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@clubman
A Different Approach
A neighbour asked me to help fix his bike. it is an old Orbea (about 2005?) with Shimano Tourney 8 speed and STI levers. The rear derailleur control cable was not doing anything.
I wanted to do him a favour, but I knew that: a.the bike was unlikely to be ridden much, and b. neither of us wanted to spend any money on it.
I couldn't get any joy out of the existing lever and being very old school I haven't much time for indexing or STI levers. Solution - I happened to have an ancient Simplex handlebar end lever (copy of the once very popular Campag lever). I fitted this - it wasn't even necessary to change the outer cable which went to the existing downtube cable stop.
Took it out for a road test and, rather to my surprise, it worked perfectly. No indexing, obviously, but it wasn't difficult to find the gears. Neighbour perfectly happy.
The experience confirms my view that, so far as ordinary utility riding and touring are concerned, modern bikes are way too complicated.