SRAM drivetrains

[Aggie_Ama]

Margo I like that picture!

[lunacycles]

I should have mentioned:

You can also still get high-end, short reach Shimano brifters that are 9 speed, and will allow you to run a triple up front. ( I just wanted an excuse to post a picture of my bike.) They are called the R600, are of Ultegra-level quality, and can be ordered through your LBS. They retail for way too much, like way +$300--but still cheaper than other options to run this kind of gearing on a road bike.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I should have mentioned:

You can also still get high-end, short reach Shimano brifters that are 9 speed, and will allow you to run a triple up front. ( I just wanted an excuse to post a picture of my bike.) They are called the R600, are of Ultegra-level quality, and can be ordered through your LBS. They retail for way too much, like way +$300--but still cheaper than other options to run this kind of gearing on a road bike.

Hi Margo
The R600 9 speed is what you put on my wonderful bike, and in fact since then I also converted my older Rivendell Rambouillet to the same brifters, I like them that much. What a relief to be able to wrap my fingers securely around the brake levers, especially when descending steep hills that end in a T at a highway.
But you can actually buy them retail for $272, here is where I got them last month:
https://www.bikesonline.com/search_r...ase=ISTR600PAA

and this gives me an excuse to post of picture of them on my yummy Luna bike, with super low 9speed gearing as well... ....

[Triskeliongirl]

I also run R600 9-spd brifters on both of my bikes, with a 50/34 custom crank in front and a shimano XTR 11/34 in back. I run std ultegra brakes on my titanium isis, and center pull cantis on my travel isis to accomodate wider touring tires. Love the gearing and simplicity of a double.

I attached a pic of my travel isis. While the top tube is only 49 cm, notice that allows me to use a normal length stem and bars so more of my body weight can get over the front wheel than on a bike with a longer top tube and itty bitty stem and short reach bars (an issue being discussed over in another thread...........).

[Aggie_Ama]

All these pictures I like! I just did a bike bathroom, I should have bought your photos for it.

Trisk- I really had to study that photo to see the SS Couplers, the frame is very good at camoflouging them. I really am put off garish SS Couplers.

[Triskeliongirl]

Trisk- I really had to study that photo to see the SS Couplers, the frame is very good at camoflouging them. I really am put off garish SS Couplers.

Thanks, I had the bike cut by Bilenky. He did a really good job. The frame was NOS (new old stock), so to minimize repainting costs, he did the silver fade into the couplers which also masks their appearance. I picked up the frame for a song on ebay, but it was missing the fork, so he built me one and used the same silver paint on it. I also had him install the canti bosses so I could use wider tires than the frame was originally designed for. It makes a great travel bike, cuz I can put racy tires on it or touring tires, racks or no rack, depending on the planned use. Its a sport geometry so works for either fast riding or touring, and its Reynolds 853 steel which has a great stiff by comfy feel to it.

But its not my go fast bike, for that I ride my titanium isis which has a similar set up on it.

[cogmarks]

I have a Dura Ace 9 speed set up on my cyclocross bike. I changed the Dura Ace rear deraileur and cassette to an 11-32 cassette and XT long cage deraileur. In the front I have 46/38 rings. I have been much happier with this bike since I changed the gearing in the rear. I think my shifters might be worn out, and I am looking for new ones. 9 sp shifters are hard but not impossible to find. I just don't want to pay 300+ for them.

Betsy