back in 2005). The bike was still in regular use on the road until 2016 when it was relegated to turbo trainer use and replaced with a Trek Domane.
Looking forward to part 2 of this video! I purchased a like-new 2009 Cervelo S1 for $650 with all original parts that all still work great. I will be upgrading the wheels, crank, bars and stem - should be a pretty sweet ride this summer!!!
I know I'm going to love this series. Who can resist an old skool frame with new super components? Apart from the sniffy "that's sacrilege!" crowd. This is going to be a thing. I can tell.
My Cheap Bike: 2013 Fuji Sportif 1.5D, I bought second hand which originally modded into a hybrid bike by previous owner. The mods I made are as follows: - Upgraded from Sora + Atlus combo to Ultegra 6800 road bike groupset - Shimano Pro Vibe Stem and Handlebars with Supacaz grips - Wheelset upgraded to Axis 4.0 A-Sym - Continental GP40000 SII tyres - FSA Carbon seatpost - S-works saddle The Fuji is easily my favorite bike ever. even though I own a Bianchi bike with Ultegra Di2. A very comfortable endurance bike. Looking forward to upgrade to carbon wheels, and a pair of TRP Spyre brakesets with Ultegra discs. Upgrading bikes, even though is more expensive but is fun as I got to work on the bike myself.
Upcycling old road beauties is an amazing idea. I did it with my old trek 2300 with carbon tubes. Since then everyone is looking at it. I bought it for 500 Euros and put another minimum 2000 into the process of upcycling. But a good wheelset is the best upgrade you can buy.
As someone who is going through this same process on two bikes at once, I'm very eager for next week! BTW, I remember when Treks looked like that, I was 14 then and just getting into road cycling. One of the the bikes I'm upgrading is a 2006 Fuji with those same STI shifters, only with "Tiagra" printed on instead of "105".
Still with CAAD10 but upgraded to mix of latest Dura Ace and Ultegra all over. Cannondale did amazing job with CAAD aluminum frames although bb30 bottom brackets can be a pain
Love this channel I'm building for the second time my 88 cannondale criterium with decent upgrades. I love this frame, so I can't wait for part 2 of this video.
I've bought a 2006 Lemond etape half year ago and it is my first road bike. High quality components, but with 4000km on that saddle needed a lot of maintainance.
John, I love Tech Show more than that other Show just becouse I can see people's bikes and conversions, bike vault. It's not just about latest tech, we (the poor ones) like to see this kind of content. Nice tips about ebaying. Keep them Canning'
This is one series I am really looking forward to following. I sure hope Jon doesn't just breeze through his component selections and assembly. I would like to see the thought that goes into building a super bike on a budget. In a way this project reminds me of my son's hybrid/gravel bike project. My son wanted to ride the Katy Trail in Missouri which is a well known multi day rail to trail scenic trail ride. My son had a young family and not a lot of money so he didn't have the budget for a new bike. It is a long ride that requires good equipment. He bought an old mountain bike with a solid frame on ebay for $200 and then pitched every component and rebuilt it from the wheels up. My son is a genuine Mr. Goodwrench so it wasn't a stretch for him to turn an old mountain bike into something he could ride but component selection and shopping on a budget is very challenging. I am really looking forward to seeing what Jon comes up with.
i thoroughly enjoyed this intro to the series. really looking forward to seeing the next installment. all the new fresh from the tour tech and everything is great, but the majority of the bikes that are shown on the channels are not really things that are 100% relevant to your viewer base. the majority of us won't be investing several thousand dollars on a group set, or another several thousand dollars on a new set of wheels, etc, all in the name of saving a few seconds over the course of a TT. more content for us mortals who own $500-$2500 bikes!!
A few years ago I bought a '97 Merlin extralight for 500 gbp, added a second hand 6800 ultegra groupset with fulcrum racing 3 wheels. Nothing very fancy but a sub 8kg that is a dream to ride
i loved this feature, well until the point you said I'd have to wait till next week to see the outcome, as someone who normally buys second hand ( it just makes sense to re-cycle a cycle) some more vids on buying second hand would be great including how to avoid buying from dodgy sources !
This is a great idea and I am looking forward to the next videos. When I built up my S-Works Tarmac I found all sorts of good deals on E-bay, including a barely used Dura-Ace groupset. People upgrade a lot (especially MAMILs!) so you can do really well by shopping carefully--particularly with a GBP 900 budget. That said, I think I would go back to a quill stem rather than the A-headset for looks. After all, a superbike should have super style.
