New guy just bought used bike for Tri's

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2010-09-01 3:22 PM


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Subject: New guy just bought used bike for Tri's
So I bought a used Serotta Atlanta for tri athalons and bike training...  I have never really ridden before, certainly not with clipless pedals... I'd like to be eventually do 100 mile days on it... The seems really nice for $300, except the shifters are broken... they no longer click... the Derailleurs seem ok, but I don't know how to tell ...people have told me that you can't fix the shifters and need to replace them...  I saw on Nashbar.com they had store brand of shifters for $130.  They say they are for 10 speed.  My bike has 2 rings up front and 8 (or 9 i forget right now) in the back... that is 16 (or 18) speed right?  I can't find 16 speed shifters anywhere...  how do  I know what to get?  any advice? 

2010-09-01 3:25 PM
in reply to: #3076792

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Subject: RE: New guy just bought used bike for Tri's
In today's vernacular, your bike is an 8 or 9 speed, depending on the number of cogs in the back. Shop accordingly.
2010-09-01 4:39 PM
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Subject: RE: New guy just bought used bike for Tri's
If they shift, they aren't broken. They could be either set to friction mode, or are older style and don't have the index shifting that clicks.
As long as they shift the gears, they are working. 
2010-09-02 6:26 AM
in reply to: #3076792

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Subject: RE: New guy just bought used bike for Tri's
Not sure what kind of shifters you have, but on my bike with bar end shifters the rear deraileur can be switched to either indexed (clicks) or friction mode (no clicks). The adjustment is on the side.
2010-09-02 2:06 PM
in reply to: #3076792


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Subject: RE: New guy just bought used bike for Tri's
They are Shimano 105's... I'll have to look to see if I accidently hit a switch... they are not shifting however...  it clicked when i was first riding it... and switched gears a couple times, then the clicking went away... the lever is totally smooth but it wont shift at all now... 
2010-09-03 12:13 AM
in reply to: #3076792

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Subject: RE: New guy just bought used bike for Tri's

If it's a road bike with integrated shifters (shifters are part of the brake levers rather than shift levers mounted on the down tube or bar ends), then there's no such thing as friction mode.  If they're not clicking or shifting, something's broken.

Usually you'll have exposed wire derailleur cables running down the down tube.  Pull on those to see if the derailleurs move.  If they do, the derailleurs are probably fine.

I'd think about running it by a bike shop to diagnose the shifter problem and see if it can be repaired or replacement is needed.  If you have to buy replacement shifters, you'll need to make sure they're compatible with your derailleurs.



Edited by tjh 2010-09-03 12:14 AM

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