Upgrade Shimano RX100 -> Sora?

[Strayhorn]

My ancient Trek has developed a crack in the frame so it's time to be
retired. Being a cheap ******* with two kids in college, I scoured the
used bike market and came up with a newish Cannondale R400 in excellent
shape (the usual yuppie toy, ridden once or twice and then put away to
be eventually sold for a fraction).

The components are all marked Shimano RX100. This is fine with me but
the shifters are on the downtube and I'd like to replace them with
brifters. Over time I'd upgraded my Trek and one of the items I really
liked were the Sora brifters, which had been matched with Sora front and
rear derailers.

So, my question is this: When I move the brifters to the Cannondale
(assuming that's possible) should I move the derailers as well, or just
leave the RX100 derailers in place?

On another note, my training pal gave me a nice new set of Shimano 105
brakes for my birthday. Are these better/lighter than the RX100 brakes?
I'd like to move them over, mainly because they were a gift from a good
friend, but if someone knows a reason not to I'd be interested to hear
it.

Thanks in advance

--
Strayhorn

³Excuse me, brother, who you jivin' with that cosmik debris?" - F.Z.

 

[JeffWills]

Strayhorn wrote:
<snip>
>
> The components are all marked Shimano RX100. This is fine with me but
> the shifters are on the downtube and I'd like to replace them with
> brifters. Over time I'd upgraded my Trek and one of the items I really
> liked were the Sora brifters, which had been matched with Sora front and
> rear derailers.
>
> So, my question is this: When I move the brifters to the Cannondale
> (assuming that's possible) should I move the derailers as well, or just
> leave the RX100 derailers in place?
<snnip>
>
> Thanks in advance

When it was made, RX100 was one step down from 105, about the same
position Sora is currently in Shimano's lineup. To my mind, it was
slightly better, since RX100 was essentially unpainted 105. I'd just
move the brake/shift levers over- they'll work fine with the RX100
derailleurs. It sounds like the RX100 derailleurs will have minimal
wear on them, so a little cleanup and lube is all they'll need. Treat
yourself to new cables & housings.

Jeff

 

[bfd]

Agree, alot of people *rag* on Shimano low-end stuff. But what these
people don't realize is it "just works". That "$20" Shimano rear
derailleur will outperform the old top-of-the-line Campy NR/SR stuff.
Further, don't forget, it was Shimano low-end stuff that pushed out
other mfrs like Suntour, Zeus, Ofmega, Galli, Gipiemme, Simplex, Miche
and others from the US market.

You may want to look at getting a new chain too. Enjoy!

 

[Jasper Janssen]

On 8 Sep 2005 12:15:55 -0700, "JeffWills" <[email protected]> wrote:
>Strayhorn wrote:

>> The components are all marked Shimano RX100. This is fine with me but
>> the shifters are on the downtube and I'd like to replace them with
>> brifters. Over time I'd upgraded my Trek and one of the items I really
>> liked were the Sora brifters, which had been matched with Sora front and
>> rear derailers.
>>
>> So, my question is this: When I move the brifters to the Cannondale
>> (assuming that's possible) should I move the derailers as well, or just
>> leave the RX100 derailers in place?

>When it was made, RX100 was one step down from 105, about the same
>position Sora is currently in Shimano's lineup. To my mind, it was
>slightly better, since RX100 was essentially unpainted 105. I'd just
>move the brake/shift levers over- they'll work fine with the RX100
>derailleurs. It sounds like the RX100 derailleurs will have minimal
>wear on them, so a little cleanup and lube is all they'll need. Treat
>yourself to new cables & housings.

(and keep all the spare bits in a box somewhere for when something
breaks). Depending on chainring/cassette/wheels etc state, you might wanna
pick and choose those as well, but I suspect you were already planning
that since you weren't asking.

Jasper