7sp RSX -> Shimergo - best path?

[Hank Wirtz]

Mom's got a mid-'90s Novara Randonee with 7-speed RSX on it. When it
gets below 50 degrees, the right brifter won't shift in either
direction. They've tried cleaning it out with WD-40 and high-pressure
air, but nothing's made a difference. Since she mostly likes to ride it
at 0-dark:30 to spinning class (don't laugh - she's the instructor) the
inability to shift before it warms up is a big deal.

So here are a few options we've kicked around, having consulted the
cable pull tables at http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=
3946

1) replace it with a Sora 7-Speed brifter
2) go Shimergo
a)9-speed Mirage levers with the existing 7-speed cassette
b)10-speed Veloce levers with a 7-of-8 cassette
c)b)10-speed Veloce levers with a new freehub body, 8-speed cassette
and redished wheel

She likes the idea of Ergos, both for their serviceability and their
cleaner cable routing. She often uses a handlebar bag with a map case,
and having the gear cables under the tape would be nice.

The downside to the 9-speed Ergos is that they would give .26mm extra
mech throw per shift, and they seem to think that's .04mm too much.
Anybody have any real-life experience with this combo?

With the 10-sp ergos,we have to deal with a new cassette.I hear about 8-
of-9 quite a bit, but has anyone tried 7-of-8 to get the cogs on the old
freehub body?

Is there a preferred freehub body to use if we decide to convert the hub
to 130mm OLD, or will any ol' body work on this 126mm RSX hub?

TIA for any advice!

-Hank

 

[Jim Price]

Hank Wirtz wrote:
> Mom's got a mid-'90s Novara Randonee with 7-speed RSX on it. When it
> gets below 50 degrees, the right brifter won't shift in either
> direction. They've tried cleaning it out with WD-40 and high-pressure
> air, but nothing's made a difference. Since she mostly likes to ride it
> at 0-dark:30 to spinning class (don't laugh - she's the instructor) the
> inability to shift before it warms up is a big deal.
>
> So here are a few options we've kicked around, having consulted the
> cable pull tables at http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=
> 3946
>
> 1) replace it with a Sora 7-Speed brifter
> 2) go Shimergo
> a)9-speed Mirage levers with the existing 7-speed cassette
> b)10-speed Veloce levers with a 7-of-8 cassette
> c)b)10-speed Veloce levers with a new freehub body, 8-speed cassette
> and redished wheel
>
> She likes the idea of Ergos, both for their serviceability and their
> cleaner cable routing. She often uses a handlebar bag with a map case,
> and having the gear cables under the tape would be nice.

The Mirage 9s is servicable, the Xenon less so. Also, if the handlebars
only have one groove, things may get a little lumpy.

> The downside to the 9-speed Ergos is that they would give .26mm extra
> mech throw per shift, and they seem to think that's .04mm too much.
> Anybody have any real-life experience with this combo?

I've got two bikes with this setup an a friend of mine has another. In
practice because the top and bottom gear positions are set by the limit
screws, and you can get the middle (number 4 of 7) one bang on, it means
your worst case mech throw error is .52mm (on gears 2 and 6). I was
prepared to have to split the cassette and put in spacers made from beer
cans, but so far that has proved unnecessary, even on the two bikes
which have 8 speed cassettes made out of a 7 with an extra sprocket,
where the maximum theoretical error is .78mm on either gear 2 or 7. The
other alternative would be the hubbub arrangement, which uses all the
same bits you have if you tried the above and it didn't work. That is
supposed to be a "good mixed marriage" according to the table. The other
options just seem more expensive without getting you a lot unless the
existing cassette is worn out.

> With the 10-sp ergos,we have to deal with a new cassette.I hear about 8-
> of-9 quite a bit, but has anyone tried 7-of-8 to get the cogs on the old
> freehub body?

I've not tried the 10 speed ergos.

> Is there a preferred freehub body to use if we decide to convert the hub
> to 130mm OLD, or will any ol' body work on this 126mm RSX hub?

