Is this possible?
07-25-08 | 04:18 PM
#1
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From: Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Is this possible?
I like my "vintage" steel frame bike too much to buy a new one, and I am looking to convert to STI brifters instead of my downtube shifters. I have a Centurion Lemans RS 6speed cassette. Is this a silly thing to do? expected price?
07-25-08 | 04:43 PM
#4
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From: Ffld Cnty Connecticut
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If you go to brifters, I think you will need a compatible rear wheel with cassette. If you want older used 8 speed, you need an 8 speed brifter & 8 speed rear wheel. Or 9 speed brifter & 9 speed wheel .... I don't think a brifter will work with your existing wheel because the freewheel spacing does not match the spacing of the indexes in the brifter.
You need to narrow down what you want, then ask more specific questions.
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07-25-08 | 04:49 PM
#5
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From: Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Alright... Will a 8 or 9 speed cassette replace my 6 speed? im willing to change my rear derailleur and chain. I'm looking for Shimano it doesnt really matter if it is Sora or Tiagra or 105, any of those would be an upgrade to my current setup
07-25-08 | 04:55 PM
#6
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From: Santa Cruz Mountains
See https://www.sheldonbrown.com/k7.html for hub info. If you have a 6sp Uniglide then you will need to do some machining or filing, or buy a new rear wheel.
Franky, the Centurion wasn't all that great a frame back in the day. If you like it for sentimental value, fine, but considering the number of parts you'll need to change to get close to modern, it may be cheaper to buy a new bike. Depends on your scavenging skills.
Franky, the Centurion wasn't all that great a frame back in the day. If you like it for sentimental value, fine, but considering the number of parts you'll need to change to get close to modern, it may be cheaper to buy a new bike. Depends on your scavenging skills.
07-25-08 | 05:09 PM
#7
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From: St. Louis
My 'old man' rides a 1983 steel frame Terranaut that he considered replacing last year. Instead of spending $4k on a new bike, he stuck with what he liked and knew fit him perfectly.
He upgraded every component on the bike to Ultegra. Downtube shifters to brifters, cassette, crank, brakes, hubs, wheels, pedals... everything. He says it's like a brand new bike, and regrets not doing it earlier.
He spent $1300 total, including install. Check out PBK for component group in your price range.
He upgraded every component on the bike to Ultegra. Downtube shifters to brifters, cassette, crank, brakes, hubs, wheels, pedals... everything. He says it's like a brand new bike, and regrets not doing it earlier.
He spent $1300 total, including install. Check out PBK for component group in your price range.
07-25-08 | 05:12 PM
#9
Batüwü Creakcreak
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: The illadelph
Here's my conversion. A 1984 trek 760 that had downtube shifters to a campy brifter setup. (This ones for you acorn 
)
For a parts list, you'll need shifters, RD, chain, cassette, and wheelset. You might be able to make do with the FD and crank. I'd try it first that way before making any changes. You should know that you'll need to pull the dropouts apart a little to fit the wheel in, so a little force is fine for steel.
You should check if the chain would fall through the gap between the chainrings on your crank. It's a good possibility that it might, so budget for a crank and bottom bracket as well.
It might be cheaper to just buy a full 105 or rival groupset or a campy groupset if thats what you want.
)For a parts list, you'll need shifters, RD, chain, cassette, and wheelset. You might be able to make do with the FD and crank. I'd try it first that way before making any changes. You should know that you'll need to pull the dropouts apart a little to fit the wheel in, so a little force is fine for steel.
You should check if the chain would fall through the gap between the chainrings on your crank. It's a good possibility that it might, so budget for a crank and bottom bracket as well.
It might be cheaper to just buy a full 105 or rival groupset or a campy groupset if thats what you want.
07-25-08 | 05:30 PM
#10
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From: Scottsbluff, Nebraska
See https://www.sheldonbrown.com/k7.html for hub info. If you have a 6sp Uniglide then you will need to do some machining or filing, or buy a new rear wheel.
Franky, the Centurion wasn't all that great a frame back in the day. If you like it for sentimental value, fine, but considering the number of parts you'll need to change to get close to modern, it may be cheaper to buy a new bike. Depends on your scavenging skills.
Franky, the Centurion wasn't all that great a frame back in the day. If you like it for sentimental value, fine, but considering the number of parts you'll need to change to get close to modern, it may be cheaper to buy a new bike. Depends on your scavenging skills.
