Miyata 110 upgrade worth it?
 

I located a clean 110 for $125.

I need a backup bike. I have mixte, but the relaxed geometry is odd; my hip hurts for a day after riding more than 20 miles. I can ride 60 on a Felt 65 with no trouble.

Can I upgrade a Miyata to 105 brakes, brifters, and complete drivetrain? I haven't done this before. I wonder whether the BB will accept new bearings and crank, and whether I can bypass the downtube shifters.

Anyone who can refer me to the geometry specs will receive my thanks.

Have you checked here for specs? http://www.miyatacatalogs.com/

What year is the 110, what's the rear spacing (5 or 6 speed)?

You can put most any modern crank on the bike other than a BB30 setup, and yes you can bypass the DT shifters. Is it worth it, probably not.

+1 For enough money you can do anything. The least expensive way to replace the downtube shifters is with barends. Updating the brakes, shifters, etc may be straightforward or difficult depending on the actual configuration of the Miyata such as rear dropout spacing, brake mounting type, etc.

I checked for specs. The actual bike for sale doesn't match any photos in the catalog, although it comes closest to a model in 1989. The spec sheet for '89 lists components by brand, but very little numeric data of real use.

I'm not trying to do a miracle by saving this bike. I just need a backup. And one with geometry that doesn't hurt my hip (no surgery, no history) like my mixte does. That's why I may pass on the Miyata and save up for another Felt. I really like their bikes.

Thanks for suggesting bar-end shifters. I didn't know they existed, but now I do! Ingenious solution...