If all you want to do is convert the hub to 130mm OLD, then 2 x 2mm
spacers will do the trick, but I presume you mean that you want to
convert the splined body from 7 to 8/9 speed. In that case, this is what
you need to know:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/k7.html#transplant

--
JimP
--
"We don't have a plan, so nothing can go wrong" - Spike Milligan

 

[Qui si parla Campagnolo]

Hank Wirtz wrote:
> Mom's got a mid-'90s Novara Randonee with 7-speed RSX on it. When it
> gets below 50 degrees, the right brifter won't shift in either
> direction. They've tried cleaning it out with WD-40 and high-pressure
> air, but nothing's made a difference. Since she mostly likes to ride it
> at 0-dark:30 to spinning class (don't laugh - she's the instructor) the
> inability to shift before it warms up is a big deal.
>
> So here are a few options we've kicked around, having consulted the
> cable pull tables at http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=
> 3946
>
> 1) replace it with a Sora 7-Speed brifter
> 2) go Shimergo
> a)9-speed Mirage levers with the existing 7-speed cassette
> b)10-speed Veloce levers with a 7-of-8 cassette
> c)b)10-speed Veloce levers with a new freehub body, 8-speed cassette
> and redished wheel
>
> She likes the idea of Ergos, both for their serviceability and their
> cleaner cable routing. She often uses a handlebar bag with a map case,
> and having the gear cables under the tape would be nice.
>
> The downside to the 9-speed Ergos is that they would give .26mm extra
> mech throw per shift, and they seem to think that's .04mm too much.
> Anybody have any real-life experience with this combo?

How about Mirage Ergo-converted to 8s with a disc(we have them) any
Campag rear der and go ride with the existing cogset and chain.

>
> With the 10-sp ergos,we have to deal with a new cassette.I hear about 8-
> of-9 quite a bit, but has anyone tried 7-of-8 to get the cogs on the old
> freehub body?
>
> Is there a preferred freehub body to use if we decide to convert the hub
> to 130mm OLD, or will any ol' body work on this 126mm RSX hub?
>
> TIA for any advice!
>
> -Hank

 

[Curt Wiederhoeft]

Jim Price wrote:

> If all you want to do is convert the hub to 130mm OLD, then 2 x 2mm
> spacers will do the trick, but I presume you mean that you want to
> convert the splined body from 7 to 8/9 speed. In that case, this is what
> you need to know:
> http://www.sheldonbrown.com/k7.html#transplant

Even easier,with no mods to the hub, is the "8 of 9 on 7" option just a
little lower down the page: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/k7.html#897 .
You could go all the way up to Ultegra 9-speed this way.

Another viable option is the Modolo Morphos brifters. Performance still
sells them

 

[Dale Benjamin]

"Hank Wirtz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Mom's got a mid-'90s Novara Randonee with 7-speed RSX on it. When it
> gets below 50 degrees, the right brifter won't shift in either
> direction. They've tried cleaning it out with WD-40 and high-pressure
> air, but nothing's made a difference.

As you don't mention cleaning the cables and der, there are two obvious
possibilities.

 

[Hank Wirtz]

"Dale Benjamin" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

>
> "Hank Wirtz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Mom's got a mid-'90s Novara Randonee with 7-speed RSX on it. When it
>> gets below 50 degrees, the right brifter won't shift in either
>> direction. They've tried cleaning it out with WD-40 and high-pressure
>> air, but nothing's made a difference.
>
> As you don't mention cleaning the cables and der, there are two obvious
> possibilities.
>
>
>
>

Obvious but not the case. If we start out on the big cog, the inner lever
won't release any cable to upshift. Were it cable/housing/der, we'd have
loose cable coming out of the lever, but we don't. The lever just won't
click. Sorry I didn't mention that.

 

[Matt O'Toole]

On Sat, 07 Jan 2006 06:31:32 -0800, Qui si parla Campagnolo wrote:

> Hank Wirtz wrote:

>> Mom's got a mid-'90s Novara Randonee with 7-speed RSX on it. When it
>> gets below 50 degrees, the right brifter won't shift in either
>> direction. They've tried cleaning it out with WD-40 and high-pressure
>> air, but nothing's made a difference.

I hate to ask, but have you flushed or replaced the cable housings? This
is often the source of such stiffness.

However, IME RSX brifters were stiff and clunky anyway, not one of
Shimano's better efforts.

