Newbie Plonker needs advice!!!

puffed daddy

Hi everyone.

I am a novice when it comes to road bikes, been riding them for a while, but not fiddling when it comes to working on them!!! Til today.

I was given a Ribble Road Bike, and the 7 speed cassette wobbled slightly, so I took to fiddling and now after hours of faffing, my neighbour said he thinks the wheel and hub are buggered after all.

All I want to know is,

1. shall I just buy a new wheel, with a 7 speed cassette on, and just go with that, or
2. I have been offered a 9 speed cassette on a nice Mavic wheel.

If I went with option two, I guess I would need to change the rear mech, & the chain too.


Help, whats the best way around this, cheapest too!!! :oops:

Slow Downcp

A little bit of movement in the cassette is fine. If you changed to 9 speed (assuming both the wheels and the frame will accomodate) you would also need new chainset and levers - very expensive option.

puffed daddy

it was wobbling and the chain clanked on it!

Guess I should look for a wheel that with a 7 speed cassette then eh?

Any pointers as to the best place to buy one???

Thanks for the advice too!

Slow Downcp

Have a look on Ebay - you never know you may be able to pick up some 9 speed levers cheap. What gears are on it at the moment, and are they downtube levers or built in to the brake levers? If downtube, you won't need to change them, although you will have to use friction shifting rather than indexed.

puffed daddy

they are built into the levers. Can't find a 7 speed on ebay, all 9 and 10!

mask of sanity

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