Advice on mixing 9 & 10 Speed road parts please from UK cyclists

[Luba]

HI,

I bought a new bike back in May with full 9 Speed Compact Double Sora - I have had nothing but hassle from it - not what I was expecting, especially from a new bike and from what I have read about this 2013 groupset.

My intention was to wear it out and then upgrade. With the amount of hassle I have had I have decided to just change things now. Any advice will be gratefully received.

For a bit of context I have had 2 experienced mechanics working on the Sora set I got, apparently "New" and even they can't set it up well so we're all quite baffled. The reason I haven't asked them these questions is because they were just tasked to getting the ****ing bike working!

I have bought 10 speed 105 mechs from Wiggle - as that was the cheapest start on the upgrade. I am 99% certain they will work on my 9 speed set up.

I also have a 10 speed "decent" chain - the seller sent some gack not on spec sheet. Will this work on the 9 speed I currently have? The consensus seems to be yes but I'd like to know from some UK users that have done this.

Lastly, if I upgrade the shifters to 105 10 speed - and obviously the cassette - everything else will be 10 speed compatible - will the 9 speed compact Sora chainset I currently have - Work?

I apologise if these questions are completely stupid! And I expect either no response or utterly conflicting anecdotes.

From what I can glean it seems to all be a bit of a rip off but am willing to be proved wrong.

Eventually I will go all 10 speed but £ must at the moment!

Thanks in advance for any helpful responses - and I apologise to anyone that I may of offended!!

 

[PatrickPending]

yep the ten speed mecs will work. Not sure on the chain, to go fully 10 speed you'll need the cassette and shifters and chain. I think your chainset will be ok.

 

[Luba]

yep the ten speed mecs will work. Not sure on the chain, to go fully 10 speed you'll need the cassette and shifters and chain. I think your chainset will be ok.

OK thanks for the response. Thought so - just need a definite - off some complete stranger off the Internet! LOL

Cheers

 

[raleighnut]

If by chainset you mean pedalcrank+rings. they'll be fine 10 speed cassette, shifters, mechs, all need 10 speed chain.

 

[cosmicbike]

Not convinced the 10 speed chain will work properly with a 9 speed setup as described in the OP. 10 speed chains are thinner than 9's are they not, and would result in shifting issues?
FWIW I have 9 speed 2013 Sora and it shifts really nicely. After 1200 miles all I have had to do is tweak the cable tension a tad on the rear mech due to stretch.

 

[mickle]

An expensive way to fix your problem...

 

[User33236]

I bought my Cannondale CAAD8 with Sora (because I didn't like the frame colour of the 105 version!) and upgraded in over time to 105. First I bought 105 shifters of eBay and a chain and cassette from Wiggle. These pets got fitted leaving the Sora front and rear mech in place and worked without issue, after setting the rear mech stop and reindexing of course. Eventually I upgraded the mechs to 105 and never noticed any difference. Not the best way to save a few grammes lol.

 

[arch684]

I have 9 speed tiagra shifters on one of my road bikes with a 105 rear mech and a ten speed chain works perfectly

 

[fossyant]

Ten speed chain might be too narrow. I run a 9 speed chain on my Dura Ace 8 speed, but the front rings are 9/10 speed Stronglights.
I would have changed all your cables to DA/XTR quality shimano ones. Sticky/grubby cables are the main cause of crap gear changes and duff braking.

 

[fossyant]

All Shimano 8,9,10 mechs all use the same amount of cable pull, so will all work with other shifters. Not so sure with 11 ?

Except 7400 series Dura Ace which will only work with Dura Ace 7400 stuff. Bloody good job it's bullet proof !

 

[Andrew Br]

I had duff shifting on a bike (my 1st road bike as it happens) some time ago.
Lots of work by the LBS couldn't sort out the problem and eventually they came to the conclusion that the frame alignment was out.
After a new frame (under warranty), everything worked perfectly.
Could that be your problem ?

.

 

[accountantpete]

The 10spd chain will be compatible with a 9spd chainring/cranks. They made the chain thinner by reducing the width of the outside plates - the gap in the middle of the chain is more or less the same.

 

[tincaman]

If the mech hanger is bent then then you will NEVER get the shifting to work properly. Did this get checked at the LBS?
I can confirm that the 9 speed Sora chainset will work fine with the rest of a 10 speed gear system

 

[Luba]

I had duff shifting on a bike (my 1st road bike as it happens) some time ago.
Lots of work by the LBS couldn't sort out the problem and eventually they came to the conclusion that the frame alignment was out.
After a new frame (under warranty), everything worked perfectly.
Could that be your problem ?

.

Apologies for the late responses. Jeez - that sounds awful - I do hope not but will respond to a few other posts.
Wish I knew how to multi - but really appreciate all your responses so cheers!

 

[Luba]

If the mech hanger is bent then then you will NEVER get the shifting to work properly. Did this get checked at the LBS?
I can confirm that the 9 speed Sora chainset will work fine with the rest of a 10 speed gear system

Thank you. My mechanic confirmed this - and hairline crack in it. Not something I would have ever noticed or seen. But potentially very dangerous.

The whole "set up" of this bike has been beyond a joke. And the sellers, PBK, should in no way have signed it off as fully checked and signed off by their "qualified" - by their Lego figures. Just bl00dy dangerous.

So much for me getting a sub £600 full carbon "bargain". Never had so much bollos with a bike - my last 4 have all been online purchases too!

I have had bikes from Wheelies Direct and they were awful. But ProbikeKit have just been terrible, beyond awful, utter liars and incompetent.

Have just had the mechs changed from a Raleigh dealer and bike allegedly checked over. TBH the things he was asking did not give me any confidence...

Am going to pick it up now. I hope it's all sorted!

Instead of "Fat Lad at the Back" - there is surely a massive market for idiots like me, who can use the internet but are too scared to repair their own bikes, but want the advice and are willing to listen and watch the practical? And pay for these demos..

Let's see the state of it. That the so called "expert" reckoned my medium cage 105 wouldn't fit my 32T cassette....