How can I change components on my bike?

[greta]

I have sora 8 speed triple and I would like to change components so I have a choice on where to put my hands on the bars. Do I have to change the entire drivetrain or can I just buy new shifters? If I have to change the drivetrain what all does that include? Thanks if anyone can help me.

[alpinerabbit]

pardon my confusion - but to have various positions for your hands has more to do with the handlebar than the level of groupset your bike has installed? do you have a flat bar? I don't get it.

[DebW]

With Sora road shifters, you can only reach the small lever (that shifts to smaller cogs) from the tops of the levers. Can't do it from the drops. You should be able to replace just the shifters.

[alpinerabbit]

Hmmm... So Sora is the ones with the knobbly thing like Campy has.
From my past Campy shifters I was able to do it from the drops, it was just a wee bit awkward. Is there so much of a difference?

Sora: http://bilder.afterbuy.de/images/27640/sora_sti_klein.jpg
Campy Chorus: http://www.bike-x-perts.com/images/Chorus_EP-72.jpg

[DebW]

The secondary lever is so high up on the Sora shifter that it can't be reached from the drops. Not like Campy which is made to be usable from either position. Though that picture of Sora you posted looks different from the ones I've seen and worked on. Maybe they've recently changed the design.

[aicabsolut]

You can just buy new shifters in theory, but there isn't much 8spd around for road anymore. So, you may need to replace most of the drivetrain to be compatible with 9 or 10spd. It is possible to block out certain gears with shifters that work for more gears than you have, but it's not really a good long-term option.

You'll probably need a new rear derailleur, new cassette (possibly new freehub on your wheel, but that depends), and new chain. The crankset and front derailleur may or may not be compatible. However, if you're changing everything else, you might want to look into a full upgrade kit (There are various configurations). With that kit you are likely to get a volume discount on the parts, which is cheaper than getting most of the components piecemeal.

[Triskeliongirl]

I have used 9 spd sti shifters with a 7 speed drivetrain just fine, you just have some empty clicks. If you have small hands, I recomend the shimano ultegra level brifters that are designed for small hands (ST-R600), these are the ones I used with an older 7 speed drive train just fine.

http://www.lickbike.com/productpage.asp?PART_NUM_SUB='0496-03'

[greta]

So I went to bike shops and asked about upgrading and i was told i should just get a new bike. my husband said that's because they want to sell me one but it seems to cost a ton to get upgraded. I don't know why they made the sora shifters and put them on drop style handlebars. should've just used a flat bar for all the good it does. oh well, i guess i should've researched more.:confused:

[alpinerabbit]

I honestly still do not know what your real problem is, as sora are made for drop bars.

Perhaps if you described your issue, there might be some more input?

[Cataboo]

I honestly still do not know what your real problem is, as sora are made for drop bars.

Perhaps if you described your issue, there might be some more input?

I think it's already been covered in this thread that you can't shift gears when down in the drops with sora shifters.

So her problem is that she can't shift in the drops.

Sora may be made for a drop bar, but it's retarded to have a bike that you can't shift from the drops.

Least that would be the only way I can interpret what she's saying.

But maybe she just wants an upgrade.

Greta,
Finding a used bike with a componentry level you want might be a good option - I'm not sure it is worth paying full price for a new bike with the components you want because it's too expensive to upgrade your old bike.

Can you or your husband do any of the work yourself?

[Becky]

I honestly still do not know what your real problem is, as sora are made for drop bars.

Perhaps if you described your issue, there might be some more input?

Unless you have really long thumbs, you can't upshift the cassette from the drops on a bike with Sora shifters. You have to bring your right hand up onto the hood to make the shift. The left hand is less of a problem because you're downshifting with the thumb lever, and less likely to be in the drops.

[alpinerabbit]

ok, ok, I hear ya, but she never did say that, everyone was just extrapolating. I hardly ever did shift from the drops on my campy.

Then it is unfortunate (not to use the r word) and only another 9-speed shifter will do the trick. Aren't there any? like this one?
http://www.silentsports.com/store/product/4315/Shimano-R500-8-spd-STI-Levers/

I see they probably do cost you almost half as much as the bike that shop sold you.
Caveat emptor.
I spent 500 to go from a large double to a compact crankset when I bought my "deal" of a first roadie :-( but that was only about 20% of what I'd spent.

[Becky]

ok, ok, I hear ya, but she never did say that, everyone was just extrapolating. I hardly ever did shift from the drops on my campy.

Then it is unfortunate (not to use the r word) and only another 9-speed shifter will do the trick. Aren't there any? like this one?
http://www.silentsports.com/store/product/4315/Shimano-R500-8-spd-STI-Levers/

Sorry...I was typing and didn't see Catriona's similar post. Didn't mean to come on so strong.

A shifter like that would do nicely. However, 8-speed shifters like that are hard to find anymore, and the price of new shifters could be $250-$400USD.

Greta- you might ask a bike shop who their distributor(s) is/area and ask to flip through the catalogs. Sometimes, you can order just right-hand shifters and certain distributors may still have some 8-speed stuff. I'll try to remember to check our distributors' catalogs next time I work at the shop.

Another possibility is to look on Ebay for older Shimano RSX shifters. Mine were 8 speed and just recently gave up the ghost , after many years of excellent performance.