Jon, seriously, i feel kinda cheated. First i decide to lay hands on my old (t)rusty bottecchia and as soon i find out about "screw riding up grades, buy upgrades" it is too late to take a before picture. Now that i'm done and the bike is ready to be taken out, you release this video. It is almost like you guys want me to do it all over again on another bike. ... i might acutally
Have you turned a cheap bike into a super bike?
Yup. I have an old Specialized Rockhopper MTB from the days before suspension existed. Replaced the tyres, cleaned everything up, new fancy grips, cables and brakes. Rides soooo nicely and the leather saddle is a dream. Paint scheme also looks badass. Thinking about mking it a 1x as well...
Yes. Turned a mid 90ies bottecchia verde natura into a roadbike. It almost certainly isn't super for most people, but for me it's mega.
all bikes are super 👿, even the bodgy ones! and yes, I've bought about loads of bikes over the years, always making sure they were super (i.e. fit for triathlon)
Yes, I just replaced the frame, the groupset, the wheels, tires, and handlebar, and levers, and the sadle and the saddlepost :-) : edit the best upgrade I did to a cheap bike I had was to replace the wheels, and the shifter and brake-cables and housing. Made it to a completely new bike with easy rollin, and muich better shifting performance. Oh, almost forgot, the cheap brakes were changed for some cheap SRAM Apex that was like 10 times better :)
My old specialised Alez
I love this idea of turning a cheap bike into a super bike, GCN we need a new channel from you guys focusing on cheaper bike that people can afford, it could feature bikes that cost no more than 2000 dollars at the highest end of the spectrum.
idk about 2000 maybe 20
There is a DIRE need for this. A whole country of people wanting this.
I've done exactly this with my dad's Trek 5200 USPS replica. Full upgrade for less than £1k and I flippin love it.
Yeeaaah! Those are the stories we wanna see! Better then the fiftiest "why carbon disc brake wheels (only from vision) are 5 watts faster at 40kph" :-)
Never clicked so fast on a video! Keep up the good work GCN!
Cheers Osman, there's loads more to come!
Same!!
3rd that! Great idea!
I can't even buy one 😂😂
Never have I see faster then the speed of light when this video released
A cliffhanger? You're killing me. I can't wait to see the ending. My favorite Cannings video.
Haha, you'll have to watch the next one...
Shannon Ayres it’s going to be a slow 7 days 😀
Right!
So refreshing compared to all the $8000 super ultra high modulus cf aero disk etap bikes that no one can afford.
jo gr not the point, you know what they mean
Really looking forward to this series. I think you guys can continue the series afterwards with build wars where two different teams can battle it out to see who can build a cheaper bike with a budget.
Finally an interesting subject. Refreshing after all those ads, keep this up please 👍👍
My thoughts exactly... GCN take note! ;)
Don't get mad if all the upgrades are from sponsors and at a price not accessible to regular people. But I think a genuine effort would be to keep with rim brakes and upgrade with used but higher end components.
That is exactly what is thought when watching this video
@@newttella1043 I hope they stick with mechanical groupset. No need for Di2 or eTap on that machine. Discs will be impossible.
@@newttella1043 That frame couldn't take discs anyway. You'd also think that if the aim is to turn this into a fast superbike, that discs aren't really a concern. Braking is important, sure, but they're not a contributor to speed. It's got to be about wheels and components and everything that makes it lighter and more watt-efficient.
Yes, horizontal top tube FTW!!!
Amen brother
Can't wait for next week... You really have my attention on this one. Back in Sept I bought almost the exact same bike here in the US from someone via Facebook Marketplace for $600USD. Looks almost identical except it is carbon, Ultegra and Rolf Vector Comp wheels... and a triple crank. I've made a couple minor changes, but anxious to see how much bang for the buck you guys get.
same here. Bought a Trek 2300 for $50 and it came with the rofl wheels. Loved them so much i used them on my racing bike hehe. wish i hadnt sold it 😖
I did with an '03 Trek 1500 SLR done to US Postal specs. Deda 215 bars with Newton stem, full DA 7800 groupset modified with Ti bolts coupled with a 7410 post, Selle San Marco saddle, and a custom 1450 grams wheelset with Bontrager R455 rims laced with CX-Rays to DT Swiss 240 hubs. I also accessorized my bike with a pair of Bontrager XXX cages and a Vetta wireless computer. Bike weight came down to 7.65 kg. Love every minute riding this bike. Future upgrade will be a carbon wheelset.