>> So here are a few options we've kicked around, having consulted the
>> cable pull tables at http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=
>> 3946
>>
>> 1) replace it with a Sora 7-Speed brifter 2) go Shimergo
>> a)9-speed Mirage levers with the existing 7-speed cassette
>> b)10-speed Veloce levers with a 7-of-8 cassette c)b)10-speed Veloce
>> levers with a new freehub body, 8-speed cassette
>> and redished wheel
>>
>> She likes the idea of Ergos, both for their serviceability and their
>> cleaner cable routing. She often uses a handlebar bag with a map case,
>> and having the gear cables under the tape would be nice.
>>
>> The downside to the 9-speed Ergos is that they would give .26mm extra
>> mech throw per shift, and they seem to think that's .04mm too much.
>> Anybody have any real-life experience with this combo?
>
> How about Mirage Ergo-converted to 8s with a disc(we have them) any
> Campag rear der and go ride with the existing cogset and chain.

That's what I'd do. But are 7sp Campy shift discs available? Then you
wouldn't need a new cassette, or to mess with the rear wheel, since 7sp
Campy/Shimano cassettes have exactly the same spacing.

Sora brifters work well. The only problem is reaching the upshift lever
from the drops. It would bother me but I could probably still live with
it. Faced with this same situation I'd go Campy if I could though.

Matt O.

 

[Jay Beattie]

Or just buy the $50 (starting bid) pair of Ergo 8s currently for sale
on Ebay. I use original Sachs/Ergo 8 on my seven speed tandem. It is
kind of clunky, but it works fine.

I would also take another run at flushing the STI levers. My old STI
levers get very cranky around this time of year, and I have to flush
them frequently. They always come back, though. I do not know if Ergo
levers suffer from the same cold and wet weather problems.

Another solution is a fixed gear for mom. That would get her warmed up
before her spinning class. -- Jay Beattie.

 

[Qui si parla Campagnolo]

Matt O'Toole wrote:
> On Sat, 07 Jan 2006 06:31:32 -0800, Qui si parla Campagnolo wrote:
>
> > Hank Wirtz wrote:
>
> >> Mom's got a mid-'90s Novara Randonee with 7-speed RSX on it. When it
> >> gets below 50 degrees, the right brifter won't shift in either
> >> direction. They've tried cleaning it out with WD-40 and high-pressure
> >> air, but nothing's made a difference.
>
> I hate to ask, but have you flushed or replaced the cable housings? This
> is often the source of such stiffness.
>
> However, IME RSX brifters were stiff and clunky anyway, not one of
> Shimano's better efforts.
>
> >> So here are a few options we've kicked around, having consulted the
> >> cable pull tables at http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=
> >> 3946
> >>
> >> 1) replace it with a Sora 7-Speed brifter 2) go Shimergo
> >> a)9-speed Mirage levers with the existing 7-speed cassette
> >> b)10-speed Veloce levers with a 7-of-8 cassette c)b)10-speed Veloce
> >> levers with a new freehub body, 8-speed cassette
> >> and redished wheel
> >>
> >> She likes the idea of Ergos, both for their serviceability and their
> >> cleaner cable routing. She often uses a handlebar bag with a map case,
> >> and having the gear cables under the tape would be nice.
> >>
> >> The downside to the 9-speed Ergos is that they would give .26mm extra
> >> mech throw per shift, and they seem to think that's .04mm too much.
> >> Anybody have any real-life experience with this combo?
> >
> > How about Mirage Ergo-converted to 8s with a disc(we have them) any
> > Campag rear der and go ride with the existing cogset and chain.
>
> That's what I'd do. But are 7sp Campy shift discs available? Then you
> wouldn't need a new cassette, or to mess with the rear wheel, since 7sp
> Campy/Shimano cassettes have exactly the same spacing.

8s Campag spacing is same as 7s shimano. Just limit rear der travel
with the limit screws, use '6' clicks for '7s' cogset.

>
> Sora brifters work well. The only problem is reaching the upshift lever
> from the drops. It would bother me but I could probably still live with
> it. Faced with this same situation I'd go Campy if I could though.
>
> Matt O.

