Converting old frame to take STI shifters

west green

Hi - looking for some advice, i have 531 Brian Rourke (late 70s) and I'd like to take the Shimano RSX/105 7 speed of my heavy Ridgeback and fit to the much lighter steel frame. OLN is 122mm so fitting 7 speed shouldn't be too much of a problem, but where I get stuck is I don't have any braze ons for the downtube - I'm assuming it was band on before - but I bought it as just a frame and have been running it as a single speed. What can I get to fit downtube cable guides so I can fit the STI's downtube cable adjusters? Also, is ther anything else to be wary of? Trawled the web and a lot of advice saying stick to downtube friction shifters but this isn't a mint resto, and I prefer STI's + want this as a practical bike to be used comfortably. Any and all advice welcomed, thanks WG

craker

I'd run outers all the way from the shifters to wherever the cables used to run (under the bottom bracket?). I've got inline adjusters on my bikes and they run from outer to outer.

keef66

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/origin8-clam ... prod26491/

Or use one of these with some in-line adjusters, or do the adjustment at the mech

Alternative is to have some barrel adjusters brazed on (which will muck up the paint) or attached via Rivnuts

ugo.santalucia

122 mm and 7 speed will be a problem... I have a 126 mm frame and it struggles to take 7 speed, if the smallest sprocket is bigger than 13.
You might need a bit of cold setting
As for your specific problem, the most elegant solution is band on square bosses which you then top with the adjusters made by Campagnolo and Shimano.
For the former, E-bay is probably your only option, or try asking Nigel at Campyoldy

jgsi

and dont forget you can always call the shop re anything else the frame and its upgrade might throw up.

west green

Thanks for the tips. I'm prety sure the new cassette is a 12-25. it also just occured to me that i will probably have to shim the 105 front derailleur to fit the slightly skinnier proportions of the steel frame (vs 97 Ridgeback)? Anway will look up the band on square bosses /rivnuts - thanks all!

keef66

You can probably find the proper Shimano adapter to shim the front mech clamp if you google.

Alternatively, a short bit of pvc pipe can be sliced approprately (I had to replace the front mech on son's mtb, found a bargain on CRC, but like you, had to shim the clamp)

ugo.santalucia

Front Derailleur shims are hard to find these days... I happen to have a 35 to 28.6 shim which is for Shimano, new and unused. Let me know if you struggle and we can come to an arrangment

west green

Thanks Ugo, I'll check frame diameters for exact measurements