Stem- to DT-Mounted Shifters
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Minnesota and Southern California
Posts: 628
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac (carbon), Specialized Roubaix (carbon, wifey), Raleigh Super Course (my favorite), and 2 Centurion project bikes.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Stem- to DT-Mounted Shifters
'80 Nishiki Road Bike. The new quill stem (100 extension vs. the old 70) was ordered yesterday:
Nitto Technomic Road Quill Stem 26.0 in Tree Fort Bikes Stems (cat125)
Since the bars and tape will have to come off anyway - and on the advice of a lot of members here - I'll use the opportunity to replace the original "turkey leg" brake mechanisms with some newer Cane Creek hood-type mechs, also ordered yesterday:
Cane Creek SCR-5C Compact Aero Levers > Components > Brakes > Road and Tri Brake Levers | Jenson USA Online Bike Shop
Since the above involves removing the bar tape, I've ordered new brown tape to match the new Brooks saddle (thanks, Jane).
And finally and while I've got it apart, why not convert to downtube (DT) shifters? Here is the only source I could find for a new DT clamp to make that change. . . . and it's the reason for this post:
Problem Solvers Downtube Shifter Mount > Components > Shifters > Road Bike Shifters | Jenson USA Online Bike Shop
The clamp linked to above is available from Jenson and is sold as "Shimano-compatible." But the existing stem-mounted clamp is marked "Sun Tour."
Will this be a simple swap? Or will I need to also change over the shift levers from Sun Tour to Shimano as well? I'm thinking some of you here may have already made this type of conversion, or at least know the difference (if any) between the Shimano- and Suntour-type mounts.
Thanks - here's the bike as it looks currently.
Nitto Technomic Road Quill Stem 26.0 in Tree Fort Bikes Stems (cat125)
Since the bars and tape will have to come off anyway - and on the advice of a lot of members here - I'll use the opportunity to replace the original "turkey leg" brake mechanisms with some newer Cane Creek hood-type mechs, also ordered yesterday:
Cane Creek SCR-5C Compact Aero Levers > Components > Brakes > Road and Tri Brake Levers | Jenson USA Online Bike Shop
Since the above involves removing the bar tape, I've ordered new brown tape to match the new Brooks saddle (thanks, Jane).
And finally and while I've got it apart, why not convert to downtube (DT) shifters? Here is the only source I could find for a new DT clamp to make that change. . . . and it's the reason for this post:
Problem Solvers Downtube Shifter Mount > Components > Shifters > Road Bike Shifters | Jenson USA Online Bike Shop
The clamp linked to above is available from Jenson and is sold as "Shimano-compatible." But the existing stem-mounted clamp is marked "Sun Tour."
Will this be a simple swap? Or will I need to also change over the shift levers from Sun Tour to Shimano as well? I'm thinking some of you here may have already made this type of conversion, or at least know the difference (if any) between the Shimano- and Suntour-type mounts.
Thanks - here's the bike as it looks currently.
#2
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,934
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3571 Post(s)
Liked 3,366 Times
in
1,915 Posts
Most stem-mounted shifters of that era do not transfer easily to standard downtube mounts. Since your 1980 vintage bike is almost certainly using friction shifting, there is no need to match the brand of the shifters to that of the derailleurs; you can use any downtube mounted friction shifters.
#3
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,453
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3634 Post(s)
Liked 5,311 Times
in
2,699 Posts
That seems kind of expensive for just a clamp. If you would consider bar end shifters, you can get Shimano 8 speed that will also work as friction for about $60 from Ribble. Comes with cables. Seems like more for the money and a more elegant solution. That's a good price for the brake levers and I expect you will like them.