Man that saddle is really slammed forward!
I have the same trek currently. I bought it whilst at uni on a shoestring budget but over the years have added to it and turned it into a bit of a machine. The build quality (my handy work) isn't the best but it's delivered results. Not a bad bike overall!
Wow! Nice Trek. I had one just like it back in the day. It motivates me to turn a cheap bike into a super bike. The hardest part is try8ng to convince my wife why I need another bike. Excited to see the results. 👍😁👍
Nice going Jon, I can't wait to watch this series. Maybe I'll gleaned some ideas.
That trek is beautiful. I've got the 5900 Team Superlight in satin grey with full dura ace, and it's a beast. Great choice Jon.
about 5 years ago my first road bike was a mid 1990's raleigh with 8 speed 105. I updated the quill stem and bars to threadless, eventually changed to compact chainrings (although I raced it on 53-42!) and got a powertap. Served me well, I only got rid of it because the geometry didn't totally suit me but folks can make it a long way on these old road bikes with decent fitness.
I really really LOVE this video idea! The more GCN I have watched the more I have started to appreciate Jon's specific brand of nerdiness. He's such a nerd, but in such an awesome way. Since he's constantly dropping deep knowledge, it's exciting to see him actually demonstrate some of his real ability as a mechanic. I cannot wait to see how this turns out!
I am very much looking forward to this series! Jon, Don't have too much fun!
Amazing idea. Can't wait too see the following videos
Nice one, stay tuned!
That was the longest week of all time.. Where's part two :)?
About a year ago I traded a set of single speed wheels for a Cannondale R500 frame, fork and breaks. I built it up with parts I had lying around and now it looks great. Its good to see a 90's bike is going to get a nice refresh. Thanks.
This has grabbed my attention . Everyone can relate to this. A budget is very relatable. Having gone through this process to make a winter bike I can say it’s an amazing process
Funny... After watching 100+ GCN videos, I bought an Aluminium Trek 2300 Sl from around 2000 with Ultegra groupset about a month ago. Was already thinking about what to upgrade and today I stumble across this vid....so excited 😁
Never felt so excited towards next week's video
Really looking forward to this series. I picked up a used 2004 Trek 1200 for $250, still in great condition, and I want to build it up as a budget event bike.
My Trek is 28 years old & this is pretty much what I’ve been doing with it, just at a much slower rate! I can’t wait to see how it turns out!
Great stuff! I have that bike in the OCLV carbon frame and I bought it used when it was about 2 years old. I added Dura Ace, Mavic wheels, and a bunch of other goodies and put 10k miles on it. I still ride it occasionally. Can’t wait to see what you do with your bike!
I love bike build vids. I'm excited about this series.
I’m glued to this because I have a 2015 Aluminium Trek from new which is bottom of the range so your upgrade path looks like it could be my template. Thanks so much.
I'd love to see a cheap bike turned to super bike with an unlimited budget. All the latest and greatest kit on this sort of bike
Yes horizontal toptubes are the best looking ones!
Cycling has become status with the bikes. It's become about brand and specs. Weights and numbers.
People forget cycling a gritty sport at its core. It's a sport of heart and "who wants it most" mentality.
No machine can gift you with grit, rough and tough mentality when your HR is 180 bpm and cadence at 120 in a sprint. That, my friends, is priceless and comes from within.
Lance avg 25+ in 1993 at the world championship over 160mile race.
When was the last time your road 25MPH for 160 miles on your 10000 dollar carbon bike?
Jon was born for a challenge like this. I bet he'll make some people with far newer and more expensive bikes a bit jealous in the end.
this time ago last month, i had no care about what bike or rode, or even if I rode at all or not. GCN happened and i'm off to buy my first road bike today :D hooked for good.
What once was old is new again... Fantastic idea for a series of videos! Looking forward to the next instalment.
I'm as excited as the rest of you!
