First time build - what else do I need?

[timbob]

Having bought myself a cheapish first road bike back in spring 2012, I'm now looking to upgrade. Money is tight, and the plan is to buy a new frame and transfer the components across from my old bike. I'm coming from a Viking San Remo 2012 bike with Shimano 2300 shifters (I think), but 8 speed Sora gears.

I've discovered the frame is too big for me - it's a 59cm top tube - I'm 5'9" and have to have the saddle all the way forwards, and have fitted a 70mm stem, but I'm happy with other things - I've upgraded the saddle, bars/tape, pedals, tyres, wheels etc...

I've decided to go for the newish Ribble 525 steel frame - it looks good, I like retro spindly steel, it's cheap, in stock, and I've pulled the trigger on an appropriately sized frame and the matching carbon fork, complete with a "hidden" 1 1/8th 45x45 headset (on Ribble's advice).

The question is.... Will I need anything else?? I'm hoping/guessing that most things can simply unbolt from my old frame and bolt onto the new one? Or will I discover I need a new bottom bracket, new brake/shifter cables, new whatever else...?

[upsidedownmark]

Going to a smaller frame you should get away with re-using most of it, or at worst having to buy some new cable outers. Likely areas for problems are:

front derailleur mount - depending on if it's band on/braze on etc.
stem - steerer tubes may not be the same (probably are)
seatpost - again plenty of different diameters
Bottom bracket - as you've identified. Hopefully both are the same.

That'd be about it I think.

[timbob]

upsidedownmark said:

Going to a smaller frame you should get away with re-using most of it, or at worst having to buy some new cable outers. Likely areas for problems are:

front derailleur mount - depending on if it's band on/braze on etc.
stem - steerer tubes may not be the same (probably are)
seatpost - again plenty of different diameters
Bottom bracket - as you've identified. Hopefully both are the same.

That'd be about it I think.

Cool, and thank you Hopefully I'll be ok - my front derailleur is clamped on, so I imagine I can just transfer across (I'm assuming the tubes have a standard size in key areas like that to ensure compatibility?) I think I'll need a new stem anyhow - my current 70mm stem will be far too short on a better fitting frame.

Well, the frame will be here next week, my new headset has arrived already... So I'll report back

[Gizmoish]

Should be fine, but seems a shame to have a nice frame/fork with entry level components?

Something like this would make it all feel much better...

http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/road-parts/t...

[simonk68]

Steerer tube spacers - get some nice shiny metal ones for a retro bike - and fork bung / star nut

Would agree on the comment about group set, if budget allows - 2300 isn't great, a complete Tiagra groupset is about £250 if you look hard enough and 105 not much more. That gets you into 10sp territory with proper shifters you can use from the drops.

[timbob]

I know the groupset isn't great, I guess... But budget is the issue! At least for he moment - if and when things wear out, they will be upgraded - I can only justify so much spending in one go!! However, I have a hankering after a Campag group set in any case