6/7 Speed Freewheel To 8/9/10 Speed Cassette Bike Conversion

Posted by on in Derailleurs, Frame & Fork, Freewheels & Cassettes, Projects, Shifters, Wheels & Tires

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I upgrade my vintage road bike from 12 speed (2×6) with downtube friction shifters, to 16 speed (2×8) with STI brifters. This process includes expanding the rear triangle (chain stays/seat stays) from 126mm to 130mm between the dropouts so the wider wheel will fit in the dropouts. You only want to do this on a steel frame! I also replaced the wheels, derailleur, crank set, cables, housings. I also convert from a quill stem to a threadless stem, because it was convenient. I could have just as easily upgraded the bike to a 10 speed cassette on the back, just the parts would have costed more. The bike is a 1985 Raleigh Team USA bike. It’s a nice way to update a vintage bike and bring new life to an old frame.

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