Dawes Fireball upgrade

Damnedtohell
Damnedtohell Posts: 17
edited September 2008 in Workshop
HI all

I have been given a old bike by a fellow freecycler, its a dawes fireball in good condition. I have done about 200 miles on it but cant get used to the sucide shifters on the downtube. I was wondering if it was possible to upgrade the bike to take these new fangled indexed shifters on the drop bars. It has Shimano 600 groupset on it which I have read on the net are quiet good. TBH I am very new to this, having spent my childhood riding on cheap MTB's, so any and all advice would be welcome. :D

Comments

  • acorn_user
    acorn_user Posts: 1,137
    Probably, but you need to post how many speeds it has, as this affects your options. How old is the bike, can you see if the rear wheel has a freewheel or cassette etc. If you need pointers, have a look at www.sheldonbrown.com.

    Btw, downtube shifters take some getting used to, but I like them a lot. They are also a lot cheaper than STI/Ergo shifters...
  • Damnedtohell
    Damnedtohell Posts: 17
    Hi

    Theres a double set on the crank and 5 on the rear wheel. Do you know what shifters i need? There seems to be a few Shimano shfters I have seen on Ebay but I cant reallt afford to buy ones that might not work as my wive would kill me!
  • Bugly
    Bugly Posts: 520
    suicide shifters? my god man they were the only option on a 'real' bike for a long time.

    In answer to your question assuming you mean the modern integrated brake lever / indexed shifter, yes but it would mean buying the shifers/ brake levers, new rear wheel, new cranks, new bottom bracket, new chain, new cluster, new derailluers front and rear at the least. Oh and you will probably need to cold set the rear stays to accomidate the wider rear axles.

    Its possible but likely to be expensive and more then the bike will be worth. You will probably find it cheaper to buy a new bike. Or ride the old one till you get the hang of things and work out what you really want or need in a bike.

    Good luck

    Bugly
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Yeah - the STI integrated changers are expensive, and not compatible with 5 speeds. That bike must be 20+ years old now ?

    I'd either try and get used to the gears - generations never had a problem when that was the only option, or buy a whole new bike.
  • Damnedtohell
    Damnedtohell Posts: 17
    Yes the model was started the same year I was born,1978. By the sounds of it I have to put up as I like all other aspects of the bike, the feel and the ride are great, and the abililty to ride at 30+ Mph under my own power is a thrill i have got to love :D

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