Minimum components required for 10speed?
 

So I moslty a retrogrouch, and aesthetically would rather stay on the 7speed side of the cycling technology, But I also think its about time a tried out integrated brake/shifters. So I was wondering what the minimum amount of 10speed components I need to make sure everything works smoothly.
I'd like to set my bike up as such: 10speed sram rival shifters, deraillers, hubs. Thats it! Do I need 10s specific chainrings? Does my crankset have to match my front der in some way? My reason for going for Rival instead of some older 8s/9s stuff is that first of all I think STI lever are hideous, and second, I just dont feel like running campy. What I really want are doubletap shifters that will index to 7 speed, but as far as I know, no shiftmate or anything will every make that possible.

either go all or nothing in my opinion. canabalized 10-sp systems are possible, but the right way to do things is just to jump in and buy a groupset and replace everything.

at a minimum, i think you would need new

shifters
chain
rear hub/cassette
rd
fd
chainrings

10-sp chain is quite a bit narrower than 7-sp...

ideally, just get a whole new bike with a modern drivetrain, and keep your retro bike retro.

oh, btw - get with the program, 11-sp is where its at.

i had 7 speed and when i upgraded to 10, i didn't change the crankset. it did shift ok but later on i got a new crank on another frame and moved all the drivetrain over and the shifting in the front was infinitely better.

on the old crankset, i would have to stop pedalling, shift and then turn the pedal for the best shift. new crank i don't have to worry about what to do with my feet. just keep pedalling and shift.

Are the dropouts even the right width?

If it's a 7 speed bike I have to think its steel in which case no issue...

i have to say that having done the 7 to 10 upgrade and then got a new bike ith 10, i would not do the upgrade again with hindsight.

just get a new 10 speed bike. i liked the 7 speed even though i prefer the 10 speed STI. i wish i still had the old bike as a 7 speed DT shifting. currently have it as a SS but may later turn it to 7 again.

This is for a new custom frame that I am building myself. There is no upgrading or coldsetting to deal with. Since I'm building it myself I can anticipate a number of different component choices, it just comes down to the small things like spacing, DT shifter bosses or just cable stops, etc. Also since its a custom, I feel more inclined to make it a total mish mash of parts. I've got 3 months to decide....

You're thinking about it too much. Build up a bike and ride the damn thing. That's it.