Hey guys, I just found out that the downtube shifter for my rd is shot and instead of just replacing that part I think I might just completely update my drivetrain. I wanna upgrade to have at least 8 gears in the back (maybe even 9 or 10) and I was wondering exactly what I would need to get to do that. My bike is a Trek 560 with biopace chainrings up front and a 6 speed freewheel in the back. I also have a shimano 600 sis rd. Any help is much appreciated.

-Ryan

Who can help Ryan out?

East Hill

To upgrade to 8 speed:

-new rear wheel
-new cassette
-new 8 spd right shifter (might as well get the set)


for 9 speed:

same as above except:

-new 9 spd chain
-new 9 spd shifter
-new 9 spd cassette

for 10 spd:

-everything as above, except change all mentioned parts to 10 speed
-and you will need a new crank inner chainring (the small one if it's a double) that is compatible with 10 speed. Or just get a new set of 10 spd cranks...

Also, while you can probably jam a modern wheel into the frame with no difficulty, it might be more ideal to have the frame cold set to 130mm. Love the 87 Trek 560, fixing one up for myself right now actually.

Of course you could always upgrade to a 7 speed freewheel with your existing wheel and throw some barcons on and be done with it. Spoken like a flatlander, I know.

Do you really shift that much during your rides? Do you race? After going to brifters for awhile, I actually went back to DT shifters and 6 speed freewheels on all my bikes. 12 speeds are really enough for me.

Ok so it seems like its basically the same procedure for upgrading to 8,9,10 speed. If I have about 200 bucks to work with what kind of wheel, cassette and shifters should I be looking for? And do they make downtube shifters that go up to 10 speed?

Oh and one more thing, is my RD gonna work with the new parts or will I have to replace that also?

You know when I ride to campus I only shift when I get stuck at lights, but now Ive started riding with some guys with more modern bikes and they just kill me with those extra gears. It seems like I can stay with them in my top gear but then they still have 2 more gears on their cassettes to just blow right past me

Sorry, not the answer you want, but for $200 you are looking at used low end gear. You really might be better served just getting a different freewheel with more of the gear combinations you want.

How much would I be looking at spending if I wanted to get at least decent 9 speed equipment?

Also, to make the upgrade to brifters you will probably need a new fd. I've done this upgrade on a few bikes and have not been able to keep the fd on any and have it work without even minor issues. The rd may be alright, but it will almost certainly be less resonsive.

I'm confused. If all you need/want is a higher top gear, you can do that without increasing the number of speeds. Just get a new freewheel with smaller cogs. The main benefit of more gears is having smaller increments.

So we have the full picture, can you tell us what are you running now for your chainrings and freewheel? I haven't been your age for a long time, but even when I was I never rode the top end, and back then I rode with a lot of guys who raced. What exactly are they pushing these days?

If it is stock, his top gear is 52x13. New fast bikes probably have a 53x11. Unless you just really hate downtube shifting, I think a new freewheel is a cheap easy fix.

This is a good option. A new 7spd freewheel is about $20 shipped and new 8-spd Ultegra bar-end controls (barcons, to be used in ratcheting friction mode) are about $50 on Ebay. You'll probably want to retape the handlebars too for about $10. I've done this to two 80's bikes with perfect results. They ride very nice and who need all those extra speeds anyway.

You can buy new 7 speed DT shifters (Nashbar I think for $15) and a new 7 speed freewheel for about $25 - get a 12-22 or 12-24 if you don't climb hills much, otherwise a 13-28 is probably what you have on right now. Getting new 53 and 39 chainrings will help out with gearing as well - more low and high gears with these rings. Don't worry about other riders blowing by you at traffic lights.

It would be very nice if the only thing keeping me from pushing a 53 x 11 was the fact that I don't have one. Sadly, that's never going to happen, unless I return in a future life as a stout British time-trialist.

You and me both!

You don't actually need 8 speeds, and in my case the front der worked perfectly. I kept the biopace 52T and don't really notice it's so different.

Here's my setup from a similar-era bike, with a 600 SIS rear der.
- used RSX 7-spd brifters from ebay. These go for ~$90 for a pair in nice condition
- A 13-28 7-spd Shimano hyperglide freewheel from Harris Cyclery (they apparently don't make the 11-28 that I have) for $20
- A 38T, 130BCD Sugino chainring from Harris Cyclery for $27
- cable set for maybe $30
- total cost around $200

I don't think the 52x11 is particularly useful, and wish I had the 52x13. This is great realistic gearing for flats and hills, and you'll be amazed at how much better shifting will be with these components.

Ehh, STI is over-rated. I have 2 STI 9 speed bikes (1 is DA, the other is Ultegra) and my Panasonic DX5000 with the 6 speed DT SIS shifters is a welcome change when I take it for a ride.

By "welcome change", I'm guessing that if you had just one bike, it probably would not have DT shifters...

How about Modolo Morphos Shifters/Brake Levers?

https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...slisearch=true

The simple solution would be to get a set of shifters from ebay for about 15-20$...You can get 7 speed or 8 or 9...

Can you operate friction shifting? I mean no automated click between gears. Upgrade to a 7 speed freewheel with a new chain. Your biopace cranks are standard 130 bolt circle so you can easily get rings.

Get a 38 for the smallest. Change your cables. You will have a new drivetrain for pretty cheap.

Believe it or not, there are those of us who ride DT shifters exclusively on geared bikes.

Hmm, it would depend on the bike. I mean, if I had to get rid of everything else, I think that my Panasonic would be the last bike in my stall. I wouldn't put STI shifters on it... only down tube shifters... but I would probably upgrade the rear cog to at least 8 speeds and make sure the whole drive train is full Dura Ace.

...Not sure if that answers your question.

In my garage:
1978 Nishiki Superbe (friction DT)
1987 Davidson Challenge (friction DT)
1987 Miyata 912 (STI)
1993 RB-1/7 (Barend indexed)

I'm just saying that for me, I'll choose the STI-equipped bike 75% of the time I want to ride. The remaining 25% of the time, I'll ride one of the others, just to refresh my memory as to why I like STI so much. Again, just my opinion on this.