A few basic questions to help get my commuter/winter trainer on the road

[montage]

This is a 60cm 1980s type bike, 10 speed....a blue Falcon (will get photos up soon). Downtube shifters.

1. Is it possible to make 7 speed sora STI shifters work for this bike keeping the gears I have?

2. What is the most effective way to remove frame stickers? The ones on my bike are pretty tatty.

3. This bike doesn't have rack fittings....but I have a rack I would like to put on! There are mudguard fittings on both the front and rear wheel which I can mount the bottom of the rack to. The rack has two retractable "arms" made of a sheet of metal with a hole at the ends...to be bolted onto mudguard fittings on the stays on a normal bike. I dont really want to drill holes in my stays as they are thin enough as it is....so has anybody seen a clever, and cheap, alternative to putting a rack on.

4. the wheels are slighlty out of true (when the brakes are set 3mm away from the rim, the wheel rubs as it rotates) ...... does this provide me with a health risk that the wheels may fail?

5. If I want to upgrade from the older 10spd groupset to a modern groupset...is this possible? ..will a modern BB fit in an old frame?


Thanks

 

[hubgearfreak]

3. for the rack, p-clips are favourite. a decent LBS will have them in stock

4. for the wheels, get them trued at your LBS. the brakes will never work properly on rims so out of true.

without wishing to insult you, for the other, gear, questions, if you need to ask about the two i've answered, you'd be best leaving the more complicated stuff alone until you gain experience and confidence in cycle fettling/tinkering

 

[montage]

3. for the rack, p-clips are favourite. a decent LBS will have them in stock

4. for the wheels, get them trued at your LBS. the brakes will never work properly on rims so out of true.

without wishing to insult you, for the other, gear, questions, if you need to ask about the two i've answered, you'd be best leaving the more complicated stuff alone until you gain experience and confidence in cycle fettling/tinkering

P clips look perfect!! .... and I guess you are right about the wheels. I am able to tinker with my bikes to an extent... I've completely stripped and reassembled my best bike, so I would be able to fit most of the gear.....but how well is the question

cheers for the advice hubgearfreak

 

[Bigtwin]

1. 5 speed spacing is 5.3mm with 3.5 spacing and 1.85 sprocket thickness. With Shimano HG 7 the first and second of those are 5 and 3.15. So technically they are not compatible. However, you may find that if you set up the shift from the middle cog, it might work in a way you can live with, especially if your chain is a bit worn anyway.

 

[John the Monkey]

This is a 60cm 1980s type bike, 10 speed....a blue Falcon (will get photos up soon). Downtube shifters.

1. Is it possible to make 7 speed sora STI shifters work for this bike keeping the gears I have?

You'd need a 7 speed freewheel (assuming your 5-speed block is a freewheel type) and downtube cable stops.

I don't think you need the wheel re-dishing for 7-speed, but it might be worth checking.

 

[Bigtwin]

You'd need a 7 speed freewheel (assuming your 5-speed block is a freewheel type) and downtube cable stops.

I don't think you need the wheel re-dishing for 7-speed, but it might be worth checking.

There will be a 6mm rear spacing difference, the 7 being wider. So you'll need to spring the frame to get it in, and fudge the spindle accordingly.

 

[jimboalee]

There will be a 6mm rear spacing difference, the 7 being wider. So you'll need to spring the frame to get it in, and fudge the spindle accordingly.

I have fitted a 6 block to an OE 5 block bike.

I would have reservations about springing the frame by 6mm as this introduces an out of parallelism in the dropouts.

The dropouts will be gripping the locknuts at the front only and there will be tendancy for bending of the spindle.

 

[gbb]

BB, no problem. I upgraded my 80s raleigh with adjustable BB to a cartridge type...straight swap.

Springing the frame ?...Jimbo is doubtless correct, but in practice i've dont it without adjusting the hanger....no problem 1 year later.

 

[hubgearfreak]

assuming that it's an old steel frame, you can be rough with it.
for re-spacing the rear, see the link below.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/frame-spacing.html

as for re-paralleling the dropouts, first fit them up with long bolts or threaded bar to show where they are pointing and then use a large adjustable spanner

this is the best picture i can find to describe what i'm on about.