Converting old road gear shifters to brake shifter's

[johnnyb47]

Hi to all.
I'm the proud owner of an early 80 Peugeot Eqiupe that has its gear shifters on the down tube. After owning a mountain bike for a few years i miss having the convenience of the gear shifter to hand on the bars on my road bike. The only thing that puts me off converting it is that I would be left two redundant braze on,s left on the down tube. If the bike was an old hack it wouldn't bother me, but it's in immaculate condition and I don't want to spoil its lovely look.
I dont know much about modern road bike brake / gear systems so please be gentle on explaining what options I can explore to upgrading them.
Many thanks
john

 

[Ajax Bay]

Cable Housing Stop Adaptors (Curved Back) for Brazed-on Shifter Bosses

These convert the brazed on bosses neatly and with sufficient style into cable stops: so the gear cable outer runs from the STIs (Shimano/SRAM) or Ergos (Campagnolo) on the new (drop) handlebars to this stop before the cables continue bare down the down tube to the front and rear derailleurs.
http://www.ebay.com/bhp/downtube-cable-stop

 

[Ajax Bay]

I had a matt black version of this Trek OCLV 5500 once upon a time. The guy I sold it to is scarcely riding it so I might try to buy it back. See the cable stops screwed on to the shifter bosses. http://classiccycleus.com/home/repair/museum-bikes-1980-to-present/

 

[johnnyb47]

Thank you both for your help. I've just been watching a 30 minute YouTube clip on a conversion which was very informative and helpful. Looking " between the lines " I may have to replace my rear sprocket as its only a 5 speed block.
All the best
Johnny

 

[Ajax Bay]

Thank you both for your help.

Who's the other bloke?
I don't think you'll get STIs less than 8sp and that will need a wheel which requires a 130mm OLN (ie distance between the rear dropouts), which you will not have. The frame is steel so you can 'cold set' it ie bend it so it's 130mm, and a 'modern' wheel will then fit. Done and dusted.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Who's the other bloke?
I don't think you'll get STIs less than 8sp and that will need a wheel which requires a 130mm OLN (ie distance between the rear dropouts), which you will not have. The frame is steel so you can 'cold set' it ie bend it so it's 130mm, and a 'modern' wheel will then fit. Done and dusted.

In my experience most rear drop outs are slightly oversize and only gentle thumb pressure is needed to get a 130mm hub into an old frame.

 

[biggs682]

In my experience most rear drop outs are slightly oversize and only gentle thumb pressure is needed to get a 130mm hub into an old frame.

try to it on the side of the road when its dark and raining not so much fun , but agree it can be done

 

[raleighnut]

If you're not worried about indexing then bar end shifters might be the way to go, the Shimano 'Dura-ace' 9spd can be got cheaply (mainly because they only work with 8-9spd 'Dura-ace' index spacing) and they can be switched to friction.
About £40 and they come with the changer boss adapters so then you can run 5-6-7 screw-on freewheels (or change the wheel to accept a rather expensive 8spd 'Dura-ace' cassette like I ended up doing.)

 

[johnnyb47]

Who's the other bloke?
I don't think you'll get STIs less than 8sp and that will need a wheel which requires a 130mm OLN (ie distance between the rear dropouts), which you will not have. The frame is steel so you can 'cold set' it ie bend it so it's 130mm, and a 'modern' wheel will then fit. Done and dusted.

.
..

Oh god sorry buddy. I thought it was two different members that replied at the time lol. Where's those dam glasses gone.
I've been thinking for ages about upgrading my bike but there's something at the back of my mind nagging me not to. After all I bought the bike purely for nostalgic and sentimental reasons and upgrading it into something else totally defeats the whole point of buying it in the first place. If I wanted a newer modern bike I would of only had to spend a few quid extra and be done with it, but that wouldn't be the point. I'm still in two minds to be honest but I do feel it would be a shame to change an immaculate original bike into something non original. Decisions , decisions lol.

 

[Ajax Bay]

My '81 ALAN has stayed fairly true to original (new rear axle, 6 speed freewheel for the original 5sp, brake blocks, cables, chain and tyres - that's about it. I really should change the cable outers). But it doesn't get ridden much. Do you want to ride the Peugeot or hang it on a wall? If the only thing which detracts from riding it is down tube friction levers, you can get used to, even enjoy developing expertise in one handed double changes without losing your fingertips or losing control of the bike/handlebars. A 6sp freewheel will screw on fine which will give you a 28t (with the 39 chainwheel) for the Welsh hills.

 

[Roadrider48]

Who's the other bloke?
I don't think you'll get STIs less than 8sp and that will need a wheel which requires a 130mm OLN (ie distance between the rear dropouts), which you will not have. The frame is steel so you can 'cold set' it ie bend it so it's 130mm, and a 'modern' wheel will then fit. Done and dusted.

There must be two of you! LOL

 

[cyberknight]

Who's the other bloke?
I don't think you'll get STIs less than 8sp and that will need a wheel which requires a 130mm OLN (ie distance between the rear dropouts), which you will not have. The frame is steel so you can 'cold set' it ie bend it so it's 130mm, and a 'modern' wheel will then fit. Done and dusted.

You can get 7 speed tourney shifter with the thumb style buttons ,
https://www.evanscycles.com/shimano-tourney-a070-2-x-7-speed-sti-shifter-set-EV184204

 

[Nigelnaturist]

You can also get 8sp freewheels

 

[si_c]

Radical option I know, but have you considered sticking with the downtube shifters? I use them on my Peugeot, and they're great. Plus you don't have to faff with indexing

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Radical option I know, but have you considered sticking with the downtube shifters? I use them on my Peugeot, and they're great. Plus you don't have to faff with indexing

I used to ride down tube shifters compared with modern shifters they are naff, basically two things have changed since I rode in the 80's-90's brifters and clip in pedals these are the best development in cycling in over 50 years IMHO, I am doing an old Carlton up however it was so bad when I got it not much off the original stuff really works, my two biggest problems at the moment are the adaptor claw, the screw that holds the inner bracket in place is that long it rubs against the cassette lock nut and the cable for the FD going under the BB shell and trying to source some downtube cheapish bosses, the ones that came with the bike on the clip extend quite away out and would look odd with modern barrel adjusters.
As for indexing this is set by the shifters all you are doing is adjusting the dérailleur to be in the correct position i.e. on the small cog/chainring and adjusting the cable tension so if shifts correctly, hardly rocket science.