Bicycle Mechanics - New Wheels & Cassette v old componants

Probably a stupid question, but here goes.

I have an old GIANT road bike that has an Exage 400EX r.der. The old cassette was a 7sp shimano hyper glide.

My problem is that the wheels were completely knackered and I had the opportunity to get a pair of Mavic Askium wheels for free, which I did.

Now I’m trying to figure out if I can put a bog standard 8, 9 or 10 speed NEW cassette on the new Mavics, continue to use the existing shifters (SIS) and chaining (Biopace 40 & 52) and r.der?

I appreciate I might not be able to use all the sprockets on the new cassette, but I can live with that.

NB. I do still have my old hyper glide cassette, but there is so much space remaining on the free hub when it is fitted.

Should I just get a new cassette and give it a whirl?:twitchy:

I’d appreciate any advice.

Your 7sp chain would be a major problem, it would be too wide for a > 7sp cassette. Your indexed shifter and derailleur works in a combo, and it won't pull correctly for anything but a 7sp cassette.

Your 7sp chain would be a major problem, it would be too wide for a > 7sp cassette. Your indexed shifter and derailleur works in a combo, and it won't pull correctly for anything but a 7sp cassette.

Wow, very fast response, thanks very much.

I suppose a new thinner chain would not fit the rest of the set up? (chain ring, rear der, etc)?

Thanks for your patience.

WRONG!!!! 8 speed and lower use the same chain. However, the cog spacing on the 8 speed won't work correctly with your 7 speed shifter. There is a spacer available (4mm IIRC) that you can put behind the 7 speed cassette. If your cassette is too worn, the 7 speed stuff is getting more difficult to find.

Thanks demon, by the sounds of it, I'll be better off getting the spacer and trying that out before I shell out for anything else.

Many thanks.