Upgrading components on a 531 frame.

[Manonabike]

Sheldon reckons the road mechs will cope up to a 30T rear (although Shimano say 27T maximum. Thanks to the genorisity of another member donating spare sprockets I am going to able to check this out for myself shortly.

Indeed, the fun part is a bonus really.

I was using a 30T cassette until 2 weeks ago and it worked flawlessly - in fact when I began to look for a replacement cassette / sprockets is when this upgrade project came alive - I could not find any 30T - 7 speed cassettes anymore and I was annoyed with myself cos I did not get 3 or 4 cassettes when I had the chance. Oh well, now the highest gear I'll be running, 27T in the back and 33T in the front which should enable me to get up some steep hills ( so he thinks ) better than the 30T and 42T I was running a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Manonabike]

While looking at the tech doc of my new wheels I notice this statement "This wheel can be used with 8-gear, 9-gear and 10-gear sprocket sets (if using a 10-gear sprocket set other than for a junior bicycle, use the accessory 1-mm spacer)"

This confused me a little, I thought I needed a spacer if I wanted to use it with a 7 spd cassette or to use a 10 speed cassette on a 8/9 speed cassette body


Anyhow. is this what the tech doc refers to?

 

[PpPete]

can't figure your link out....eventually got to a page at CRC for a dead item.

 

[Manonabike]

Sorry about that. You can try the link now

 

[PpPete]

Learn something new everyday....

Seems weird that a 10 speed cassette (which I believe is very fractionally wider than a 9 speed) should need a spacer behind it to fit on same hub, but a quick Google suggests that a 1 mm spacer is indeed necessary. Something to do with the splines if I've understood it right. Glad I stuck with 9 speed

 

[Manonabike]

Well I also did some research on that 1 mm spacer and it appears that 10 speeds cassettes are slightly narrower than 9 and 8 speeds cassettes. Also, Shimano wheels that are designed for 8,9 and 10 speeds needs this spacer but the wheels designed for the 10 speed cassettes only don't need the spacer.


Would you say the spacer is included with the 10 speed cassette?

The wheels came with a 4 mm spacer.....

 

[Manonabike]

If you're considering getting all the components separately and want a triple plus lower costs than 10 speed, then consider 10 speed Campag shifters (the front shifting isn't indexed so you have far more flexibility with chainsets and trimming front mechs) and 8 speed shimano at the rear. Campag 10 speed shifters are cheaper than shimano, have non-indexed shifting at the front and are directly compatible with shimano 8 speed at the rear which not only gives you a harder wearing drivetrain but also a cheaper one to replace!

These shifters are bargainous:
http://www.parker-international.co.uk/10705/Campagnolo-Veloce-10-Ultrashift-Ergo-Levers.html

Choose any old triple chainset but note that you'll need a campag triple front mech as the cable pull is different to shimano. At the back, just fit any 8 speed shimano long-cage rear mech and 8spd cassette and you'll be good to go (two clicks on the gear lever will be redundant but that makes no difference at all when limit screws are set properly).

Some great wheel offers here:
http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/acatalog/Shimano_Wheel_Offers.html

Long cage rear mech on sale (ignore the specs below - they're for the med/short cage version):
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=13596

Alternatively the GS (med cage) Tiagra would also work fine:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=19461

Front mech not quite so widely available at a decent price but here's a couple of options:
http://www.parker-international.co.uk/7236/Campagnolo-Comp-10sp-Triple-Front-Mech.html

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Campagnolo-Ce...sure_cycling_bikeparts_SR?hash=item53de480c06

Cassettes are easy, although if you want anything more than a 12-26 as the largest sprocket then you'll have to fit an mtb rear mech to cope with say an 11-32. Any shimano MTB rear mech for 8/9 speed will work.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?PartnerID=79&ModelID=1864

GrahamG, I wish you posted earlier..... cos I do like the flexibility / durability of the components you suggested. I already got the shifters and that gives me no option but to go with a 10 speed cassette - 10 spd derailleur - 10 spd chain.

There is so much to learn about this mixing components subject that armed with the right knowledge one can save a few quids and build a bike that is much easier to maintain and keep it going for years...... since I started this upgrade I've learnt things that would have taken me in a different path, have I known them a few weeks ago. The fact that I could not find sprockets or another HG70 30T 7 spd cassette made me think that I was not going to enjoy riding my bike with a 26 cassette.... now I know that I could have overcome the problem with a triple chainring and a new front derailleur (maybe the downtube shifters could have coped with it as well) but I didn't see that and the thought of an upgrade to new shifters began to play in my head.... and the rest is history

My only concern now with what I'm building is that I've read that shifters, cassettes, chains and event rear derailleurs don't last long and they are prone to go wrong much sooner than the 8 or even the 9 speeds.

I do most of my riding on the Bournemouth promenade and the chain / cassette gets full of sand so cleaning has always been very time consuming. I would hate to spend a lot of time cleaning and yet the components failing on me.... having said that, with the new upgrade I'm hoping to venture into new routes much more than I do currently.... if I go anywhere with hills I would have to take my other bike which is much heavier but it has a big cassette and a small ring in the front so I'm looking forward to completing this project and take a ride to Swanage where I can really test the old legs

 

[PpPete]

If you head east into the New Forest....PM me....bound to be a suitable pub somewhere....I'd love to see the result.

 

[Manonabike]

If you head east into the New Forest....PM me....bound to be a suitable pub somewhere....I'd love to see the result.

You bet!!!

I'd like to do the London Bournemouth ride next year so I will be heading east for some practice at some point.

 

[Manonabike]

Can anyone tell me what direction the bottom bracket cable guide is fitted ?

I think I fitted the long part to take the front dereailleur cable but not sure whether that is the correct position.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I've not much to apart from a link to my own new components on an old frame.

http://cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=942881&postcount=185

I love mine, fuggin' expensive but lovely!!

 

[Manonabike]

threebikesmcginty, thanks but your pics don't show the BB cable guide at all. Not sure if you saw the link to the BB cable guide I posted.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I was just showing off my bike.

Looking at and old Raleigh I've got in stock the short guide goes to the chainring side.
The guides taper with wide at the front. Might be worth a double check mind.

 

[Manonabike]

Thanks for that!!!!

 

[Manonabike]

Can anyone tell me if ferrules for outer brake cable can be used with outer gear cables?