Maybe this is a silly question, but it popped into my head the other day and I don't know the answer. I recently bought a new mtb (Speciaized FSR XC) to replace my old Trek 930 which due to injuries and aging no longer fits me at all. Now I have the trek on the trainer - I put on a cheap adjustable stem (sticking straight up) to be able to train in bad weather.
Here's the question...
The 930 has a complete, very smooth and reliable Shimano STX group on it that I really like (7speed rear, triple front). Would it be possible to hang this group on a cross frame? Obviously the only major question is if I'm using road bars, are there any STI style shifters that will work with the STX 7-speed rear? I'm thinking of a sturdy, road style bike that could be comfortable and a bit lighter for longer road rides, charity rides, and commutes over some very rough roads. Otherwise I'll just find a cheap mtb frame in the correct size for a city bomber.
Iffacus
05-10-05, 01:29 PM
Shimano Sora levers should be ok, and according to the Parkers website (Uk based shop) will work with the triple as well
I have a set of 7 speed RSX STI shifters taken off a tandem and put on my pit bike. The rear works fine, the front a little sticky, I have to constantly soak it in lube- its a triple that I blocked to use on a double ring. If you can find RSX or Sora 7-speed cheap, then go for it. But Ebay prices on these are usually too high (60-80 bucks for used SORA???) For this reason I may actually sell mine as they still look good, and replace them with bar end shifters that are lighter and more reliable than cheap STI's for cross racing in mud and sand. I would think about these instead. Don't even think about the Modolo Morphos shifters that Nashbar was pushing not too long ago. Nice idea, but they're junk. Similarly Kelly Bike has (had?) some adapters that allow you to mount downtube shifters off to the side of your brake levers. Nice idea, but a friend had these and hated them. They looked pretty awkward. For cross racing, if your bike is set up properly you should be comfortable in your drops for most of the race- your bars are more shallow, higher and closer than your road set up. Like this, STI's arent that much of an advantage over bar end shifters because you're in the drops most of the time anyway. When your drivetrain goes to sh*t in mud and goo, you can switch bar end shifters to friction mode and continue to function when STI would leave you on foot. This is especially true if you don't have the luxury of a second bike and pit "crew" (ie buds or sig other standing in silent suffering in the rain while you play waiting for you to growl "bike change!" as the highlight of their race day) Keep it simple, keep it light, keep it cheap and find some bar-control shifters. 8 speed should work fine for a 7 speed cassette, with an extra "ghost click" - no biggie.
-edit- sorry, I just noticed youre not racing. For the rides you describe, the bar-end arguements are even more true. Bar ends are perfect for tours and joyrides. My RSX shifters on the tandem were replaced by Bar-ends. Ahhh... much better shifting, and can be easily fixed or adjusted or reset to friction on the fly. I'm never going back to STI for a touring machine.
jstream
05-12-05, 09:25 AM
Thanks for the answers. I'll probably try out the Soras as I'll most likely be speding more time on the bar tops or hoods (old body is too bashed up for long ride comfort on the drops). Okay, I'm 43 (not too old) but feel like 83. Bad back, left leg has nerve damage, left ankle only flexes 50%, 6 breaks on 5 ribs... This is mostly an exercise in putting good old parts to use, and to make longer rides with my wife and her hybrid a bit easier. The mtb I bought with trail riding in mind, the cross bike would be for most everything else - esp commuting to a probable new job. As the body gets rebuilt, I can always upgrade or go back to road bikes.