Converting from downtube to STI
 

Anyone know of a kit to convert from downtube shifters to STI shifters?

I'm doing exactly that right now. Tell me about your bike. How many speeds, how old is it?

First of all if it already has 130mm rear frame spacing and 130mm rear cassette wheel you are in luck. IF it is 126mm rear spacing you will need to spread the rear triangle (most shops do this for $25 to $40) and obtain a 130mm cassette rear wheel. ( tHis is needed for 8, 9, 10 speed STI shifters)

You'll have to do more modifications, but tell me what equipment you have on your bike.

It is my wife's bike.

The bike is a mid 90's Specialized Epic with a really nice CF frame. I put a shorter stem on it and she is more comfortable, but she does not like shifting because of the downtube shifters.

The drivetrain is only 7 speeds, but I am prepared to make the switch up to 105 for a 9-speed drivetrain (Brifters, rear der, rear wheel, chain, cassette, cables will be replaced, but I think I can salvage the cranks and front der).

I was just wondering if there is a kit for the downtube bosses to put the cable stops in their place. Everything else is not too complicated for a wrench like me.

If you do not want to spread the rear triangle [Do I recall correctly that the Epic is a carbon fibre frame? If so, do not spread it.], you can build up an 8-speed cogset using 9-speed cogs and spacers; see Sheldon's website for more details.

Every set of new STI levers that I've seen came with a pair of cable stops that replace the down tube shifters.

A mid 90's bike will almost surely have 130mm rear dropout spacing so you're in luck there. Converting to 9-speed will require either a whole new rear wheel or a major rework of the one that you have. If it's a triple, I've not had good luck with using the existing derailleur on 9-speed conversions, so you may need to replace that also.

Fortunately, it is a double.

I'm planning on putting on a new rear wheel.

Did the same on same bike. The Epic Carbon has 130mm spacing, but a 7-sp freehub on the 105 configuration.

Option 1 (cheap): Pair of Shimano Sora 7-sp levers. That's it. Keep FD, RD, chain, everything else. It works like a charm.

Option 2 (more expensive): Go to 8- or 9-sp. Pair of whatever 8- or 9-sp levers, new freehub, re-space and re-dish rear wheel (or new hub, or new wheel), probably new RD, probably new chain, may keep FD and chainrings.

Any idea where I could find 7-speed Soras? I've looked in a couple of places and find a lot of 8-speed brifters.

Got mine here:
http://www.loosescrews.com/index.cgi...d=805486725480

You can purchase downtube shifter mounted cable adjusters- order them from QBP through your local shop, or google around for a source. They convert you shifter bosses to cable stops/ adjusters. They should be about 20 bucks full price, but you can find them discounted- campy and shimano both make them. The Shimanos are better in my opinion as they are easier to adjust the rear cable on the fly than the campy design.

The cable adjusters (plus outer+inner cables for brakes +der, plus cable thingy for under BB) all come with a lever set, so you don't have to buy separately.