 

[Qui si parla Campagnolo]

Matt O'Toole wrote:
> On Sat, 07 Jan 2006 06:31:32 -0800, Qui si parla Campagnolo wrote:
>
> > Hank Wirtz wrote:
>
> >> Mom's got a mid-'90s Novara Randonee with 7-speed RSX on it. When it
> >> gets below 50 degrees, the right brifter won't shift in either
> >> direction. They've tried cleaning it out with WD-40 and high-pressure
> >> air, but nothing's made a difference.
>
> I hate to ask, but have you flushed or replaced the cable housings? This
> is often the source of such stiffness.
>
> However, IME RSX brifters were stiff and clunky anyway, not one of
> Shimano's better efforts.
>
> >> So here are a few options we've kicked around, having consulted the
> >> cable pull tables at http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=
> >> 3946
> >>
> >> 1) replace it with a Sora 7-Speed brifter 2) go Shimergo
> >> a)9-speed Mirage levers with the existing 7-speed cassette
> >> b)10-speed Veloce levers with a 7-of-8 cassette c)b)10-speed Veloce
> >> levers with a new freehub body, 8-speed cassette
> >> and redished wheel
> >>
> >> She likes the idea of Ergos, both for their serviceability and their
> >> cleaner cable routing. She often uses a handlebar bag with a map case,
> >> and having the gear cables under the tape would be nice.
> >>
> >> The downside to the 9-speed Ergos is that they would give .26mm extra
> >> mech throw per shift, and they seem to think that's .04mm too much.
> >> Anybody have any real-life experience with this combo?
> >
> > How about Mirage Ergo-converted to 8s with a disc(we have them) any
> > Campag rear der and go ride with the existing cogset and chain.
>
> That's what I'd do. But are 7sp Campy shift discs available? Then you
> wouldn't need a new cassette, or to mess with the rear wheel, since 7sp
> Campy/Shimano cassettes have exactly the same spacing.

8s Campag spacing is same as 7s shimano. Just limit rear der travel
with the limit screws, use '6' clicks for '7s' cogset.

>
> Sora brifters work well. The only problem is reaching the upshift lever
> from the drops. It would bother me but I could probably still live with
> it. Faced with this same situation I'd go Campy if I could though.
>
> Matt O.

 

[Matt O'Toole]

On Sat, 07 Jan 2006 06:42:45 -0800, Curt Wiederhoeft wrote:

> Another viable option is the Modolo Morphos brifters. Performance still
> sells them

From what I've heard they don't work very well.

Matt O.

 

[dvt]

Hank Wirtz wrote:
> Mom's got a mid-'90s Novara Randonee with 7-speed RSX on it. When it
> gets below 50 degrees, the right brifter won't shift in either
> direction. They've tried cleaning it out with WD-40 and high-pressure
> air, but nothing's made a difference. Since she mostly likes to ride it
> at 0-dark:30 to spinning class (don't laugh - she's the instructor) the
> inability to shift before it warms up is a big deal.
>
> So here are a few options we've kicked around, having consulted the
> cable pull tables at http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=
> 3946
>
> 1) replace it with a Sora 7-Speed brifter
> 2) go Shimergo
> a)9-speed Mirage levers with the existing 7-speed cassette
> b)10-speed Veloce levers with a 7-of-8 cassette
> c)b)10-speed Veloce levers with a new freehub body, 8-speed cassette
> and redished wheel

I don't know why you'd pick 2b. Why not the 10-speed Campy levers,
8-of-9 cassette, and the hubbub cable routing on the rear derailer?

> With the 10-sp ergos,we have to deal with a new cassette.I hear about 8-
> of-9 quite a bit, but has anyone tried 7-of-8 to get the cogs on the old
> freehub body?

Nope. As I said before, I'd use 8-of-9.

I am currently running Ergo shifters, Shimano derailer, and an 8-speed
cog. The cable is running in the normal place. It works great. I've
messed with the hubbub cable routing and a 9-speed cassette, and it
seems to work as advertised, but I don't have long-term experience. When
my 8-speed cassette wears out, I'll probably switch to 9-speed.

Someone (Paul Kopit, maybe?) posted a report on this NG that the hubbub
cable routing doesn't work well with Shimano MTB derailers. I don't have
any clue if that's true; if you're using an MTB derailer, I suggest you
investigate.

--
Dave
dvt at psu dot edu

 

[Paul Kopit]

On Tue, 10 Jan 2006 13:04:56 -0500, dvt <[email protected]> wrote:

>Someone (Paul Kopit, maybe?) posted a report on this NG that the hubbub
>cable routing doesn't work well with Shimano MTB derailers. I don't have
>any clue if that's true; if you're using an MTB derailer, I suggest you
>investigate.

Works fine with MTB derailleurs like LX, XT, XTR. Not so with road
derailleurs.