Winter Bike Conversion

tenbar
tenbar Posts: 94
edited October 2009 in Road beginners
Hello all

I have an old early 90's steel road bike which I am thinking of using as a winter hack. However it still has downtube shifters with a shimano biopace front and ultegra 600 rear set up. Is it worth fitting new brake lever gear shifters or should I not waste the money?
Have any of you done this?
cheers
tenbar

Comments

  • balthazar
    balthazar Posts: 1,565
    You'll end up having to replace a lot of components to get STI to work, I'd stick with the downtube shifters. Just pretend you're in American Flyers.
  • Slow Downcp
    Slow Downcp Posts: 3,041
    I did think about doing it, but stuck with downtube shifters. I may switch later if I use it very often (only built it up to commute and not maaged it yet for various reasons). You'd pretty much need a new groupset and wheels (depending on what wheels you have now)
    Carlsberg don't make cycle clothing, but if they did it would probably still not be as good as Assos
  • GiantMike
    GiantMike Posts: 3,139
    Are your downtube shifters indexed? If 7 or 8 speed.....

    I got a set of used R500 shifters/brakes on here for £45 and they work great with my Shim 105 8 speed set-up. Best of all they're still worth £45 and next year will be worth £45 too, so it's not wasted money if you get new use out of an old bike. You could also think about selling off the downtube shifters on http://www.retrobike.co.uk if you need the money, the older the better.

    For your conversion you'll need the following:

    New cable outers (and prob inners too) - £6ish
    The screw on downtube converters to turn the boss into a ferrule housing - £5ish
    STI shifters - £30-70 depending on the quality/condition
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,892
    Down tube shifters are THE new thing, so much so that Shimano have just unveiled their new Dura Ace version. Before that I was all set to do the same as the OP and try to convert. I'm currently on 7 speed Ultegra so I reckon would have to change:-

    Levers
    Front mech (?)
    Chainset
    Chain
    Rear mech
    Cassette
    Rear hub (new wheel)

    Added to this I am not sure if 9 / 10 speed fits within the same hub clearance on the rear stays? I assume this frame measurement didn't change on bikes when 9 speed and above came in or did it?

    I need to make some of the above changes anyway as I want to get some lower gears so want a new 39 tooth chainring (will probably change the 52 too as it is a bit worn) and a 13-21 7 speed cassette which seems to be out of stock everywhere. Added to that I really ought to change the chain and rear mech jockey wheels so may as well go the whole hog and get the extra gears if it will fit my frame?

    (Sorry Tenbar for nicking your thread - was just about to do one similar myself!) :wink:
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    Keep the DTs...
  • volvine
    volvine Posts: 409
    i had the same problem but stuck with the original d/t shifters and after two rides it didn't bother me in the slightest money saved and happy.
  • Stellite
    Stellite Posts: 544
    I got an old 1980s road bike off a mate with the intent to use the frame and replace all the old components with new stuff, but in the end just stripped it down gave all the vintage shimano 600, capag chain set, and Modolo brakes a good going over.

    Dont have the heart to get the frame re jigged to get newer wheels to fit.

    Downtube shifters and old components are the new black apparently 8)
  • bice
    bice Posts: 772
    I think downtube shifters are great for commuting as there's no maintenance. But I put some Campag Centaurs shifters on a 1996 steel frame, as it was a really good one. Depends how much you like the frame.
  • STEFANOS4784
    STEFANOS4784 Posts: 4,109
    edited October 2009
    Pross wrote:
    Down tube shifters are THE new thing, so much so that Shimano have just unveiled their new Dura Ace version. Before that I was all set to do the same as the OP and try to convert. I'm currently on 7 speed Ultegra so I reckon would have to change:-

    Levers
    Front mech (?)
    Chainset
    Chain
    Rear mech
    Cassette
    Rear hub (new wheel)

    Added to this I am not sure if 9 / 10 speed fits within the same hub clearance on the rear stays? I assume this frame measurement didn't change on bikes when 9 speed and above came in or did it?

    I need to make some of the above changes anyway as I want to get some lower gears so want a new 39 tooth chainring (will probably change the 52 too as it is a bit worn) and a 13-21 7 speed cassette which seems to be out of stock everywhere. Added to that I really ought to change the chain and rear mech jockey wheels so may as well go the whole hog and get the extra gears if it will fit my frame?

    (Sorry Tenbar for nicking your thread - was just about to do one similar myself!) :wink:

    Not just some 7 speed sti brifters then :?
  • i like the downtube shifters on my commuter. i'm less likely to spend my time fannying around thinking about gears. i'm just head down and grind.