Bicycle Mechanics - 9 speed shifters

Hi everyone, this is my first time post and I'm pretty new to cycling. That'll probably be pretty obvious.

I just brought an old, cheap steel frame bike, but I noticed that the bottom bracket, cassette and brakes were all a little worn so I brought a new groupset online. I was hoping not to spend too much and it seemed reasonably priced, but what I didn't realize was that the set had a nine speed cassette. So I had to buy new wheels.

Than I realized that the groupset didnt come with shifters and my shifters were for a six speed bike. The frame doesnt have brazed mounts. Shifters incorporated into the brakes look pretty expensive and I'm hoping for the cheapest way out here. preferably without resorting to friction shifters. Any ideas?

So what exactly did you buy? Shifters are an integral part of a groupset, and you can't really call it a groupset without them.

From your description of what you have, the cheapest option would probably be get a complete bike; as your currently seem to throwing money at an issue and getting nowhere.

Normally this is the cheapest option whenever you are looking at a major parts replacement, and you also don't have the issues which you are experiencing of parts not fitting / being compatible.

Switch your shifters to friction mode assuming they are down tube shifters or buy some friction down tube shifters and you shouldn't have problems. If you are not willing to use friction shifting buy a diffeent bike. Roger

Welcome to the forums. Pictures and a better description will probably get better answers.

cheapest way out:

keep the 6spd shifters on
keep the old wheel
replace the worn freewheel cluster (note, freewheel, not a cassete) -new 6spd freewheels are still made

return the new wheel -this modern wheel probably doesnt fit the old bike's dropout spacing anyway
sell the 9spd cassette

+1 on what did you you buy? and what do you have?

So you already bought all that stuff?

In that case:

Bar end shifters. 9 speed dura ace. Then use one of these for cable stops on the dt

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31V5xquikBL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

http://www.amazon.com/Origin8-Clamp-On-Double-28-6mm-Silver/dp/B004FSVVN8

cheapest way out:

keep the 6spd shifters on
keep the old wheel
replace the worn freewheel cluster (note, freewheel, not a cassete) -new 6spd freewheels are still made

return the new wheel -this modern wheel probably doesnt fit the old bike's dropout spacing anyway
sell the 9spd cassette

+1 (more or less), these upgrades are more expensive than buying a more modern bike that already has these features.

Thankyou everyone for your replies, they are much appreciated, however they had got me pretty worried, so I should probably explain a couple of things straight up.

Firstly I never intended to make this my first bike build and I know it is far from the most cost effective way of getting a bike. While I fully admit the possibility that this may be entirely compensatory, retrospective reasoning, I must say that I am finding this build a fascinating and mostly enjoyable experience. I have learned so much, and if this bike works, I will consider it a real achievement. I hope that makes some sense to you all as an account of my motivation here.

Second, the wheels and partial groupset have arrived. The 700c wheels fit the dropouts perfectly, and the mounts for the brakes should definitely be in the right position for effective braking. The 9 speed cassette fits the wheel, and the bottom bracket fits snugly into its mount. To put it clearly it appears that every single component I have so far aqcuired fits the frame.

So to return to my problem, the shifters. The partial groupset included a Sugino crank, but everything else was rather new looking shimano Tiagra. Included was: Tiagra Rear Deraillur, Tiagra Front Deraillur, Chain, Tiagra Brakes (Front and Rear), 9 Speed Cassette (I think hyperglide?), English Bottom Bracket and as I said, the Sugino Crank (Compact). There are also brake levers but I dont think I will be using these because I have changed my mind about downtube shifting, I no longer wish to use downtube shifters. I am thinking of buying integrated shifter/brake levers, also tiagra, and what I need to know is this:

Will any Tiagra 9x2speed integrated shifter set work with my partial groupset? Can these shifter/ brake levers be installed on a bike completely externally to the frame (I think youtube answered this question already in the affirmative). And is about 120-150 AUD reasonable?

Sorry, should have explained, I mean can the cables for these integrated shifters be run entirely outside the frame? but as a I said, I think this has been answered for me by Youtube. It looks like that should be OK.

$120-150 sounds okay for Tiagra brifters, as long as they're not about to gum up or have done already...

(Shimano uses crap grease in them which causes the shifter to stop working when it dries up. WD40 often fixes it, but not always.)

$120-150 sounds okay for Tiagra brifters, as long as they're not about to gum up or have done already...

(Shimano uses crap grease in them which causes the shifter to stop working when it dries up. WD40 often fixes it, but not always.)



