Cycling UK Forum

I've just picked up a lovely thorn Audax with Shimano Ultegra at the back end and down tube shifters. I'd like to put on sti or ergo type shifters as all my other bikes have that - and my fingers keep dabbing out to Change gear instead of moving to the down tube...

Trouble is I don't want that birds nest of cables that some sti levers have - where they fly out of the side of the lever - I want the cables to run along the handle bar like Campag Ergos. I've google about for 9 speed sti but I don't know what models have aproper cable set up - anyone know?

If that's not on then anyone have experience of 9 speed ergo power and Ultegra at the back?

Cheers

M

Shimano 105 10 speed is the lowest group with hidden cables at the moment.
Have you considered going 10 speed or is it that you already have 9 speed stuff?

Already have 9 on the back - I don't know if I could fit on a ten speed block or if the Ultegra derailer would work. I'm bit of a campy only type so don't know the ins and outs of shimano - don't know where Ultegra sits in the food chain - but it's pretty crisp and smooth. Not averse to changing the sprockets if that would work. BUT I think their sti lever with cables coming out the sides are pretty poor effort (don't care if they shift well!).

You shoud be able to use a 9 rear mech with 10 up front with a 10 cassette.

Ultegra is the next to top groupset.
1 = Dura-ace
2 = Ultegra.
3 = 105
4 = Tiagra
5 = Sora
etc.

There may be problems trying to mix 9 & 10 speed equipment.
First off would a 10 speed chain run on a 9 speed chainset?
Second I don't know how a 9 speed rear derailleur will fare with a 10 speed chain.
I just went with new equipment when I changed from 8 straight to 10.

A 10 speed cassette will fit your existing hub.

11 speed Campag' Ergos will match 9 speed Shimano derailleur but probably too expensive.
9 speed Shimano is relatively inexpensive as long as you can put up with the "washing lines".

EDIT - Be aware that the latest Tiagra is now 10 speed and won't match a 9 speed cassette.

take a look at CJ's 'beat the system' article for various methods of acheiving what you want to do using campag ergos.

Personally I don't mind 'washing lines'. But then although I have some bikes with all mod cons, on others I don't mind gear levers in peculiar places, 'not having enough gears' (according to some folk), not having indexed shifting, or non-aero brake levers come to that.

They are arguably all just distractions from the things that make a great bike; stuff like a nice frame, well-built wheels, and the right riding position, that kind of thing.

Get that lot right and I'd put up with spaghetti wrapped round the handlebars rather than have a bike with the wrong frame, bad wheels, wrong riding position etc.

cheers

Well said brucey.

If you check out the Shimergo page on the main CTC site.
In the table that shows cable pull it shows that Shimano 9 speed shifters pull 2.5mm of cable per click.
Campag 11 speed pulls 2.6mm per click. So as he shows they are a good mixed match.

It is the front that could give problems but this is easily solved with a Campag front mech (the cable pull is different for Campag and Shimano road front mechs).

Cycleuk - thanks for that - nice to know its good stuff. Certainly feels that way.

Brucey - yep you are right - but this bike is too good for the washing lines.. I just think that's sloppy engineering. The bike fits perfectly and will be a companion to my flying gate in Campag - doing winter duties. I'd rather put up with down tube shifters than spend all day looking at cables flying out left and right...

MGate wrote: ... but this bike is too good for the washing lines.. I just think that's sloppy engineering....

hmm maybe but depends on your POV. Having used both systems I reckon the shimano STI innards usually last longer than Ergos. Campag Ergos used to make up for this by being repairable, but they have pretty much done away with that now, and only list whole assemblies as spare parts for the most recent stuff I think. The various (and pointless..?) variations in front mech pull/clicks in recent years don't exactly enamour me either.

The washing lines of course have the brilliant advantage that you can swap out complete gear cables in about five minutes should the need arise. Terribly sloppy engineering, that, obviously....

Bikes that actually get used a lot should have priorities that are different from those that are not; choose substance over style, I would.... (pauses to duck for cover..... )

cheers

Loads of bits throughout the 2013 range (non-EPS)
This is SR, but going through the PDF the bits seem to be there.

http://www.campagnolo.com/repository/do ... PART_A.pdf

Breaking gear cables - yes well that happens all the time and removing bar tape is so onerous... Not being able to sort a pathway for the cable - well that's terrible. Sorry Brucey - while you were ducking for cover...

I've never, ever broken a gear cable in 40 years of cycling and I do 8000 miles a year across 3 bikes. All my bikes have "washing lines" as I have Tiagra on all my bikes.

I used to be 100% Campag (NOT Campy, please ) but have now fully made the transition to the dark side.

I've broken two in all the years that I can remember.

One was on the front mech where it clamps - it was kinked and broke off.
The other was badly freyed where it was bent round inside the Ergo mechanism pulley - actually it didn't break, I just found it holding on with a few strands. Maybe done 16,000miles.

Then again, if you live in Flatlandia, you probably don't change gear as much as someone living in Alplandia. More gear changes means more wear and tear.

cables don't break that often (for most folk *) but being able to pop the guides out and check the cables are not binding, regrease etc is very practical.

(*) my amazing chum routinely breaks gear cables in his STIs in a little over six months. We estimate he does nearly 150000 shifts in that time. I think he'd wear campag ergos out in about two years. Routine inspection and cable replacement would both be considerably more awkward were it not for his 'washing lines'.

Mick, it looks like instead of buying a couple of springs and maybe a carrier, with 'new' ergos you are in for (say) part EC-SR100 which appears to comprise the entire main index pivot assy. I don't know this for sure but I would suppose it ain't cheap.

cheers