Fitted new narrower rear wheel and 9sp cassette & shifters - quill/ahead converter, lower stem and flat bars with bar ends. Much nicer now to ride, less wobbly, more precise and the gearing will help when pulling the trailer:
From this - upright "sit up and beg" 18 speed
To this: 27 speed with narrower (32 down from 38) tyres and a faster, less "wobble-along" riding position:
The shifters are interesting....I gambled on some SunRace M90 levers, with no Sunrace M90 review that i could find, I remember SunRace being cheap tat. Time, I suppose will tell - they are a little odd with the 2 levers like the old Exage-era STI levers, both under-bar push levers. They do seem to be quite precise and sure, the downshift is quite keen, only takes a very small light push, and shifts from 9th to 3rd in one quick push - good for quick stops without being stuck in a silly gear. Upshift is a little more "clunky" and will take some getting accustomed to, my finger was reaching for the rapidfire position on the first quick tootle into town today.
The left shifter doesn't have a "trim", there is just 1,2,3 so takes a bit more careful setting up. It's a little heavy in operation too, not recommended for small hands.
Also the indicator window sits inboard of the clamp so takes up a fair old chunk of cockpit space
Thinking of buying the front wheel to match the rear, as this will mean in summer I can stick some 23s or similar on for a nippier ride (not keen on the wide cart-wheel rims that came as standard)
