Bicycle Mechanics - 10 speed to 18 speed?

Hi everyone,

I currently own a mountain bike that I really love but am planning to do intercity long distance trips and would like to put together a road bike or a hybrid or take a race bike and remove it's handle bars and shifters and replace them with something more comfertable.

I've started by looking at garage sales to see if I can find some little jewls. I've been finding lots of 10 speed racers. Does anyone know how possible it would be to add one additional sprocket to the front and the back to turn the racer into an 18 speeder?

Fadi
Can also reach me at:
mo.mashi_at_gmail.com

The rear axle will be a lot more robust if you use a wheel with a freehub rather than a free wheel. Sheldon Brown tells you how to spread the rear triangle to take a freehub (provided you have a steel frame).

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/frame-spacing.html

It would be easier to find tires if you can find a bike with 700c wheels ratrher than 27", but whatever size wheels you use get aluminum rims, not steel.

You will need a new crankset to get the extra chainring, and maybe a new front der to get the travel across the 3 rings, but these should not be very expensive.

I've started by looking at garage sales to see if I can find some little jewls. I've been finding lots of 10 speed racers. Does anyone know how possible it would be to add one additional sprocket to the front and the back to turn the racer into an 18 speeder?

Fadi
Can also reach me at:
mo.mashi_at_gmail.com
If the bikes you are finding are truly 10-speed, i.e. 5 speed freewheels and two chainrings, they are very old and will require a lot of work to modernize.

You will have to spread the rear triangle to allow any modern 6-speed or greater wheel to fit and will need a new triple crank and bottom bracket and possibly a new front derailleur.

If the bike has 27" wheels, fitting 700c may or may not be feasible depending on whether the brake pads will adjust downward the needed 4 mm to line up properly.

I recommend you start with something a lot more modern. What you spend in higher initial cost will be more than made up for in component cost savings.

Don't bother with upgrading any 10 speeds you find. Waste of money.

PS When you say 10 speed most people assume you're talking about the number of cogs on the rear cassette not the total amount of gears you have.

PS When you say 10 speed most people assume you're talking about the number of cogs on the rear cassette not the total amount of gears you have.
Not those of us who have been riding for quite a while. :)

what is your budget? what you need is an old road bike with enough gearing for what you what to do, check craigslist or ebay. a friend recently got a road bike with downtube shifters of ebay for 100 bucks. and I see some good deals on craigslist which will eliminate shipping.