Originally Posted by
jbonamici
Of course you could always upgrade to a 7 speed freewheel with your existing wheel and throw some barcons on and be done with it. Spoken like a flatlander, I know.
This is a good option. A new 7spd freewheel is about $20 shipped and new 8-spd Ultegra bar-end controls (barcons, to be used in ratcheting friction mode) are about $50 on Ebay. You'll probably want to retape the handlebars too for about $10. I've done this to two 80's bikes with perfect results. They ride very nice and who need all those extra speeds anyway.