Gear/Brake Lever Combo's / Shimano

Hi,
hoping not to attract a shower of UTFS! - hopefully, I think I have done the research myself (not too difficult admittedly) but i just wanted some confirmation,
as what i am looking to buy will be second hand and i wont be able to send it back if it is wrong...

I picked up a giant fcr 2

from the giant website, gear spec:

Gear shifters:
Shimano 440 Rapidfire Plus 27 speed
Front mech:
Shimano 440
Rear mech:
Shimano Tiagra

It has flat handlebars,
Im going to put road drops on,
with brake/gear shifter combo levers,

so I need a '9 speed' lever set - im presuming, because its got a 9 gear casette....

so these will work a treat right ?! :

Shimano Sora 9 Speed Sti Lever Set

I realise they are the bottom of the shimano range, but these alone are 135 dorrah from wiggle, shocking.

but like i say, im going to try and do it on the cheap?

am i correct!?

thanks

100 quid from chain reaction ,and yes they should work

Thanks guys, just checked out ChainReaction
yes they have the sora 9spd @ 100 quid (33% off)
they also have the Tiagra 9spd @ 100 quid as well (50% off it says)
Im not massively familiar with the range,
but im guessing Tiagra is going to be a little better for the moneys

edit: yes the brake calipers are just regular modern road ones,
i dont pay too much attention to what model of anything i have - unless i need to replace it!

thanks

It'll all be fine.

Do you need a triple front?

The tiagra to match the rear mech are £140 on CRC (although currently out of stock)

Too slow, and delected what looked to be a double post when it was'nt, buggerit.

I seem to remember the Tiagra are a bit more sturdy.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=22652

these are 9spd, double and triple compatible (i do need triple btw)

or am i missing something?

Tiagra shifters have both gear levers in the same place as you can see in the picture whilst Sora have one lever where your thum rests a la campagnolo.

Tiagra shifters have both gear levers in the same place as you can see in the picture whilst Sora have one lever where your thum rests a la campagnolo.

but the tiagra is higher spec for the same price?
not too fussed where it shifts from too be honest - but yeah i can see the difference now

but the tiagra is higher spec for the same price?
not too fussed where it shifts from too be honest - but yeah i can see the difference now

I'd get the tiagra. The fact that it matches the drive chain is a nice touch. But mainly as it will be made from slightly better components. So should last a bit longer.

thanks guys, big help. may as well buy new, seeing as they've got good discount - its worth atleast that much not to have to break my wrists on these flat bars any longer. :)

definitely go for the tiagra. The new stuff is alot better than it used to be.

make sure you get a triple shifter too....

Fark, didn't realise how expensive the cheap Shimano is! I paid £100 for these 2 years ago...Almost doubled in price.

Anyway, if it helps, Wiggle have £20 off £100 with the code - BONUS-20GBP

thanks guys, big help. may as well buy new, seeing as they've got good discount - its worth atleast that much not to have to break my wrists on these flat bars any longer. :)

Tiagra brifters, on sale, Sorted.

Sorry to be a pain, but putting drops on there will lenghen the reach of the bike. So if it was comfortable before, it may be too long with drops.

Just a thought.

make sure you get a triple shifter too....

Hi ed, yes the tiagra ones say 'compatible for double and triple rings' so should be ok,

Tiagra brifters, on sale, Sorted.

Sorry to be a pain, but putting drops on there will lenghen the reach of the bike. So if it was comfortable before, it may be too long with drops.

Just a thought.

Hi yes, Have thought about this,
I have a high 'ape factor' ie/ short legs, long torso and arms...
at the moment i have the saddle quite far back on the rails to make the handlebars comfortable, but i still feel quite cramped up on the bars. The saddle could come forwards a bit anyway, but im feeling that even if the brake hoods position is another 100mm infront of where the ends of the flat bars are at the moment - it would be comfy for me...

and even then, ive got some adjustment in the saddle and could go with a shorter stem to compact the cockpit furthur if needs be.

however, im not sure any of that would be necessary, because im 95% sure Giant sell this exact set up with drop bars anyway.

thanks for teh helps

Hi yes, Have thought about this,
I have a high 'ape factor' ie/ short legs, long torso and arms...
at the moment i have the saddle quite far back on the rails to make the handlebars comfortable, but i still feel quite cramped up on the bars. The saddle could come forwards a bit anyway, but im feeling that even if the brake hoods position is another 100mm infront of where the ends of the flat bars are at the moment - it would be comfy for me...

and even then, ive got some adjustment in the saddle and could go with a shorter stem to compact the cockpit furthur if needs be.

however, im not sure any of that would be necessary, because im 95% sure Giant sell this exact set up with drop bars anyway.

thanks for teh helps

I could'nt find the geometry on the giant site TBH.

You can get short reach drops of around 70mm.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Salsa_Poco_Super_Short_Road_Handlebars/5360029236/

Then move your saddle back to center for 15mm or so. This would only change things by 50mm, which it sounds like you may prefer, anyway.

Yep, will find some shorter reach bars, 70 or 80mm sounds about right, FSA do a couple of 80mm reach bars... but like i say, not too worried, because the bike fit 'as is' is very upright and compact.

just got to get home and check the handlebar clamp diameter before i get ordering - can't seem to find it on any of the bike specs -

http://personafile.com/Giant-Bicycle-2009-Road-Fitness-user-manual.html

The 2009 model look to have oversized 31.8

you could check out www.ribblecycles.co.uk too, they had some good prices on their shifters last time i looked

yes will just check that it is the same,
because that says alloy stem, i beleive the older one was alu,
i would imagine it is oversize though, will just double check with the age old accurate testing method of comparing it with a known 25.4 bar...

will check out ribble too thanks

There's also another shifter, the Shimano R600 STIs, they're nine speed levers, but tailored to higher end 105/ Ultegra quality, which i think is preeeetty cool..

Ribble was cheaper for the sora set,

My cheap side caved in and i ordered the sora (~83 quid) and some drops for under £100 total delivered. I am on a budget afterall and its easy to get carried away!

the 100mm reach on the bars, will put the hoods exactly at the end of where the bullhorns are at the moment, which is exactly where i figured i wanted them to be, nice deep ~175mm drop as well :)

the 100mm reach on the bars, will put the hoods exactly at the end of where the bullhorns are at the moment, which is exactly where i figured i wanted them to be, nice deep ~175mm drop as well :)

I'm sure you'll get on fine with Sora. The new fit was the most important thing IMHO.

Barber, i can do the whole Ultegra groupset (6500) for £220... drop me a PM