New rider will not like friction shifting. For 8 spd retrofits, I always buy microshift / sunrace. Work really well, can usually get both shifters for $25ish. Rear V brake retrofit is full length housing with zipties.
On Sunday, November 27, 2022 at 10:51:07 AM UTC-5 Paul Clifton wrote: > Oh, and HAHAHA, of course Riv has the Claris 8 speed rapid fire shifter in > stock. > > On Sunday, November 27, 2022 at 9:49:46 AM UTC-6 Paul Clifton wrote: > >> Thanks Mike and Scott for the tip on the v brake setup. I'll give it a go >> as is, and it probably won't be a problem. >> >> And David, Joe, Scott - thanks for the input. Buying a rapid fire shifter >> and 8 speed cassette was really my first inclination, but it's getting >> harder to find 8 speed rapid fire stuff, at least at the usual places. I >> bit the bullet and went to ebay and of course everything I need is readily >> available for cheap, like $30 bucks all in for the shifter and cassette. >> >> As to my friend's preferences ... she says she has no idea what she >> likes, and I believe her. She's never ridden a bike that fits, so she's >> never been comfortable enough to even think about the shifters. Even my >> wife's 45cm Clem L was a smidge too big; the seat had to be all the way >> down for her to even reach the bottom of the pedal stroke. A shorter seat >> would solve that but it'd still be at the limit. This Specialized will get >> the existing seat down below 60cm from the bottom bracket, so she'll be >> able to lower it enough to get a toe on the ground when she stops, which I >> know will make her feel more comfortable. I'm even concerned the that >> Albatross bars won't come back far enough for her and I'll have to source >> some Boscos (which is what she loved the most about my wife's Clem anyway). >> But that's going to be determined after she actually rides this with the >> parts I have for a bit. She's been through like 5 bikes that are too big >> and at this point there's no use throwing good money after bad, until we >> know it's small enough and functional. >> >> Even so, I'll always wonder whether she would have like friction bar ends >> better :) >> >> Paul >> >> On Saturday, November 26, 2022 at 8:01:40 PM UTC-6 Scott wrote: >> >>> Go with Joe's wisdom... >>> >>> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android >>> <https://go.onelink.me/107872968?pid=InProduct&c=Global_Internal_YGrowth_AndroidEmailSig__AndroidUsers&af_wl=ym&af_sub1=Internal&af_sub2=Global_YGrowth&af_sub3=EmailSignature> >>> >>> On Sat, Nov 26, 2022 at 6:44 PM, Joe Bernard >>> <joer...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> My inclination fron your parts options is to try the 3x RapidFire on the >>> front (it may work with that derailer) and buy an 8-speed RapidFire for >>> your Altus rear derailer and an 8-speed cassette. But it would help a lot >>> to know what system she's used to. >>> >>> On Saturday, November 26, 2022 at 3:03:26 PM UTC-8 Paul Clifton wrote: >>> >>> What do y'all think about putting friction bar end shifters on Albatross >>> bars for a new rider? >>> >>> I'm just looking for opinions since I'm stumped on this build. >>> >>> My options are more-or-less indexed or friction 9 speed Microshift >>> thumbies, friction bar ends, or buy some rapid fire shifters. >>> >>> I (selfishly) want to keep the thumbies for a different build for >>> myself. And I'd have to buy a set of rapid fire shifters - which has its >>> own problems (derrailer/cassette mismatching ...). >>> >>> So I want to know - Do you think a new rider would be irritated by >>> friction bar ends? >>> >>> Here's the long story: >>> >>> I have a very short friend (4'11" - PBH is 72). If money and >>> availability were no object, I'd buy her a 45cm Clem and be done with it, >>> but I can't do that myself, and she'd never spend that kind of money on a >>> bike (at least not until she catches the biking bug from this bike I'm >>> building her since it'll be the first bike that's ever fit her). >>> >>> So my goal is to build a bike that fits her and is so fun to ride that >>> she'll want to ride bikes all the time and eventually just buy a Clem. >>> >>> I finally found a frame that will fit her. It's a tiny (41 cm) 90s >>> Hardrock step through with 26" wheels and Shimano 200ES drive train, which >>> is low end 90s 7-speed stuff. It has a triple crank that I will leave in >>> place (buttery smooth even after 30 years). Both derailers are in good >>> shape, but they're low end 90s stuff, so I doubt they feel great, but I bet >>> they'd work with friction just fine. It came with junky old rapid fire >>> shifters, so those are definitely getting replaced. >>> >>> I'm planning to put Albatross bars on this bike, so my quandary is about >>> the drivetrain. I'd like to use as many parts from my bin as possible, but >>> I can't decide which combo is gonna work best and be the most fun for a >>> timid rider. Buying new parts is no big deal, but I don't see the point in >>> spending a bunch of money in the event she doesn't ride it much, so here >>> are the relevant parts from my bin: >>> >>> - Rear wheel options - 7 speed cassette wheel with good cassette. >>> 8/9/10 speed wheel with no cassette. >>> - Shifters -Microshift 9 speed thumbies (I kinda want to keep these >>> for another build). Shimano bar ends that no longer index. >>> - Derailers - New Altus 8 speed RD. Old Sora 9 speed RD. Shimano >>> 600ES 7 speed RD. >>> >>> So here are my options: >>> >>> >>> 1. Keep the old 7 speed stuff. Friction bar ends or friction >>> thumbies. >>> 2. Buy a new 8 speed cassette. Use the Altus RD from my box. >>> Friction thumbies or bar ends. >>> 3. Buy a 9 speed cassette and a 9 speed derailer. Indexed Microshift >>> thumbies. >>> 4. Buy a 9 speed cassette, derailer, and rapid fire shifter. The >>> Sunrace 9 speed stuff comes out to about $60 for the whole set up. >>> >>> I have a new 3x rapid fire shifter for the front, but I hate how those >>> shift, and I don't think I have a matching derailer - I can test the 200GS >>> FD that is on there, but I personally think friction front is the way to >>> go, and I definitely prefer a bar end for that over a thumbie, because the >>> leverage feels better to me. >>> >>> Since bar ends are just such a joy to use and have so much leverage, I >>> suspect the Altus derailer and a 8 or 9 speed cassette with a friction bar >>> end will be fantastic for her, but I'd love some second opinions, and since >>> it's winter, I'm sure there are plenty out there, so feel free to make blue >>> sky suggestions :) >>> >>> Here's the bike before I tore it down to grease everything[image: >>> signal-2022-09-20-09-24-24-645.jpg] >>> >>> Thanks, >>> Paul in AR >>> >>> -- >>> >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>> >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>> >>> >>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>> >>> >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/e61a7644-5a65-4db1-a8b2-cc07e63a243en%40googlegroups.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/e61a7644-5a65-4db1-a8b2-cc07e63a243en%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/99ef0732-5cae-4237-89f2-36058f576fd4n%40googlegroups.com.