I had an Alchemy over a dozen years back that I had built up with all the components that were going to go on a Ciocc frame I was waiting on (Campy Record, Mavic, etc). I loved riding the Alchemy so much that I put a cheap build on it when it was time to move the components onto the Ciocc frame and relegated Alchemy to being a commuter. Time ticked on and I was recently thinking I'd give it a major upgrade but sadly a fire took it from me ... I've had my eye out for a bargain Alchemy ever since to do the kind of thing I think you're about to do here. I don't think it's quite right to say it'll be turned into a "Super Bike", I think borrowing from the auto industry and calling it a "Restomod" is more accurate :)
I must have got a great bargain with my bike. 2006 Trek 1500 SLR for £185. Carbon fork and seatpost, Ultegra groupset, Bontrager racelite wheels, and climbs like a dream with a 3x10 drivetrain as well as being super slippery on the flat and descents. Seems in pretty good condition and has given me many happy miles
I just started the same project a week ago on a Cannondale CAAD8. So far:
1) Bike fit
2) Replaced square tapered BB/crank for HollowTech II with shorter crankarms
3) Swapped for lighter and shorter bars and stem to adjust with new fit dimensions
4) Recabled
Last thing to do is get new wheels. I thought about changing groupsets, but the return of investment for small weight savings wasn't worth it for my budget. Hopefully your findings prove I did a good job!
Something a little different for GCN.. I love it!! Part2 soon 🤞
I finished a budget build over the weekend. Btwin triban 500se £50 and 105 standard chainset + bb £10 from cyclists fight cancer charity bike shop. Transplanted components Donor bike, costing £110 from ebay, dura-ace shifters and brakes, Ultegra rear mech, 9 spd ultegra cassette, bontrager wheels and itm carbon handle bar had to £5 worth of inner cables from LBS. Rides so much better and I have a bunch of parts to sell on.
What I've found is that thanks to enduring standards, it's pretty easy to upgrade / replace these parts, especially with rim brakes, 130/100mm spacing, and especially the trusty BSA 68mm bottom bracket, parts that are made a decade later fit fine on an old bike.
👌
5 years ago, I bought a really cheap Stevens San Remo with a Tiagra 9-Speed from 2008 for 200 EUR... served me quite well, but had to repair many things, even the freewheel in the rear wheel broke. I still love it, exspecially the bright red color.
AH!! Gutted! I thought I was going to see this start to finish. Such a tease! Can't wait to see what you guys do to this.
Haha - you'll have to wait and see...
@@gcntech Looking forward to part 2 of Pimp my Ride! :D
Wheres the syringe compartment?...... Oh wait its just a replica, silly me
Lmao 😂
Horizontal top tubes, I lov'em
I did something similar... I restored a Basso Viper frameset and build a bike whith Campagnolo Chorus 11s 2018. and Mavic Ksyrium tubular wheelset. the bike is great! Cr-mo Frameset and 7960g the final weight. Great bike and smooth!
Looking forward to the next episode of Pimp My Bike.
Yo dog, I heard you like riding, so I put a bike on your bike so you can ride while you ride!
I did this a year ago with, funnily enough, a 20 year-old Trek 1000 Lance Armstrong TdF Replica that was given to me by my neighbour. I've stripped the old paint off with nitro mors, resprayed it slate grey, took all the old components off, upgraded it to the latest 105 groupset and with Deda finishing kit. And the bike is brilliant. Is it faster, don't know but it's certainly more stable and enjoyable to ride and for me, that translates to faster. It's now my winter training and adverse weather bike. This'll be staying in the family for sure.
Very very anxious for that series of videos!!!! Love the channel, Jon!
GCN Tech I literally just contacted an eBay seller about a 5200 b/c I wanted an iconic road bike to train on...they don't want to ship it?!! So I decided to go to my local shop instead. I serve in the USAF 🇺🇸 and said as much to the eBay guy...no dice! I'll live vicariously through your channel!!! Thanks;-)
Hope you find something else instead!
More of these type of videos please GCN....great stuff
This is a really great idea. I am playing with a similar idea of building a bike with inexpensive components to see how it compares with my other bikes built with higher dollar parts.
I did exactly this for my winter bike. Build consisted of: Mint condition second hand Cannondale CAAD 12 frame set; mint 2nd hand SRAM red mechanical groupset (cranks were unused - 30 quid paid on ebay! Just £70 for shifters) coupled with a brand new Campagnolo Scirocco wheelset. Yes, all for well under £1000! Problem is, it's so good that I now need a winter bike to cover for my winter bike! First World problems.
I had an almost identical Trek, bought new in 2001. I upgraded the Wheels to Shimano Ultegra. It was a great machine. My first road bike. I remember it was great at climbing. Sold it in 2005 to upgrade to a Giant 😊
A vicious tease. Looking forward to the rest.
Such a good idea! Cant wait to see the next episode!
great video. can't wait to see the end result!
