Inherited Bike Upgrade

[willy_1977]

Hi,

I'm in inheriting an old...old...bike over the weekend which is "functional" and the right size so... ticks the main boxes on my limited budget (£0 currently)

However in the future assuming I take to all this malarkey of riding etc. I'm thinking I could upgrade some parts to make it a better ride.

The tech question comes in in that what would I have to consider if I wanted to upgrade to indexed gears would it be a case of replacing rear derailleur, cassette and shifters?

Also I appreciate that the money could be better spent on saving up to buy an entry level bike rather than try and "polish a terd" sort of affair but at this stage I'm just wondering what would be involved.

Cheers.
W.

[ris]

depends how decrepit the bike is... but based on your post it looks like it's still on friction shifters...

i would say that to upgrade to a handlebar-mounted indexed system you are looking at buying pretty much an entire groupset - new bottom bracket, front derallieur, rear derallieur, cranks, cassette, brakehoods/shifters.

nothing seems impossible for an older frame i think, but a couple of things might not fit - external bottom bracket and handlebars.
most groupsets use an external bottom bracket threaded into the frame, an old frame might not have the threads.
newer handlebars are thicker (38mm - called 'oversize') and older ones 25mm, so off the top of my head i don't know if the brakehoods/shifters will fit ok.

you can definitely learn how to do this stuff yourself, and you'll be able maintain it well, too!

[willy_1977]

Yes, should've clarified the bike is still on friction shifters. Thanks for the info.

I thought it may be a new groupset which kinda makes me think hummmm... although it'd be good practice on the maintenence front. Think I'll be ok with the bottom bracket the orginal spec of the bike says it had a threaded british bottom bracket (what's the best way to tell if this is the case, i.e. any particular stampings I can look for?)

Assuming shifters don't fit... that would mean the headset it's an old 25mm frame would need a converter to convert to the modern size allowing new stem and bars... again hummmmmmmmm

it would become a bit of a "triggers broom" ... you know I've had this same bike for years it's just had a new groupset, headset and bars...

Cheers again
W.

[Ewan]

Just quickly,

a) Why would you need to replace the BBand Cranks if shifting to indexed gears? I would have thought all you'd need would be the gear levers and new front and rear derailleur? (plus some cables and tools)

b) Surely you could just add a shim to make the new gear levers fit the old 25mm bars? Not that I expect a problem, I'm 90% sure I've seen sti levers on 25mm bars.

I've got relatively little experience playing with gears (although I have built up a few fixed/ss) but I would have thought it would be a reasonably simple job and possibly not that expensive if you buy second hand parts of forums etc. (londonfgss has an active classifieds section). If it is a nice steel frame it could make a great commuter/winter bike and you can save your money for the inevitable carbon porn you'll soon be wanting!

[ris]

the only reason i suspect you'll need new cranks/chain rings is that the old system is unlikely to be more than a 6/7spd, and the chain for a 6 may not run on a 9 or 10 cassette, or is worn to the point where it won't take a new chain (for the new cassette/rear derallieur).

[willy_1977]

Hi,

well picked up the bike... there are more pressing matters - seems the description of the bike I received was well a little light on the detail - first thing it needs are new tyres and tubes and would probably benefit from a new chain so I'm thinking new groupset may be the future...

Ris you're correct it's a 6 speed cassette, looking up some detail etc. think it's an 88 peugeot lautaret... it'll do the job with the new boots fitted... might have to slip to bridgtown bikes and see what they've got...

[didds]

turn it into a "retro" fixed gear, flog it on ebay for silly money, buy a different bike!

didds

[Ewan]

turn it into a "retro" fixed gear, keep it and train like a real man!

Fixed

My favourite fixed gear quote:

I still feel that varable gears are only for people over forty-five.
Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer?
We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!

--Henri Desgrange, L'Équipe article of 1902