Can anyone actually afford to buy STis anymore?

[jpembroke]

and do they have to sell drugs or their own body parts to buy them?

My cross bike needs a new set (old set still work but rattle like mad). My cross bike is 8 speed set up (which I really like) and I quite fancied the R500 shifters but they're £150 - and that's the very cheapest price. Tiagra 9 speed shifters are the same. 105 and upwards, you're looking at £200+. Are these prices just getting a tad unrealistic?

 

[theclaud]

and do they have to sell drugs or their own body parts to buy them?

My cross bike needs a new set (old set still work but rattle like mad). My cross bike is 8 speed set up (which I really like) and I quite fancied the R500 shifters but they're £150 - and that's the very cheapest price. Tiagra 9 speed shifters are the same. 105 and upwards, you're looking at £200+. Are these prices just getting a tad unrealistic?

I was thinking the same, then I got some R600s from Cycle Sense recently. They're short reach levers, but then I've got fairly small hands...

 

[jpembroke]

NOOOOO!!!!! I just bought a new 8 speed cassette and chain. If I'd known about this i'd have got a 9 speed cassette (mechs are 8/9 speed compatible after all).

Pants.

 

[redjedi]

Get some Campagnolo 10 speed shifters to go with your 8 speed set up.

Veloce Ultrashift are only £85 from Ribble, and is exactly what I used with an 8 speed Shimano cassette and mech.

You could also get the cheaper QS range Campag, but then you would need to change the front mech, and I don't think you can get a triple QS.

 

[theclaud]

NOOOOO!!!!! I just bought a new 8 speed cassette and chain. If I'd known about this i'd have got a 9 speed cassette (mechs are 8/9 speed compatible after all).

Pants.

Sorry! You could exchange the cassette and chain if they're unused? Or follow RJ's advice - I toyed with that, but there was only a few quid in it - and I just like the Shimano ones better .

 

[jpembroke]

As much as like Campag (have veloce on the road bike and love it) I just prefer shimano for 'cross racing (greater availability and I can use MTB parts if I want/need to). I know that I can get Ergos to work but it seems a fudge and just wouldn't be aesthetically pleasing, if you know what I mean.

Hmm, will probably just have to stick with the rattling old STis for this season and hope new STis come down in price at some point.

 

[redjedi]

Sorry! You could exchange the cassette and chain if they're unused? Or follow RJ's advice - I toyed with that, but there was only a few quid in it - and I just like the Shimano ones better .

There's just no accounting for taste

 

[iLB]

how can an sti rattle? :s

 

[jpembroke]

how can an sti rattle? :s

Try racing 'cross: everything rattles. It's just that mine seem a lot noisier than others and they drive me nuts. They're not too comfortable either.

N.B. they are ancient 600 series (pre-Ultegra) 8 speed shifters. Probably about 12 years old.

 

[Fab Foodie]

It's time for a DT shifter revolution...

 

[e-rider]

pre-ultegra? Ultegra has been around for about 20 years. The groupset was first known as Shimano 600 (various forms existed, AX etc.) then Shimano 600 Ultegra and then the 600 was dropped to leave just Shimano Ultegra.

 

[jpembroke]

They are 8 speed Shimano 600 shifters. I am guessing how old they are.

 

[asterix]

It's time for a DT shifter revolution...

My old bike had DT shifters before it needed a total makeover, not even indexed, either. They were fine. It's new incarnation will be fitted with bar-end jobbies - I've better things to spend money on than STI levers.

 

[jpembroke]

I've better things to spend money on than STI levers.

like a house in Notting Hill

or a Maserati

 

[Davidc]

It's time for a DT shifter revolution...

Bring it on. I never had any problems using them. Unindexed means never having a clicking noise and always hitting the gear spot on, and friction means easy set up and maintenance. Simplicity means cheap to buy.

Couldn't fit them on my mtb though.