Bicycle Mechanics - Converting a 6 speed to a 9 speed

I have a much loved and well cared for Miyata 912. I recently added a third
chain ring and it operates smoothly. I found due to my age (66) that I need
a wider range of gears to ride the local mountains. I would like to add a Ultegra CS6500 9 speed casette. Is this possible. I would need the following (right?)
CS6500 casette
6600GS Ultegra long cage derailleur
A wheel that would accomodate the 9 speed casette
a Longer chain
Anythin else, besides a good mechanic.
Any foreseeabe problem areas?
Thanks in advance
P.S Any recommendation on wheels to put on?

You would need a wheel with an 8/9sp hub, the cassette, and a new chain. If you are sticking with friction shifting, then it is unlikely that you'll need a new derailleur, I shift 9 speed with a 7 speed derailleur in both friction and indexed mode without trouble. If you are going to substantially larger rear cogs, or are adding indexed shifters, you may need the new rear derailleur just for the additional capacity. If you are going to very large (32t or up) rear cogs on the cassette, you would probably want to get a mountain bike derailleur (like the LX or XT) that can accept larger cogs. It'll shift fine in friction mode.

I'm assuming your frame is steel. If it isn't, you may not be able to spread the frame enough to accept the wider wheel.

peace,
sam

I have a much loved and well cared for Miyata 912. I recently added a third
chain ring and it operates smoothly. I found due to my age (66) that I need
a wider range of gears to ride the local mountains. I would like to add a Ultegra CS6500 9 speed casette. Is this possible. I would need the following (right?)
CS6500 casette
6600GS Ultegra long cage derailleur
A wheel that would accomodate the 9 speed casette
a Longer chain
Anythin else, besides a good mechanic.
Any foreseeabe problem areas?
Thanks in advance
P.S Any recommendation on wheels to put on?

If I'm reading you correctly then I'm not sure why you think you need a 9 speed cassette in order for you to have a wider gear range and lower gears. A six speed set-up can give you the range you require eg. 18-95" without a 9 speed cassette which may mean spreading the rear stays to accomodate the wider cassette. 9 speed may fine for racers who require smaller steps but is not needed for your sort of work. You would need a l/cage derr. and a longer chain but that should do it. I'm your age and I added a 9 speed to my touring bike. I found when loaded that I had to move two gears at a time to get the correct spacing due to the inertia of the loaded bike.

If I'm reading you correctly then I'm not sure why you think you need a 9 speed cassette in order for you to have a wider gear range and lower gears. A six speed set-up can give you the range you require eg. 18-95" without a 9 speed cassette which may mean spreading the rear stays to accomodate the wider cassette. You would need a l/cage derr. and a longer chain .............Actually, cage length is about wrap capacity. If he gets a significantly larger rear cog he may need a MTB RD to shift it. If he went and got a long cage shimano road RD, it would have the same big cog capacity s the short cage.

Thanks

Also keep in mind that a 6 speed bike may not have the proper rear dropout spacing to accomodate a wider 8/9 speed hub.

you could also keep it a six speed and get one of these freewheels:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/freewheels.html#6

Hi Sam Thanks for the response. I bought on Ebay a Suntour ultra space
(32)( thin0 flywheel and a long cage Ultegra rear derailluer. I hope this works.
I do need lower gears as there is no long rides in my area that do no have hills
- 6% up to 12%. I've lost 70 pounds, but I'm 66. I have otiginal 600 down tube shifters, will they work - friction. I read on one of these postings that they are not durable. Do you have a recommendation? How much trouble is it to
****ch to combination brake and shifters? Does the conversion work?
Anything I'm missing. I 'm upgading to Ultegra brakes, Ultegra triple crank,
bottom bracket.
Thanks for your advice and kindness.
Regards, Al

Hi Thanks for your response. I have been off my bike for years so I'm not
in the greatest biking shape. Retired and lost 70 pounds -currently 175 -
so I'm working at it. Lots of hills in my area - 6% to 12%. I love this bike as it was the first bike I ever owned. It is in pristine condition. I small scratch
on the paint. I purchased, on Ebay a Suntour ultra tin rear freewheel, 13-32.
I hope it will work. The seller said it would and I do not have to worry about
spreading the read drop outs. Any suggestions. I have up graded to a Ultrgra
triple, brakes , front derailluer. I have sock 600 down tube shifters - friction-
will this work? I hear they are not durable? Any suggestions on shifters.
Does the conversion to brake/shifters work? I've hear both they don't work
well and that they do. Have any opinion?
Regards, AL

putting brifters on is doable but expensive. I am currently upgrading a 1986 6-speed (12 speed). I decided to stick with the downtube shifters for the sake of financial savings, But I own two other bikes with handlebar mounted shifters, so I don't mind the down tube shifts so much on that old bike.