08-12-13 | 11:00 AM
#11
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 71
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From: St. Louis, MO
Bikes: '11 Giant Defy2, '05 Salsa Las Cruces, '94 Schwinn Passage and '86 Schwinn Sprint
keep your old bike as is.
Start hunting craigslist for a possible project. Find a donor bike with nice components, then find a frame to swap the parts over to.
Much cheaper than getting anything from the store
Start hunting craigslist for a possible project. Find a donor bike with nice components, then find a frame to swap the parts over to.
Much cheaper than getting anything from the store
08-12-13 | 11:56 AM
#12
pan y agua
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,809
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From: Jacksonville
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Assuming you have braze on bosses for your down tube shifters, this is the key little part ( or one like it ) that you need.
https://www.bikepartsexpress.com/mm5/...FchaMgod2HsATA
I converted a Schwinn Paramount OS from 7 speed D/T shifters, to 9 speed brifters. It wasn't a big deal, and it worked fine. But I did it with a used group I already had, and it was a pretty expensive frame, in pristine condition.
I wouldn't put a lot of money in doing the conversion, where I had to buy parts new, needed new wheels, and had to cold set the frame, unless I was really in love with the frame.
Buying a newer used bike with 9 speed brifters would be a more cost effective choice.
https://www.bikepartsexpress.com/mm5/...FchaMgod2HsATA
I converted a Schwinn Paramount OS from 7 speed D/T shifters, to 9 speed brifters. It wasn't a big deal, and it worked fine. But I did it with a used group I already had, and it was a pretty expensive frame, in pristine condition.
I wouldn't put a lot of money in doing the conversion, where I had to buy parts new, needed new wheels, and had to cold set the frame, unless I was really in love with the frame.
Buying a newer used bike with 9 speed brifters would be a more cost effective choice.
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You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
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08-12-13 | 11:59 AM
#13
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From: Ffld Cnty Connecticut
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OP has probably made a decision in the 5 years since the thread was started.
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08-12-13 | 12:05 PM
#14
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Joined: Jul 2012
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My 'old man' rides a 1983 steel frame Terranaut that he considered replacing last year. Instead of spending $4k on a new bike, he stuck with what he liked and knew fit him perfectly.
He upgraded every component on the bike to Ultegra. Downtube shifters to brifters, cassette, crank, brakes, hubs, wheels, pedals... everything. He says it's like a brand new bike, and regrets not doing it earlier.
He spent $1300 total, including install. Check out PBK for component group in your price range.
He upgraded every component on the bike to Ultegra. Downtube shifters to brifters, cassette, crank, brakes, hubs, wheels, pedals... everything. He says it's like a brand new bike, and regrets not doing it earlier.
He spent $1300 total, including install. Check out PBK for component group in your price range.
08-12-13 | 12:09 PM
#15
pan y agua
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,809
Likes: 1,232
From: Jacksonville
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
08-12-13 | 12:35 PM
#16
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 21,978
Likes: 1,153
From: Ffld Cnty Connecticut
Bikes: Old Steelies I made, Old Cannondales
Assuming you have braze on bosses for your down tube shifters, this is the key little part ( or one like it ) that you need.
https://www.bikepartsexpress.com/mm5/...FchaMgod2HsATA
I converted a Schwinn Paramount OS from 7 speed D/T shifters, to 9 speed brifters. It wasn't a big deal, and it worked fine. But I did it with a used group I already had, and it was a pretty expensive frame, in pristine condition.
I wouldn't put a lot of money in doing the conversion, where I had to buy parts new, needed new wheels, and had to cold set the frame, unless I was really in love with the frame.
Buying a newer used bike with 9 speed brifters would be a more cost effective choice.
https://www.bikepartsexpress.com/mm5/...FchaMgod2HsATA
I converted a Schwinn Paramount OS from 7 speed D/T shifters, to 9 speed brifters. It wasn't a big deal, and it worked fine. But I did it with a used group I already had, and it was a pretty expensive frame, in pristine condition.
I wouldn't put a lot of money in doing the conversion, where I had to buy parts new, needed new wheels, and had to cold set the frame, unless I was really in love with the frame.
Buying a newer used bike with 9 speed brifters would be a more cost effective choice.
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