8-speed shifting for dropped bars

jacques said:

My plan is to go to 8-speed by changing the cassette (from my current 14-32 to a 12-32, the
chainwheels being 28-38-48). Going to 9-speed would involve changing almost everything and would
not be economical. What is not clear for me is what shifting system to use. One option being bar-
end shifters, the other is STI brake levers.

For a commuting bike I would go with bar-ends, you can switch to friction and limp home if the
indexing goes for any reason. Not that STI is unreliable these days, but I'm paranoid :-) All
depends on how far you ride, I guess. And 8-speed is, in my view, less fiddly to maintain than 9-
speed (I have bikes with both). So I think you're doing the Right Thing.

I have plain vanilla Shimano levers on my drop-bar bike with bar-ends. No idea what part number, but
the bike shop had them in stock. Could be BL-R400s but not sure. Dia Compe, SunTour and Weinmann
levers are also available.

A UK tourists' bike shop catalogue is here: <http://www.sjscycles.com/store/vIndex.htm> - look for
drop bar aero levers and drop bar non-aero levers. Not an enormous choice, but hopefully enough to
be going on with.

Only Dia Compe, as far as I know, works with V-brakes without using a Travel Agent, so if you're
using / thinking of using V-brakes you might bear that in mind.

Oh, and there is a new(ish) lever for mounting on the inner part of the bar, like the old suicide
levers but providing Actual Braking Performance (TM) so that might be worth looking at at the same
time. I think the review is in the current Velovision, which I can't find right now.

Guy
===
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"jacques" wrote ...

Quoted message said:

I have a commuter bike with straight bars which I'd like to convert to dropped bars. It has 10
years old good quality 3x7-speed Shimano components. The rear wheel is recent and is 8/9-speed
compatible.

My plan is to go to 8-speed by changing the cassette (from my current 14-32 to a 12-32, the
chainwheels being 28-38-48). Going to 9-speed would involve changing almost everything and would
not be economical. What is not clear for me is what shifting system to use. One option being bar-
end shifters, the other is STI brake levers.

I would happily go for bar-end but I don't know where to find good comfortable brake levers, the
equivalent of recent Shimano STI without the STI function. I like these Shimano levers because
they have a special curvature that make them seem easier to grab with my small hands when riding
in the lower position. My local source of parts has Dia-Compe levers but these don't seem so
comfortable - at least on catalogue.

If I go for STI, Sora seems to be the only surviving 8-speed system. Does anybody have experience
with Sora ? What drawbacks have to be expected compared to 105 or other more expensive components
? How would that compare with the Campagnolo Veloce I have on my road bike ? Would it make sense
to look for older 8-speed 105 components ?

Any comments welcome.

Jacques

Rivendell (www.rivendellbicycles.com) sells very nice friction-only bar end shifters, which
completely eliminates the problem of indexed shifting going out of adjustment, and lets you use any
nuber of cogs you wish on the cassette without compatibility issues. They also offer the Shimano
brake levers w/o the STI function. They also offer a very nice selection of Nitto dropped bars.
--
mark

jacques said:

I have a commuter bike with straight bars which I'd like to convert to dropped bars. It has 10
years old good quality 3x7-speed Shimano components. The rear wheel is recent and is 8/9-speed
compatible.

My plan is to go to 8-speed by changing the cassette (from my current 14-32 to a 12-32, the
chainwheels being 28-38-48). Going to 9-speed would involve changing almost everything and would
not be economical. What is not clear for me is what shifting system to use. One option being bar-
end shifters, the other is STI brake levers.

I would happily go for bar-end but I don't know where to find good comfortable brake levers, the
equivalent of recent Shimano STI without the STI function. I like these Shimano levers because
they have a special curvature that make them seem easier to grab with my small hands when riding
in the lower position. My local source of parts has Dia-Compe levers but these don't seem so
comfortable - at least on catalogue.

If I go for STI, Sora seems to be the only surviving 8-speed system. Does anybody have experience
with Sora ? What drawbacks have to be expected compared to 105 or other more expensive components
? How would that compare with the Campagnolo Veloce I have on my road bike ? Would it make sense
to look for older 8-speed 105 components ?

It would make more sense to switch to 9 speed. You don't have to change "everything," just the
cassette and shifter, and probably the chain. You already have a 9 speed compatible wheel. It would
cost no more to convert to 9 speed than to 8 speed, and there are far more options with 9 speed
stuff now. Even if you decide to go with bar end shifters, Shimano still makes 'em for 9 speed.

Sora brifters work great. My only complaint with them is that it's hard to reach the little thumb
lever from the drops. Otherwise, one could argue they actually work better than other STI -- the
action is lighter, and with upshifts and downshifts completely separated, there are fewer problems
with missed shifts from hitting both levers at once.

Matt O.

David L. Johnson said:

Not all Dia Compe levers work with v-brakes.

True. Sorry, I wrote that in a confusing way didn't I?

Guy
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David L. Johnson said:

jacques said:

My plan is to go to 8-speed by changing the cassette (from my current 14-32 to a 12-32, the
chainwheels being 28-38-48). Going to 9-speed would involve changing almost everything and would
not be economical.

That is not at all clear. Your derailleurs and chainrings should work fine with 9-speed. Of
course, the manufacturer will claim you need to buy all new drivetrain components, from them
of course.

Well, if what you say is true then it might well change my view on this change... Except that I
already placed a bid on an 8-speed cassette on eBay. Let's see what happens.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

How would that compare with the Campagnolo Veloce I have on my road bike ? Would it make sense to
look for older 8-speed 105 components ?

Why not use Campy on this bike, if you like the ERGO levers? OK, you'll need a new rear
derailleur. Shimano 9-speed cassettes work with Campy 9-speed shifting.

I quite like the shifting of the Campagnolo Veloce, but I am less enthusiastic about the grip on
the brakes. From the drops I have great difficulties to grab the brakes, and even from the hoods
it feels a bit tiresome and not very efficient. OK, my reference is straight-bar handles which
are certainly better for strong braking. But at first sight it looks like the Shimano levers, at
least the recent ones (Sora and up) have more curvature and then probably an easier grip from
both positions. I think this is important as a good part of my riding is done in town and
including downhill.

Jacques