Drop bar conversion - advice please

[redjedi]

I'm finally going to do it, convert my Bianchi to drop bars, but I think I need a little advice.

The reason for doing the conversion is that I am fed up with my flat bars. I have bar ends which are more comfortable, but as it's mainly a commuter in London I don't get much chance to use them safely.

Also a new bike is out of the question at the moment due to financial situation, and lack of space. ( I don't want to sell her, as she was my first proper bike and I couldn't bear to part just yet)

The frame is a Via Nirone 7 (not the lovely new curvy one ).

It's got dual caliper brakes - unbranded, just say Bianchi

I've got a triple Campag chainset on the front and 8 speed Shimano cassette.

The dereileurs are Shimano. That's all I know about them. The front says 9 speed on it and the rear just says Shimano and is mostly black.

The thumb shifters are just silver plastic with 8 speed and triple written on them.

If it makes any difference, I also have in-line cable tension thingies (stop me if I'm getting too technical )

So my plan is to get some STI levers, a set of bars, tape and new cables and housing.
I may also get a new rear dereileur, as I don't believe it's anything special.

I was originally looking at the Sora sti levers, or Tiagra if I found a good deal on Ebay. But then I read that I could use 10 speed Campag levers on a 8 speed Shimano cassette.
This means I could get a set of Ergo Powers Xenon 10 QS escape with cables for £50, or push the boat out and get the Veloce for just over £60.

I have read this combination works very well, I just need to set the dereilleur screws so it doesn't fall off the cassette.

Can anyone see any problems with this idea?
Are the Xenons any good? ,I know they are the bottom of the range, just as long as they are reliable.
Or should I stick with the more expensive Shimano.

What dereileur what be a good option for this set-up? Can I use a Campag one or put a better Shim one on? I think I read that the XT (?) was a good one, but that is classed as a MTB option. What about the Sora dereilleur?

I think that is enough questions for now.

Please help as I want to start ordering parts soon

 

[RedBike]

Mixing campag and Shimano is never really a very good idea.

As you want to replace the rear mech and your front mech could well be incompatable it sounds like you could well be better off just getting a complete Shimano groupset (Campag wont work with your existing wheels)

Why are the bar ends dangerous? What about narrower bars?

 

[redjedi]

I would have prefered campag levers, as the cables can be routed under the bar tape, and you can also trim the front dereilleur. But I can live without either of these.
The Campags are also a lot cheaper, £60 for the Veloce or £90 for the Sora.

(but on the description of the £60 Veloce it says to use QS front gears only, so that would probably mean a new front dereilleur)

The bar ends don't have brakes, so I have to keep changing positions at every light, traffic jam, junction, sight of ped. I think I already have quite narrow bars.

 

[tyred]

There are other handlebar possibilities which will allow you to keep your existing brake levers, etc and provide a better riding position - butterfly, moustache, north roads...

 

[Smokin Joe]

I would have prefered campag levers, as the cables can be routed under the bar tape, and you can also trim the front dereilleur. But I can live without either of these.
The Campags are also a lot cheaper, £60 for the Veloce or £90 for the Sora.

(but on the description of the £60 Veloce it says to use QS front gears only, so that would probably mean a new front dereilleur)

The bar ends don't have brakes, so I have to keep changing positions at every light, traffic jam, junction, sight of ped. I think I already have quite narrow bars.

You can safely ignore that bit, Campag QS will work with any front mech. Google "Shiftmate" for a cheap and effective way of mixing Campag and Shimano shifters and mechs.

 

[Dave Davenport]

I've got an unused set of sora 8 speed shifters and drop bars going spare (converted a dolce to flat bar for a friend) if you're interested.

 

[Will1985]

I thought the flatbar versions were badged Camaleonte instead of via Nirone, but were otherwise the same frame?

 

[redjedi]

There are other handlebar possibilities which will allow you to keep your existing brake levers, etc and provide a better riding position - butterfly, moustache, north roads...

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm not too keen on those styles


Dave -

I am interested, how much do you want for them? Are they for a triple?#


Smoking Joe -

I thought as much.
I did see the Shiftmates, but I believe that the 10sp shifters work direct with 8sp cassette.

 

[redjedi]

I thought the flatbar versions were badged Camaleonte instead of via Nirone, but were otherwise the same frame?

It's definately not a Camaleonte, mine dies say Via Nirone and it's a full road set-up except for the bars/shifters.
I haven't seen this setup since I got mine from Evans, and they are Bianchi bars and stem, so not a botch job by the shop.

It's also in the liquigas team colours (2005?) , a bit lairy but you get used to it.

Here's the link to Evans
http://www.evanscycles.com/products...e=awin&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=awin

but no picture

 

[Dave Davenport]

Yep, they're for a triple. How's £50 for the pair and the bars sound?

 

[redjedi]

Sounds good to me.

I kind of had my head set on the Campag or Tiagra just because they have the seperate lever behind the brake. But I guess that's no big deal.

They should be fine for a first experience of STIs, let me confirm ASAP (it will be very soon).
That would also eliminate the compatability issue as well.

 

[Amanda P]

Campag 10 speed ergos work perfectly with Shimano 8-speed cassettes and derailleurs- I have run my tourer like this with no trouble for several years. It's a mixed marriage that actually works.

Chris Juden agrees with me.

No shiftmate needed - it just happens that the spacing of the two systems is exactly the same.

I've also used Xenon and Veloce ergos, both with Shimano front derailleurs. Two minor problems - one in that a baggage handler fiddled with the front ergo at Mombassa airport and broke a couple of teeth of the ratchet. The other was when in hot South Africa, the gear paddle broke off a front ergo. I suspect that this was because a stiff cable combined with a strong spring on the derailleur was putting too much strain on the paddle when changing. Both Xenon and Veloce have GRP paddles; I don't know about other Campag ergos.

I say go for it. Best of both worlds.

 

[Amanda P]

Ah, reading through properly I see you're sorted.

 

[HLaB]

If you can go for campi rather than sora. I fitted sora when I converted my Sirrus to drops; I went the Sora route and that I'd say was the only downside to the project.

Heres my thread and photos on the topic if its any help.

 

[redjedi]

If you can go for campi rather than sora. I fitted sora when I converted my Sirrus to drops; I went the Sora route and that I'd say was the only downside to the project.

Heres my thread and photos on the topic if its any help.

What didn't you like about the Sora shifters?