Originally Posted by
jchabalk
that's great information about the FD, i have a 105 FD on my road bike (it's a double) and it is a pain to keep it happy and use most of my cassette.
Something that i've not been able to figure out is in regards to the 105 STI brifters. Are they capable of shifting a 9-speed cassette (or even an 8 speed)? I'm assuming that it would work the same way the 105 FD works with a double - just set the limit screws properly and be done with it.
Is there another shifter choice i should look at? I'm not fond of the bar end shifters (at all). I'm considering down-tube (used them before and kinda liked them). I want to put a front bag on a second stem. I think the 105s will work fine as long as they'll work with a 9-speed.
I don't want to go 10-speed if i can avoid it.
If they are 10 speed now, you have to run a 10 speed cassette. IRD makes some wide range 10 speed cassettes but Shimano, in their infinite wisdom, does not. If the 105 is a 9 speed, you run a 9 speed cassette. You can't mix and match the shifters and the cassettes. The derailer doesn't care.