Triptic

I was given a late 80's custom Alan carbon fiber bike. The shifters are currently on the frame, and I would like to move them to the handles. Can I use a brake/shifter combo on the current derailleur? Or would I need to upgrade everything?

barba

The shifters would have to match the number of gears on the rear cluster. What kind of parts are on there now?

Triptic

I don't have the bike with me today, but I can check. I just didn't know it if the gears moved in stages somehow instead of moving a lever to move the derailleur.

barba

They move a set amount for each "click" in the shifter, if that is what you mean by "stages". A cheaper and easier option may be bar end shifters in friction mode.

barba

You would just need new cables and housings. Post a picture of your bike, the number of gears and the names of the shifting parts. People here can probably walk you through things.

Triptic

Either way, I would have to extend the cable to the handles. Is that hard to do? This is the first time on this site, what are the best places to order parts from to do it myself?

splytz1

you need new cables (among other things).

here's a start:

https://www.loosescrews.com/index.cgi...d=916073325566

Triptic

Thanks for your help

Retro Grouch 

This is going to turn into a more extensive project than you probably imagine. Finding brake/shift levers to match your 6 or 7 speed rear hub isn't going to be easy. Respacing your frame to match a more modern rear wheel isn't going to be possible because it's carbon fiber.

Al1943

Yeah, I'd leave them where they are.

Butterthebean

the OP can always go with 8 speed brifters which are plentiful on Ebay. If the bike has a 6 or 7 speed cassette/freewheel in the back, simply adjust the high limit screw to not allow the chain to be thrown off the outside of the small cog.

Chunk those old brake levers and replace with the brifters. You'll need new derailler cables and new brake cables...plus you'll have to extend your derailler cable housing from the bars down to the downtube cable stops, which you can buy cheaply. Then just rewrap your bars and you're done.

barba

8 speed shifters will not index properly with a 6 speed cluster. You may be able to get them to work with a 7 speed cassette using Sheldon's alternate cable routing trick, but I would hardly call Al1943's take nonsense.

Friction bar ends would be my suggestion if you want the shifting on the bars.

Butterthebean

No disrepect intended...I edited out the offensive comment. And I agree with the bar end shifters...it's the way I'd go. I love barcons and I love friction shifters.

My point was only that if I had a bike with downtube shifters and I didn't like them...I certainly wouldn't leave them where they were. It's not that hard of a job to do something different and there are certainly several options the OP can choose from.

For instance...I also have a bike setup with Kelly Take offs and friction shifters...it's alot of fun to ride.



But it seems that the majority of folks don't want friction shifters, that's why I recommended the brifters.

Al1943

What I should have explained is that there are some advantages to downtube shifters especially on older bikes. I really think classical bikes look great with downtube shifters. And they are easier to maintain, lighter in weight, and more dependable. Even though I do my riding with STI and Ergo shifters I always appreciate seeing a well kept earlier bicycle on the road.
I think it would be really easy to spend too much money on upgrading a 6 or 7 speed bike to 8, 9, or 10-speeds. This requires rebuilding the rear hub or rear wheel as well as replacing the shifters, chain, and in some cased the derailleurs. Quality 8-speed components are getting hard to find so if you were to do the upgrade it would make more sense to go 9 speed or even 10.
I think it's best to clean and lubricate everything that moves but don't upgrade.

Al

Butterthebean

Some very good points. I guess it depends on what the OP's bike has on it now as far as gearing is concerned. All we know is it's a late 80's custom carbon fiber bike. Could still be an 8 speed cassette...in which case there are some 8 speed brifters to be found.

In an aside, I think it's funny that people rarely suggest stem shifters when bar end or downtube shifters are mentioned. I guess people normally associate them with cheap bikes, and they are inexpensive. But they work just fine if you want friction shifters. And they clean up the bars nicely. They are also not nearly as far to reach as downtube shifters if you have more of an upright riding position.

Triptic

It has Shimano 105, with 7 gears on the rear cluster.

maddmaxx 

Sora 7 speed brifters would work fine. If bought new, they even come with housings, cables and cable stops to replace the downtube shifters. QBP used to have them and the LBS might be able to order them.

In the worst case, it might require a sora front derailleur (a very inexpensive option)

the beef

If it's 105 indexed, then Sora 7 speed (or RSX or something) would work.

Triptic

So, I could use these?

https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...0&category=902

And I would want the double, because the front hub has 2 Cassettes?

BTW: Saying "Sora" without "Shimano Sora" was really confusing. But, thank you very much for the advice.

Al1943

That would be a double "crankset" with 2 "chainrings" (unless it is a triple). The front hub is part of the front wheel. You have either a 7-speed cassette or freewheel at the rear of the bike.