Bicycle Mechanics - Ultegra 10s triple STI with double crankset?

Hi,

Im looking for some info about what components I actually need to upgrade.

My in-laws got me some ultegra triple 10s STIs to upgrade my geared bike which is currently a double, mostly 105, 9s. If I put a 10s cassette and 10s chain on the rear can I keep using a 9s rear der and 9 speed DOUBLE front der and crankset? I have attempted to do this but cant get it adjusted (excessive rubbing at the front and wont get the biggest cog in the back). I dont know if that is because I have no experience with der adjustments and should take it to an actual mechanic, or I must get a new rear der as well as a new front der and new triple cranks and bb.

Can the triple specific ultegra shifter be adjusted to shift a double effectively? And have I properly understood that the range of the rear der is the same for 9 and 10s and so since the indexing is done by the sti the 9s rear der is fine?

Any info will be appreciated. Searching for clarification has left me a little confused. Im sorry if this has been well covered before.

Your R DER is fine working with a 10-speed shifter. It's just probably not dialed in properly.
The FR shifter being a triple, I honestly have no experience trying to retrofit it to a double.
I'm sure other posters may. Good luck.

The Ultegra triple STIs and 9 speed double FD will work fine with a double crankset. You may get slightly quicker shifting with a true 10 speed FD though, at least based on my experience going from a 9 speed FD with 10 speed chain to both 10 speed components. For setting up the STIs, make sure you let all of the cable out before attaching the front derailler clamp. You want to be using the first two main positions of the STIs to shift between your two chainrings. The 10 speed Ultegra STIs have a trim position for each chainring. This will allow you to use the full range of the cassette in either chainring by either pushing the brake lever in halfway (for the little ring) or pushing the small lever in halfway (big ring).

As for getting the adjustment correct, read up at www.parktool.com (http://www.parktool.com) and follow their procedure word for word. You'll have it set up in no time.

For your rear shifting problem, did you use the thin (1mm) spacer that's included with every 10-speed Shimano cassette and must be install it behind the biggest cog? Be sure it's there.

Also, you may have to adjust the low limit screw to allow shifting into the largest cog. Many cassette changes, even if the same number of speeds, require trimming the limit screws slightly.

The rear shift cable must be all of the way out of the shifter before attaching to the rear dérailleur.