Originally Posted by
michaelm101
Thanks, all. I'd like to leave the option open to perhaps, in the future, convert this 8spd bike (one I'd never sell, a 2000' Cdale T2000) to 9 spd. So, if I installed 9 speed friction Microshifters, would they work with the current 8 speed drivetrain?
yup, but remember that the microshift work in both friction and index mode, so yes in friction they will shift your 8 spd cassette properly, but heck, if your rear wheel freebody or whatever its called, the thing the cassette sits on, is wide enough for 9 speed cassettes (it should be perfectly fine) then slap on a 9 spd cassette and your beloved T2000 will be a nice 9 speed bike.
those are nice bikes btw, and 9 spd will give you slightly smaller jumps between shifts compared to the 8 spd, and you should easily be able to put a 11-34 on it with the existing xt or lx derailleur.
I have a good friend who has a T also, they are nice bikes, worth keeping, and imo, worth going to 9 speed indexed.
cost--shifters, cassette and new chain.