Awesome Kimmo, maybe one more question too, if it's not too much trouble.

I've been searching everything on the compatability between shimano lines, and it seems there are not often problems as long as everything is of the same speed, but one thing I couldnt get anything on was Dura Ace brifters (7700 or 7703), which I may be able to get even cheaper then Tiagra, and their compatability with (of course) tiagra derreilleurs.

I'm not sure whether they sit higher or lower in the Shimano heirachy, or however you'd put it, but my bike must look beautiful, and the steel paddles and nicer, pointier shape are real selling points! Tiagra ones seem to have a lot of plastic (the newer ones with red indicators are especially aesthetically challenged.)

Thanks in advance!

And thanks for the link to the cable stop veggie (http://www.bikeforums.net/member.php/135617-veggie), I think I'll get a metallic finish though.

Bar end would have been a great solution, but it kind of seems that the STI shifters might not be a bad investment, and may not be as expensive as I first thought. And they look wonderful to use.

Clamp-on downtube 9-speed shifters for $20. Done.

http://www.ebikestop.com/sunrace_slr90_9spd_286mm_braze_on_shifter_set-LD1248.php

(EDIT)
I see these say braze-on, but it also says 28.6 mm, which should be the size of the clamp... the 7 and 8-speed Sunrace shifters also come with a clamp. You won't find any other road shifters for a "cheap" price. Microshift makes flat-bar shifters for 9-speed for around $25.

Dura-Ace shifters are at the top of Shimano's hierarchy, Tiagra is next to bottom. But if you are buying used the condition of the shifters is what's important, and that's a real crap-shoot.

On nine speed STI shifters, I just go with new Microshift units instead. For less than the price of a set of questionable used 9 speed shifters, you can get brand new Microshift units instead.

Tiagra is next to bottom.

Tiagra is a long way from the bottom, it's mid range, just below 105, with 2 groupsets below it.. The only thing that is bottom of the range about it, is that it's currently the lowest 10 speed groupset.

The low end of the Shimano road range is Sora, although 2013 is a major step up compared to previous years, and new at the bottom for 2013 is Tourney A070. http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/shimano-sora-and-tourney-2013-first-look-33204/

Tiagra is a long way from the bottom, it's mid range, just below 105, with 2 groupsets below it.. The only thing that is bottom of the range about it, is that it's currently the lowest 10 speed groupset.

I stand corrected. I forgot about those numbered groups, I'm showing my age.

More a case of Shimano constantly changing their Groupsets.

Road isn't as bad as MTB for this though, with several new groupsets (Hone, Saint, Zee, SLX) over the last 10 years or so; some disappearing (STX, Hone), and others being re-designated as touring (LX) and crossovers groups (XT touring) it's hard to follow what's going on and where they stand in the hierarchy.

More a case of Shimano constantly changing their Groupsets.

Road isn't as bad as MTB for this though, with several new groupsets (Hone, Saint, Zee, SLX) over the last 10 years or so; some disappearing (STX, Hone), and others being re-designated as touring (LX) and crossovers groups (XT touring) it's hard to follow what's going on and where they stand in the hierarchy.

OK. But just to be doubly sure, if I do decide to go with second hand, Shimano road bike brifters, and I go with Dura Ace (or Ultegra, or even the other way, with Sora or 105), there would not likely be a compatibility problem, as long as they're all 9 speed, right?

No dramas. But as mentioned, you don't know how long they'll work for before they gum up, and the WD40 might not cut it.

Have a squiz at the link in my tag if you think you're game to overhaul STIs...

Also, the 9spd Ultegra brifters I'm using (that I picked up for $10 cause they were rooted) weren't just gummed up; they jammed easily, likely due to wear. I had to soften some springs and stiffen others to fix em.

Not an issue with the two pairs of 8spd Ultegra brifters I've done. I reckon they'll go at least another 20 years now they're properly lubed.

The low end of the Shimano road range is Sora, although 2013 is a major step up compared to previous years, and new at the bottom for 2013 is Tourney A070. http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/shimano-sora-and-tourney-2013-first-look-33204/

Pretty meh... although it's interesting that a 7spd STI lever is available again. Or should that be SHAI (Shimano half-arsed integration) levers? (The ones with the little button instead of a flipper.)

IMO the big news here is the new 105 and Tiagra RDs (5701 & 4601) can handle up to a 32 cog. And there's a 6700-A variant of the Ultegra RD that's rated to 30t, available in short or mid cage.