oldie to a newie- spreading the dropouts

in my goal to retrofit my old trek 520, I've come to a bridge I wanted to avoid. In order to move from 7x to anything more hopefully 9 but 10 if I can, I think I've got to spread my rear drops. this is more than I was bargaining for. has anyone done this? or did they force the new rear hub in? these sites say it is possible http://www.vintage-trek.com/refurbish.htm (search SPREADING REAR DROPOUTS) or http://sheldonbrown.com/frame-spacing.html

it seems like the easiest way. call me a scaredy cat but trying to stretch out my frame seems like an accident waiting to happen and if the shop charges me like I think they would then I'll have to go another route in terms of gears.

I also recall talking to a shop guy who made this crazy bike with square wheels and had to spread the forks on the bike but the metal memory kept stretching it back into place. I sort of question the permanence of stretching the drops but it doesn't matter if the hub is there to stop it anyways. I'm going to double check my rear drops out; its pretty late and hard to tell with that blasted wheel in the way.

I've considered that but haven't. If you want to be safe and know a local framebuilder, you could pay to have it done by someone with a jig and experience. I paid a framebuilder to straighten a steel fork, and he only charged me $40. You can just manually pull the frame wider every time you put in the hub, but it will always spring back to its original size unless you really cold set the tubes.

I briefly considered that for my Giant (2x6), then decided to let it be and just get replacement 6x or 7x from Rivendell. (But it's just going to be my toodling-around bike, so I don't really need the finer gradations between the gears anyway)

does it really matter if the frame always moves back because if the hub is in there anyways, it doesn't have far too move....

It depends. Sometimes coldsetting works and sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes the drops just won't accommodate a 9 spd cassette and you get chain rub.

Take it to a builder or at least a knowledgeable shop.

Newbie question. Well I'm not new but as a techie, yes.

Mad-what's your goal for the bike? More gearing? If it's a double and replacement 6's and 7's are available could you add a triple? Or is that just not done. :rolleyes:

I would think it matters if the frame "just moves back". That's where the frame "wants to be". Don't mess with metal-fatigue. :o I don't know nuthin' about nuthin' but anything to do with the frame I take it to the village 'smithie :D

I coldset my Mercian from 126 to 130 spacing. It's fine. The "moving back" is infinitesimal and doesn't cause any problems when removing/replacing the wheel.

But that doesn't mean coldsetting is for every frame.

question is: where do I find a village smithie in a big city like DC?

I have a triple now and that will be upgraded to ultegra or DA, once I figure out durability issues (dura ace should mean durable shouldn't it?!)

I wanted to swtich up to 9 speed so that I could use STI instead of my down tube shifters. If going up to 9 is not possible this makes it a much cheaper project with only bar ends.

Proteus in College Park Maryland has a framebuilder. Give them a call. It's only 8 miles from Logan Circle (but for some reason people in DC think it's way far away)

say the name Maryland and you've conjured up all sorts of images of exotic lands and faraway places. ;)

I've heard about Proteus. as long as I can get their by metro it is good with me.

I appreciate everyone's feedback. I love my bike but it is time to put some bling into it. Umm I mean fine upgrades that will increase the efficiency of my cycling and help me get a good workout ;)

There's a whole big thread on bikeforums.net about doing this in the classic & vintage forum. I read it once. If you search for cold setting frame you should be able to find it.

Karen

I went to the bike shop today. actually I went to a few bike shops (and there was a liquor store on the way with a beer tasting). I went to one where I felt that the mechanics were decent and at least knew components but the sales guy wanted to sell me a new bike- no respect for a classic. I also asked one of the sales guy if he could show me a bike with bar end shifters and he had no idea, am I calling them the wrong thing?

I went to another bike shop, much smaller, and I'm not sure if everyone there has something at stake but they all seemed very knowledgeable and knew the ins and outs. I appreciate that. I didn't bike to the shop today (don't ask why it is a long/ lazy story), but they said it shouldn't be a problem because it is a mountain cassette to a mountain cassette.

I think I will be putting on an XT drivetrain for the gear range with r600 brifters. I was thinking about an Dura ace 7703, the last 9 speed dA, but I think I would prefer the gear range for my commute.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by madscot13

I also asked one of the sales guy if he could show me a bike with bar end shifters and he had no idea, am I calling them the wrong thing?

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:eek: No, you're not.
What shop was that?

i'm not sure if it is appropriate to blast a bike shop without really knowing them (although a friend who has been there before says they are incompetent), but I will say the Bike Pro Shop is a good place (and my said friend says the same thing). I've been there a few times, and I don't see people coming back in for bad labor and the guys know their bikes.

I'm sure you can figure out the other bike shop from that.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by madscot13

...but the sales guy wanted to sell me a new bike- no respect for a classic. I also asked one of the sales guy if he could show me a bike with bar end shifters and he had no idea...

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RUN AWAY!!!! RUN AWAY!!!!! :eek:

and didn't I!