Hmm. Aluminium old Trek... I bought a 1983 Carlton Pro mk 5 frame, and built it with Campagnolo Record / Comp Triple / Centaur mix with Deda / Fulcrum finishing bits for under £500 all from forums and eBay. Absolutely superb, great ride. Only downer is previous owner sprayed it as a Raleigh. Which I'll change when the paint is gubbed.
Done one of these for myself - picked up an old Allez bike minus wheels on the Bay - stripped it and re-assembled with some decent Shimano gears, upgraded Spesh bars/stem/seatpost and Fulcrum wheels. Its putting my Tarmac to shame!! Its the future!!
You must send it in for our Upgrades segment!
absolutely love this! Eager on seeing how this project turns out and what will be upgraded :) More of this!!!!@
Perfect timing! I have a 2000 Specialized Allez I just started the planning phase of a complete paint and upgrade.
Dude, I'm utterly dismayed right now. This is a brand new upload today, so I actually have to wait for part 2???!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Should come with a warning! :D
Anyway, really nice score on that bike, that frame should be nice and stiff. Can't wait to see what you do with it. I did something similar with a $200 Craigslist Specialized Allez 105 9 speed. Put another $400 in it and won a race against a lot of super bikes. (hint: The go fast is in the wheels and crank/BB, and a really dirty trick is a Sora crank with Ultegra BB). I still feel like its much quicker than my Trek Speed Concept
I have the same bike, bought new in about 2001. Mine was setup with a triple on the front (no compacts back then) and did many thousands of km. Some of the wear components have been replaced - rear mech is ultegra (I think I couldn't get a long arm 105 mech when it needed replacing), shifters are Sora (no more triple shifters in the upper ranges when those were replaced), wheels are Shimano RS10s and I had to replace the seat clamp (I can't remember why but I do remember that it was my first purchase at Wiggle back in 2005). The bike was still in regular use on the road until 2016 when it was relegated to turbo trainer use and replaced with a Trek Domane.
Fun stuff. A retro-mod series would be so cool. Maybe Jon could use some of those parts he has in his hoard.
Looking forward to part 2 of this video!
I purchased a like-new 2009 Cervelo S1 for $650 with all original parts that all still work great. I will be upgrading the wheels, crank, bars and stem - should be a pretty sweet ride this summer!!!
Just fitted out my trek 5500 with 2013 super record and zipps.. Weighs 6.9 kg.. Flys up the hills with a sEMI compact chainset and 1129 cogset
Great idea for a series and already well-executed by Jon. I'm looking forward to the result.
I know I'm going to love this series. Who can resist an old skool frame with new super components? Apart from the sniffy "that's sacrilege!" crowd. This is going to be a thing. I can tell.
My Cheap Bike: 2013 Fuji Sportif 1.5D, I bought second hand which originally modded into a hybrid bike by previous owner. The mods I made are as follows:
- Upgraded from Sora + Atlus combo to Ultegra 6800 road bike groupset
- Shimano Pro Vibe Stem and Handlebars with Supacaz grips
- Wheelset upgraded to Axis 4.0 A-Sym
- Continental GP40000 SII tyres
- FSA Carbon seatpost
- S-works saddle
The Fuji is easily my favorite bike ever. even though I own a Bianchi bike with Ultegra Di2. A very comfortable endurance bike. Looking forward to upgrade to carbon wheels, and a pair of TRP Spyre brakesets with Ultegra discs. Upgrading bikes, even though is more expensive but is fun as I got to work on the bike myself.
Really looking forward to this. I had the exact same bike, but black. 1999 Trek 2200. The stock Rolf wheels didn’t last long
Great video idea and it’ll be good to see an old decent bicycle recycled into something anyone would be happy to turn out on
Upcycling old road beauties is an amazing idea. I did it with my old trek 2300 with carbon tubes. Since then everyone is looking at it. I bought it for 500 Euros and put another minimum 2000 into the process of upcycling. But a good wheelset is the best upgrade you can buy.
I bought a very similar 2003 Trek with Ultegra groupset and Carbon fork.
This video is perfect inspiration for upgrades!
I bought a USPS frame earlier this year. It's totally race-worthy and only cost me 600 to build up!
Brilliant idea! I love this sort of thing. You should definitely do this more often. Maybe an annual budget build special?
Great idea!
As someone who is going through this same process on two bikes at once, I'm very eager for next week! BTW, I remember when Treks looked like that, I was 14 then and just getting into road cycling. One of the the bikes I'm upgrading is a 2006 Fuji with those same STI shifters, only with "Tiagra" printed on instead of "105".
