Bar-End Shifter Question?
 

So...My Iron Horse MTB is just sitting here collecting dust...

I'm thinking I might add drops bars/fenders/and appropriate tires and use it this winter.

The drivetrain is Deore LX 8s.

Since I know zero about Shimano stuff...What bar-end shifters should I look for to work with the Deore LX RD/cassette?

Also...I'm gonna need some purple bar tape...suggestions? :p

Suggestions on cheap fenders and "winter" tires welcome as well...

TIA

I don't have recent experience with indexed derailleur shifters, but I think any of the Shimano bar ends will work for you in the indexed setting. If you plan on friction, you can use any bar end shifter (Suntour, Camapagnolo, Shimano). An old Barcon is tough to beat.

Newbaum's cloth tape comes in eggplant. Other colors could be made purple with the right shellac and number of coats.

As for fenders, I like aluminum or stainless if you're going to be rough on them. That's mostly because I don't like the way plastic fenders look.

I'm assuming your bike uses 559 wheels and not 622.

I have no experience with tires on snowy roads, but I'm also looking to build up a vintage MTB with fenders and studded tires if/when I find one 23" or bigger.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OW41hoDyNe...ewb_swatch.jpg

Hey Justin... I don't think I'll be using cloth or shelllac. This is a mid-90's aluminum rigid. I definitely want indexed.

I'm more worried about price than looks in this case...rather not sink much into this project.

Planet bike fenders from the Co-Op probably...Maybe some cork tape if I must.

Will any Shimano 8-s bar-ends work???

You can use Ultegra bar end shifters:

http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-SL-BS6.../dp/B000F5EFOC

Thanx GB...Seems to be a good price @ Amazon as well. Probably take one quick shot at an ISO posting and then order those...

TA

As long as the 8 speeds are ultegra and not DA (dunno if they even made 8 sp DA barcons) they should do fine with most Shimano RDs.

If you don't care on looks, I've got a ratty beat up set I can send over for cheap. Got'em from Bianchigrll a while back, and upgraded to 9 sp.

Get some midge one bars..those look pretty sweet.
If you put drop bars on it, I suspect you will probably get some aero brakes as well. If you have inline and not cantis you will need travel agents to get the right pull on the brakes.

you should have put them in your BOC. LOL

For both friction and indexing the Ultegra works great. I have/currently used these with Shimano 8/9 speed and they perform flawlessly. The midge bar is also an excellent choice, I like mine.

Your plan sounds solid! If you're going to be riding on snowy roads, I would recommend a 1.8 to 2 inch knobby. The narrower tires slices through the snow down to the pavement, which is mostly guaranteed traction. If you're feeling saucy, you can buy, or better yet, make your own studded tires to help deal with icy situations.

If you're going to be trail riding, try to get something a little wider perhaps, but you may be limited to your tire/fender choice on an older frame. For trail use, I use 2.5" freeride tires with heavy duty tubes aired down to about 20psi, sometimes less. The added surface area and low psi conforms to ground deformities better, adds to off road traction, and allow me to float over some stuff.

any of the 8speed barcons available new are the one with the compat pull ratio. there were very old DA-only 8speed shimano barcons, but they're scarce these days. Any shimano barcons will work in friction mode.

While many retailers will call the various barcons "ultegra" or "dura-ace" shimano considers them non-series items. Only the very old 8 speeds from the 90s will be incompat with your lx.

-rob

ps-jenson has them, dirt cheap.

Sounds perfect... I'll send a PM over shortly.

TIA

Hey... I have drops sitting around to use...and a set of Dia Compe Edge aero levers. Brakes are cantis. so good to go there...

TA

I currently have 1.5" Serfas Drifters (inverted tread tires)...what do you think? I could also steal/swap the Conti Traffics off my wife's Africa Bike...???

Oh yeah...all paved road FWIW.

Yes, they did:
Shimano 8-speed bar-end shifters: SL-BS64-8.
Shimano Dura-Ace 8-speed bar-end shifters: SL-BS50-8.
Shimano 9-speed bar-end shifters: SL-BS77.

8 speed Ultegra's work with on my 75 Voyageur II with 7 speed Shimano freewheel and a Deore long cage RD. The Hi stop on RD limits them to 7 speed.