Originally Posted by
Shiloh253
Out of curiosity, would an 8 speed shifter work on a 7 speed cassette? I've seen a ton of 3x8 STI's at a decent price, but absolutely nothing for 3x7. Just wondering if they even exist, or if there's a way around it.
If everything is Shimano, probably. Check Sheldon Brown's site, and you'll see that the spacing between 7 and 8 speed is pretty close. Some on this forum make it work, some don't. I'm one of those who says the spacing is close enough to work.
I'm also of the opinion that if you find a hybrid frame that works for you, or even a rigid mountain frame that fits, you can find budget parts to make a road worthy machine. I know folks that have an MTB frame set up with narrow 26" tires and drop bars that work just fine on the road. They're heavier than a regular road bike, but great for bad roads. So I wouldn't discount any bike for a conversion