Old 5 speed cassette

[quote="smeg"]i have got an old raleigh stratos. the drivetain is a 10 speed overall
(5 speed cassette). could I upgrade the drivetrain using same hub on the rear to lets say a 10 or 9 sprocket cassette? [B]if i could[B/] it means that i can get proper gear shifters that are not fixed to the frame but on the brake levers[/QUOTE]Unlikely it's a casette,...and the answer is no.That junk is unlikely worth upgrading,especially to 9 ro 10 speed and sti/ergo.

boudreaux said:

Unlikely it's a casette,...and the answer is no.That junk is unlikely worth upgrading,especially to 9 ro 10 speed and sti/ergo.

so i would need to get a different rear hub to be able to house a 9 or 10 speed cassette? why do you call it junk?

lol...smeg...why do you think boretroll called it junk?...because every single hateful thing he says is how he feels about himself.
Your bike isn't worth updating because cost for the components will not justify your return in investment. Your Raleigh rear wheel is a freewheel and not cassette so you would either need a new wheel or redish/respoke with a new hub, change your frame by cold setting it to increase distance between rear stays...to accomodate more gears...its a long list. Some do it however as a project and many turn old bikes like yours in to fixed gear bikes. For a smaller investment, simply pick up a used road bike with sora or Shimano 105 componets. You will be much further ahead with much less work.
HTH,
George

Thanks george for a decent reply. I thought it would be easier than that but you've explained why. I will try and save up some money( will take a long time probably only 14 years old) and look into the second hand market.

biker7 said:

Your bike isn't worth updating because cost for the components will not justify your return in investment.

Check with your financial advisor Georgie. There is no return on investment in upgrading junk bicycles.

best of luck young man. A suggestion would be work on the bike you have and enjoy it. I have a few bikes as old as yours with freewheel and friction shifters and they still ride great. Enjoy what you have and working on it...a very nice bike in its own right. Get a part time job and save for your dream bike. For $2-3 hundred dollars you can get a nice couple year old steel Fuji with sora components....they are very good value bikes. You are still growing as well, so don't sweat it too much. You will have many bikes in your future.
George

biker7 said:

best of luck young man. A suggestion would be work on the bike you have and enjoy it. I have a few bikes as old as yours with freewheel and friction shifters and they still ride great. Enjoy what you have and working on it...a very nice bike in its own right. Get a part time job and save for your dream bike. For $2-3 hundred dollars you can get a nice couple year old steel Fuji with sora components....they are very good value bikes. You are still growing as well, so don't sweat it too much. You will have many bikes in your future.
George

cool thanks man. yeh i go out on it quite a bit now which is good. but english weather is so unpredictable!