Updating a fossil

"Werehatrack" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well, the urge to update the old road bike to get it into the 20th century has struck. It has a
Shimano Tourney rear der with a stem-mounted friction shifter, and I'd like to replace the shifter
with an indexed version. My question is, what's likely to work with that old 5-speed rear, from
among the stuff that I'm likely to be able to find available either new or used?

--

You sure that you don't want to just buy a new bike? A new hybrid-style bike will probably fit
the bill, be less trouble, probably lighter, AND will have more, lower gears for easier riding up
the hills.

Keep the old bike for the kids/grandkids/friends/etc. that want to go out for a little
spin with you.

Mike

Mike S.' mikeshaw2@coxDOTnet may have said:

You sure that you don't want to just buy a new bike? A new hybrid-style bike will probably fit
the bill, be less trouble, probably lighter, AND will have more, lower gears for easier riding up
the hills.

Actually, this one's range is pretty wide already, and I live in the flatlands anyway. The steepest
and longest grade I have to climb is on the bridge over a railroad about 4 miles away. Ergo, its
gearing is a good match for what I need as-is...and I have other bikes already. Sometimes, though, I
want to get on a *road* bike and make a run...and I've gotten spoiled by the indexed shifters on all
the other bikes.

Quoted message said:

Keep the old bike for the kids/grandkids/friends/etc. that want to go out for a little spin
with you.

Yeesh. They'd grab one of the mtbs every time. This thing would just gather dust if I only kept it
for that purpose.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail. Yes, I have a killfile. If I
don't respond to something, it's also possible that I'm busy.

"Werehatrack" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mike S.' mikeshaw2@coxDOTnet may have said:

You sure that you don't want to just buy a new bike? A new hybrid-style bike will probably fit
the bill, be less trouble, probably lighter, AND

will

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

have more, lower gears for easier riding up the hills.

Actually, this one's range is pretty wide already, and I live in the flatlands anyway. The
steepest and longest grade I have to climb is on the bridge over a railroad about 4 miles away.
Ergo, its gearing is a good match for what I need as-is...and I have other bikes already.
Sometimes, though, I want to get on a *road* bike and make a run...and I've gotten spoiled by the
indexed shifters on all the other bikes.

Quoted message said:

Keep the old bike for the kids/grandkids/friends/etc. that want to go out for a little spin
with you.

Yeesh. They'd grab one of the mtbs every time. This thing would just gather dust if I only kept it
for that purpose.

If you're set on upgrading, Sheldon Brown probably has the best site for info.

I'd still tell you to look for a "new" bike, though.

Mike

To the best of my knowledge, there is no such animal as a five speed index shifter. I don't think
they make six's either, or even if they'de work. I know 7,8, or 9 wont.

You'll probably have to buy a new rear wheel as well, and there's no guarantee it will fit in your
'stone age" frame. Maybe you are better of getting a new machine. It would probably cost less, or at
least you'll get more for your buck

May you have the wind at your back. And a really low gear for the hills! Chris

Chris'Z Corner "The Website for the Common Bicyclist": geocities.comczcornerOpen ↗

Werehatrack said:

Well, the urge to update the old road bike to get it into the 20th century has struck. It has a
Shimano Tourney rear der with a stem-mounted friction shifter, and I'd like to replace the shifter
with an indexed version. My question is, what's likely to work with that old 5-speed rear, from
among the stuff that I'm likely to be able to find available either new or used?

You'll need an index-compatible 5-speed freewheel, which you can get made by SunRace, Falcon, or
Shimano. Likewise, cheap and effective derailleurs that will shift 5-speed clusters are provided by
the same mfgrs. SRAM make a grip shifter that's still available in 5-speed AFAIK. Otherwise you may
need to dip into the Cheape Olde Partse bin at your local bike salvage.

You can probably spread the rear triangle of your old bike to take 126mm spacing, which would allow
the use of more common 7-speed gear with your old wheels.

Chalo Colina

On Tue, 12 Aug 2003 16:59:26 -0400 (EDT), [email hidden] (Chris Zacho "The Wheelman"😉 may

have said:

To the best of my knowledge, there is no such animal as a five speed index shifter. I don't think
they make six's either, or even if they'de work. I know 7,8, or 9 wont.

Indexed sixes are current production for the low-end mtb market. There are several shifters that
could be made to work if I wanted to swap the freewheel out to a six, but I would probably *lose*
range compared to the five that I have. Just using the shifter for the current sixes isn't a
solution; the cable travel on the one I have in the back yard is a little over twice what the
5-speed der requires, so one like that won't do me a lot of good.

Quoted message said:

You'll probably have to buy a new rear wheel as well, and there's no guarantee it will fit in your
'stone age" frame. Maybe you are better of getting a new machine. It would probably cost less, or
at least you'll get more for your buck

Yeah, but I'm kinda fond of this particular fossil. I think I may have to search around for a six
freewheel, der and shifter that can be made to work as a set. I may not have a choice, really; it
occurs to me that with a cable travel of only about 7mm from high cog to lowest, this der may not be
able to be indexed reliably. I doubt that the cable can keep enough precision to put the der in the
right place in both directions.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail. Yes, I have a killfile. If I
don't respond to something, it's also possible that I'm busy.

(Chalo) may have said:

You can probably spread the rear triangle of your old bike to take 126mm spacing, which would allow
the use of more common 7-speed gear with your old wheels.

In the long run, I suspect that this may be the best solution.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail. Yes, I have a killfile. If I
don't respond to something, it's also possible that I'm busy.

Werehatrack <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Well, the urge to update the old road bike to get it into the 20th century has struck. It has a
Shimano Tourney rear der with a stem-mounted friction shifter, and I'd like to replace the shifter
with an indexed version. My question is, what's likely to work with that old 5-speed rear, from
among the stuff that I'm likely to be able to find available either new or used?

Hi, I had my old '76 French road bike upgraded to a six speed 28-14 freewheel with a Shimano Altus
derailleur. We used an indexed 6-speed thumb shifter for the rear and a friction thumb shifter for
the new Sora front derailleur. I had this done by my LBS and we used the original back wheel, he may
have replaced the axle, I'm not sure. Oh, the chain had to be replaced too. So, it can be done and
in my case, was reasonably priced, at $130, with parts, including all new cables, and labor. Life is
Good! Jeff

(Jeff Starr) may have said:

Werehatrack <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Well, the urge to update the old road bike to get it into the 20th century has struck. It has a
Shimano Tourney rear der with a stem-mounted friction shifter, and I'd like to replace the
shifter with an indexed version. My question is, what's likely to work with that old 5-speed
rear, from among the stuff that I'm likely to be able to find available either new or used?

Hi, I had my old '76 French road bike upgraded to a six speed 28-14 freewheel with a Shimano Altus
derailleur. We used an indexed 6-speed thumb shifter for the rear and a friction thumb shifter for
the new Sora front derailleur. I had this done by my LBS and we used the original back wheel, he
may have replaced the axle, I'm not sure. Oh, the chain had to be replaced too. So, it can be done
and in my case, was reasonably priced, at $130, with parts, including all new cables, and labor.

Food for thought. Thanks!

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail. Yes, I have a killfile. If I
don't respond to something, it's also possible that I'm busy.