Hi, greetings from Italy.

Here I submit a question that I couldn't solve anywhere else.


First, the pics:




Olympia Camoscio Team from first half of the nineties, full 8s Shimano XT
Shimano Sora 8s levers (don't know the year)


I'm thinking of buying both to create a drop bar mtb setup for cyclotouring. But I was wondering about compatibility... in particular:

1) Sora levers are 8s, but the seller doesn't know whether the levers are 3x8 or 2x8. I heard that all 8s Sora levers had 3 positions anyway, and 2-rings setup were simply a matter of limit adjustment... can I just assume it will work with 3 chainrings?

2) Should I expect any cable pull problem with the derailleurs? I heard the RD should be fine, how about the front one?

3) Brakes are cantilevers. I heard that cantilevers will work with road levers without problems, is it true?


Thank you in advance for your help

I think the front derailleur is likely to be a problem.

Shimano road and mountain front derailleur have different cable pull requirements. The Sora STI with 3 fixed shift positions is going to be hard, if not impossible, to set up. Switching to a road bike front derailleur isn't a very attractive option either because all road derailleurs are down pull and your bike frame is configured for an up pull front derailleur.

Your canty brakes and rear shifting should be fine.

You could always use shimano bar end shifters. That's what I'm running on my drop bar mtb conversion. There's a lot to be said for running friction for the front crankset in any case.

I think so too, particularly when you are mixing and matching components.

Thanks for the feedback. I guess I have to rethink the situation

Your Sora shifters will work just fine with the xt system . I had the same setup with a Cannondale T700 and never had a problem . The left shifter should say triple on the top of it .

The rear shifting isn't a problem, the front might be. If your front chainrings are large enough and if those shifters are triple compatible you would be able to find a front derailleur that would work. That looks like a beautiful bike. Well worth the effort. For touring, bar end shifters may well be the best solution

Brakes and RD will be fine with the Sora, FD probably not. Since it's indexed you would need a Shimano "road" FD to make it work. Note that the Shimano "MTB" FDs use a different cable pull.

Another +1 for bar-end shifters. That's the way I'd setup the bike pictured if drop bars are the goal.

Take a look at: Top pull adapter for road front der- Mtbr.com

And https://www.speen.de/Docs/Specification%20Umlenker.pdf

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/dmr-mech-...10815/?geoc=us

My 1992 PDG 70 has something like this as original equipment - works great.