Introductions - Raleigh Prestige ca. 1996

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum and a recent "convert" to cycling as a form of exercise, after my doc warned me away from running and basketball a year ago. I've always had bicycles and motorcycles in my life, but now am in the position where I need to get serious about cycling to maintain some level of cariovascular and general fitness. I'm 56 years old and in fair condition.

Here's my question. I just bought a used Raleigh Prestige, vintage ca. 1996, from the original owner. He thought he had put maybe 2000 miles on the bike in the first 3 years of ownership, then he stopped riding until recently when he bought another bike. Anyway, this bike has Shimano DuraAce components, Mavic wheels, new tires and tubes, and appears to be pretty much "stock". The frame and components all seem to be in good or excellent shape. It fits me well. I paid $400 for the bike. Was this a fair price?

Second, I need to make some upgrades:
> a new seat and wider bars are in order
> I have new Pearl Izumi, clip-in, cycling shoes and need new compatible pedals for the bike
> And, finally, I would like to convert the derailleur levers (currently on the down tube) to the type that
are built into the brake levers. Is this possible?

I would like to do the upgrades myself, although have limited mechanical experience. Know of any good guides for doing basic upgrades to road bikes?

Hi Bob and welcome to BF. Dura Ace is Shimano's top of the line drivetrain and Mavic usually makes pretty good wheels, but you'd have to research the model to see where they fall in the hierarchy. You can post your questions in the Mechanics or Road forums to get better answers.

Second, I need to make some upgrades:
> a new seat and wider bars are in order
> I have new Pearl Izumi, clip-in, cycling shoes and need new compatible pedals for the bike
> And, finally, I would like to convert the derailleur levers (currently on the down tube) to the type that
are built into the brake levers. Is this possible?

I would like to do the upgrades myself, although have limited mechanical experience. Know of any good guides for doing basic upgrades to road bikes?

Howdy Bob, welcome to BF. You can easily do these upgrades yourself, there's lots of folks in the Bicycle Mechanics forum who could help. Personally, I love downtube shifters and would not bother making the cash investment to swap them out with brifters. While it may seem convenient to shift from the brifters, they add weight, break if the bike is dropped or you crash, and you'll find that you don't need to shift as often as you think you do. Of course that's my own opinion, others will obviously point out the beauty of brifters.

Shimano 105 model brifters offer full functionality at considerably less price than Dura-Ace (a few grams extra weight and loads less snob value). They come with installation instructions and hardware necessary to convert from downtube shifters. You can also find set up instructions on the Park Tool website. Last years models handle 9 cogs at the back, while this years take 10 cogs. If your bike has 8 cogs at the back, you wont need a new hub, just a cassette. Any road bike fits you well is excellent value at $400, that one is a steal.