[DebW]

Another option would be bar end shifters. Continue to use the Sora levers for the brakes, but add bar end shifters for the gears. The price of bar end shifters is around $80 I believe. Would probably need new gear cables and housing and have to rewrap the bars, but total cost <$100.

[alpinerabbit]

yeah but she'd have to let go of her drops to use the barends in those end-stage sprints or whatever other moment she assumedly intends to downshift from the drop bar position. Mightaswell let go and shift from the old STIs.

[lunacycles]

BTI (wholesaler) lists the Shimano R500, which is an 8-speed brifter that allows shifting from the drops. They aren't in stock, but they are still listed, meaning they can probably be ordered via another wholesaler.

I'd also recommend checking ebay. Old 8-speed STI shifters were great, smaller than the current varieties that are more bulbous.

I find it hard to believe a 9-speed version works well on a 7-speed drivetrain. Regardless, it wouldn't run well on 8 if that is the case, as the spacing is different.

[Triskeliongirl]

I find it hard to believe a 9-speed version works well on a 7-speed drivetrain. Regardless, it wouldn't run well on 8 if that is the case, as the spacing is different.

My husband and I were on cape cod, and he had a bike friday with an old shimano 7 speed set up. His sti rear shifter failed, and we couldn't find anything in the local bike shops, and had a trip to P-town planned. I happened to have a set of new 9 speed brifters I had just picked up for another bike I was planning to build when I got home, so we decided to try it. We were also surprised, but it really did work fine. Perhaps it doesn't matter if the spacing is different, since you use the limit screws to tell the derailleur how far to move with each shift.

[greta]

yeah but she'd have to let go of her drops to use the barends in those end-stage sprints or whatever other moment she assumedly intends to downshift from the drop bar position. Mightaswell let go and shift from the old STIs.

Alpinerabbit, I am sorry if I didn't make it clear enough for you. I thought everyone knew what sora shifter's were and that it was impossible to shift from the drops. I did mean that it seems stupid to put them on drop handlebars. I would like to ride on the drops. I would have clarified things for you earlier but I posted and then left the house for awhile. Thanks for all your help.

I don't think I'll try the bar end shifters because you do have to move your hands for that too. I'll try to find the other ones if possible

[greta]

BTI (wholesaler) lists the Shimano R500, which is an 8-speed brifter that allows shifting from the drops. They aren't in stock, but they are still listed, meaning they can probably be ordered via another wholesaler.

I'd also recommend checking ebay. Old 8-speed STI shifters were great, smaller than the current varieties that are more bulbous.

I find it hard to believe a 9-speed version works well on a 7-speed drivetrain. Regardless, it wouldn't run well on 8 if that is the case, as the spacing is different.

Thank you I will check around.

[lunacycles]

My husband and I were on cape cod, and he had a bike friday with an old shimano 7 speed set up. His sti rear shifter failed, and we couldn't find anything in the local bike shops, and had a trip to P-town planned. I happened to have a set of new 9 speed brifters I had just picked up for another bike I was planning to build when I got home, so we decided to try it. We were also surprised, but it really did work fine. Perhaps it doesn't matter if the spacing is different, since you use the limit screws to tell the derailleur how far to move with each shift.

I think it is fabulous that it works, really! I am just saying it is not common for it to work, nor will it likely work on an 8-speed cassette. The issue is the amount of spacing between the cogs, which is different for 8 or 9 speeds,and the shifters are designed to work with one kind of spacing, tho sometimes you get lucky if you play with cable tension enough.
Limit screws actually only control how far outboard or inboard the derailleur travels. They have no effect on how far the derailleur moves with each shift.

[Triskeliongirl]

I think it is fabulous that it works, really! I am just saying it is not common for it to work, nor will it likely work on an 8-speed cassette. The issue is the amount of spacing between the cogs, which is different for 8 or 9 speeds,and the shifters are designed to work with one kind of spacing, tho sometimes you get lucky if you play with cable tension enough.
Limit screws actually only control how far outboard or inboard the derailleur travels. They have no effect on how far the derailleur moves with each shift.

Wow, thanks for the info. I guess it wasn't the limit screws. I just know that there was a screw we fiddled with until the derailleur threw the chain just the right amount to smoothly move to the next cog. If that's not called the limit screw maybe it is something that adjusts the cable tension (sorry but I am all self-taught so I don't know what its called, I just look at the bike and try to figure out what I have to adjust to make things do what I want them to).

I guess we did get lucky, which is good since our trip would have been ruined if we couldn't make it work. It also surprised the local bike shop guys that couldn't locate a 7 speed shifter for us.

[fidlfreek]

While you're at it you could just upgrade the whole group. For instance http://cgi.ebay.com/Shimano-Tiagra-105-Bontrager-Build-kit-Groupo-carbon_W0QQitemZ200331408775QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCycling_Parts_Accessories?hash=item200331408775&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A4|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A200

You'd need to add new shifter cables/housing and a new bottom bracket (and labor, which I'm guessing would be less than a full bike build, maybe $100, depending on your area) but you'd basically have a bike you could be happier with for a fraction of the price of a new bike.

And yes, I agree with the shop that if you're going to pay full retail on upgrading parts then its probably not worth your time or $. BUT if you can get a deal, then all bets are off ;)