If you only have one bike, you may want to splurge for the brifters, especailly as it is a nice Miyata you seem attached to. It is definitely a nice convenience to shift from the hoods.

I do think based on what you posted your new freewheel will help you climb better. :)

Hi Thanks, If I go brifters, what should I purchase and how much should I expect to pay? If properly in stalled do they work efficently?
Regards, AL

Hi Thanks, If I go brifters.............. If properly in stalled do they work efficently?
Regards, AL
They seem to be pretty universal on new bikes,if that means anything. But nothing works 'effeciently' if installed incorrectly or with incompatible parts.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=104&subcategory=1194&brand=&sku=3048&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

Sora may be your best bet for bang-per-buck but as Sydney points out this is a holistic upgrade - you'd need to plan out well so everything that needs to mate up perfectly does so. The old "measure twice, cut once" approach.

Just for another option, and a much much cheaper one at that:

http://harriscyclery.net/site/itemdetails.cfm?ID=1024

I did this to my old 1981 Miyata 10 speed: I ripped off the front derailleur and big chain ring, left the small ring up front, put a newer (used) 6 speed freewheel from a late 80s bike in back, and used a similar top-of-the bar thumb shifter for my new 6-speed! It worked very nicely, the convenience of indexed shifting and very reliable and light. I used it with a standard cheapo road derailleur.....either a Shimano or Sun Tour, can't recall which. I used the original chain from the 6-speed late 80s bike....

Obviously the TY31 would be your choice - triple shift up front and 6 in the rear. I would think you could just pop these right on your bike with some cable housing going down to the down tube mounts being your biggest issue - but you'd have that problem with the brifters as well.....It worked very easily on mine because I had stem mounted shifts (it was a Miyata 110 - a much cheaper bike than yours), so there were nice brazed on cable guides on the down tube already - perfect!. But I think you or a good bike shop could rig something up easily enough.

Hi Thanks, you have been a hugh help.
I will let you know how it turns out.
Regards, AL

Forget brifters. They cost lots of $$ and friction > brifters.

Can you tell me which XT rear Der. would work. A seller on Ebay
told me the newest model, he was selling, would probably not shift
well on my Miyata

Maybe you don't want a low normal type,but other than that I duno why.

I own a Miyata 912, 1984 with a five speed suntour screw on freewheel(old type) at the rear, and to be honest freewheels last about three times longer, in fact, you will have to replace your new cassette about the same time as your chain wears out. I would try and fit a freewheel with more teeth on the lowest gear to give you more traction with less effort to get up the hills, extra gears on a cassette wont give you this option, just a wider selection between gears. Also a new chain is always a good idea. Hope this helps.
Regards
Michael67

Before you get carried away on the upgrade. Try putting on a 9sp wheel with a cassette that is close to desired gears - does it even fit? I have an older bike and it did not work (no clearance between smallest cog & chainstay) - rather than having frame "re-set", I am looking a just adding a triple front crank (26/36/48) and sticking with 6sp 13-32 rear freewheel or going 7sp with a a NOS rear hub with 126mm spacing.

Good Luck!

Love that Sun Tour 32 tooth sprocket; just put one on an old Alatia.
You 600 shifters should have a friction mode, but if it were me and indexing was not an factor I'd look for a pair of SunTour barcons.

Wegerg35,

I have a suggestion (assuming you haven't upgraded already - this thread is OLD)

Go with an 8-speed rear cassette and associated bits (shifter, hub etc) assuming your bike will accomodate the new spacing.

8-speed will get you 11-34T or tighter gear spacing if you go with a smaller big-cog.
See http://www.sheldonbrown.com/k7.html