I ride a Cannondale CAAD 12 because I love the horizontal top tube. I can’t wait to see the finished bike!
CAAD 13 will be out soon. Wonder what spec it's going to be ?
Still with CAAD10 but upgraded to mix of latest Dura Ace and Ultegra all over. Cannondale did amazing job with CAAD aluminum frames although bb30 bottom brackets can be a pain
Jon, This is a great segment/topic. Very interesting....keep up the good work!
Love this channel I'm building for the second time my 88 cannondale criterium with decent upgrades. I love this frame, so I can't wait for part 2 of this video.
I've bought a 2006 Lemond etape half year ago and it is my first road bike. High quality components, but with 4000km on that saddle needed a lot of maintainance.
John, I love Tech Show more than that other Show just becouse I can see people's bikes and conversions, bike vault. It's not just about latest tech, we (the poor ones) like to see this kind of content. Nice tips about ebaying. Keep them Canning'
Really excited for this series! It's hit the ground running with the first episode.
This is one series I am really looking forward to following. I sure hope Jon doesn't just breeze through his component selections and assembly. I would like to see the thought that goes into building a super bike on a budget. In a way this project reminds me of my son's hybrid/gravel bike project. My son wanted to ride the Katy Trail in Missouri which is a well known multi day rail to trail scenic trail ride. My son had a young family and not a lot of money so he didn't have the budget for a new bike. It is a long ride that requires good equipment. He bought an old mountain bike with a solid frame on ebay for $200 and then pitched every component and rebuilt it from the wheels up. My son is a genuine Mr. Goodwrench so it wasn't a stretch for him to turn an old mountain bike into something he could ride but component selection and shopping on a budget is very challenging. I am really looking forward to seeing what Jon comes up with.
i thoroughly enjoyed this intro to the series. really looking forward to seeing the next installment. all the new fresh from the tour tech and everything is great, but the majority of the bikes that are shown on the channels are not really things that are 100% relevant to your viewer base. the majority of us won't be investing several thousand dollars on a group set, or another several thousand dollars on a new set of wheels, etc, all in the name of saving a few seconds over the course of a TT. more content for us mortals who own $500-$2500 bikes!!
Right up my strasse! Can' t wait for Ep.2
Haha yes!
A few years ago I bought a '97 Merlin extralight for 500 gbp, added a second hand 6800 ultegra groupset with fulcrum racing 3 wheels. Nothing very fancy but a sub 8kg that is a dream to ride
The only problem with this video is that it's too short, great vid!
I shall be following this with interest, this is the sort of thing I love.
Us too!
Can't wait to see the next episode!
i loved this feature, well until the point you said I'd have to wait till next week to see the outcome, as someone who normally buys second hand ( it just makes sense to re-cycle a cycle) some more vids on buying second hand would be great including how to avoid buying from dodgy sources !
I love the idea of upgrading bikes, can't wait to see how this will looks after the upgrades.
Have you ever done one?
@@gcntech Long Story short, it is the story of my life!
I really enjoyed this video. I’m looking forward to part 2. The USPS/Lance Armstrong connection is deeply ironic...
This is a great idea and I am looking forward to the next videos. When I built up my S-Works Tarmac I found all sorts of good deals on E-bay, including a barely used Dura-Ace groupset. People upgrade a lot (especially MAMILs!) so you can do really well by shopping carefully--particularly with a GBP 900 budget. That said, I think I would go back to a quill stem rather than the A-headset for looks. After all, a superbike should have super style.
Jon, seriously, i feel kinda cheated. First i decide to lay hands on my old (t)rusty bottecchia and as soon i find out about "screw riding up grades, buy upgrades" it is too late to take a before picture.
Now that i'm done and the bike is ready to be taken out, you release this video. It is almost like you guys want me to do it all over again on another bike.
... i might acutally
Would we ever...
I'll take the old one if you build another one :P
This is gonna be interesting, can't wait. More content like this would be great.
Love this video! I've got an eighties and a nineties bike with modern components. Retro Rocks!
I am looking toward see next episode about that bike! Great show Jon!
This is exactly what I like. Cater for everyone, not just the people who can spend 2 or 3 grand on a bike. 👍
half way though doing my own build of a 97 caad3 saeco ... thinking of going etap with my build ..
CreepyDanTheLizardMan I love that frame 👍