JAP1998

My Chain broke today, then told it needed a new cassette and crankset. This the original set up Shimano 105 9 Speed, Crank 52/42/30. I am being told those parts are very hard to get and would need to replace them which would mean replacing the shifters too? Is this worth rebuilding. I love the frame, hence why I still ride this old bike, it fits me perfectly. If I rebuild/modernize..... what can I do?

Iride01 

Inventories are low all over and hard to come by some stuff. Your almost 20 year old stuff will be hard to get original parts for even if we didn't have low inventory.

Certainly there is newer Shimano stuff that you can put on there. You might have to get new shifters depending on what other stuff you decide to get.

Did they say you needed a new crank just because the rings are worn or is the BB worn too?

joeruge

I am likely missing some subtlety here, but this doesn't sound particularly desperate, unless you're a stickler for exact period replacement. I never am, just put together parts that seem to work well enough.

9 speed cassettes are still easily available. I use them on several bikes - mostly tandems, actually. And you can still get chain rings in those bolt circle diameters, which I think are 130mm for the two larger and maybe 74 for the inner.

You could upgrade to 10 speed but it will cost a lot of bucks. If the 9speed STI's are working, I'd stick with them. Good luck.

icemilkcoffee 

Chains are easy to come by. Cassettes likewise. Chain rings on the other hand, are out of production and not so easy to come by. You just have to keep checking Ebay. Tiagra 4403, 105 5503, Ultegra 6503 all use 9 speed chain rings which are compatible with what you have.
Vuelta also makes reasonably priced chain rings supposedly compatible with triple cranks:
https://www.vueltausa.com/components...lack-1406.html

Russ Roth

Is this the first chain you've worn out on the bike? If so the chainrings might still be fine and the only true way to know is to install a new chain and cassette. Both of which are still reasonably available. Even if you have to replace chainrings, the shop should be able to order Sora rings, that has no relationship to the shifters or ders. the shop may have determined that a new crank is better then chainrings, a pair of chainrings can be more then a basic Sora crank or the same price.

CAT7RDR

What are your plans with the bike and budget? 853 Reynolds steel frames are nice riding bikes. I would be inclined to upgrade to a modern Tiagra 10 speed with compact crankset if your frame is in good condition. If the budget is tight, piecemeal it as aforementioned.

JAP1998

Thanks everyone, I ended up taking it to another shop for second opinion and we went through it. We ended up slapping a new chain on it, rode it up a long hill shifting all the gears and it seems to be working as it should. The bike is 19 years old with original Shimano 105 parts, I will give it some TLC and later have the shifters cleaned out, but for now I'm just going to ride it as is. Whew, really thought I was going to have to spend some $$$ to fix or replace.

Andrew R Stewart 

JAP1998- Don't fret. The need to spend serious $ will come soon enough Andy

veganbikes

If the cassette is original to the bike that should have been replaced along with chain. When you only replace small bits and pieces you start to wear out other components like your chainrings and derailleurs and can cause greater problems.

The bike is a fine bike and you should take care of it and I would certainly get a proper estimate on the bike so you can keep riding it for another 20 years.

Iride01 

Don't be guilted about having to keep that bike in perfect condition. If you spent money to make it perfect, you will only get that money back by your own enjoyment.

Same thing for new bikes too.

revcp 

19 years old? Still a relative baby.

oldbobcat

Yes, but . . . 9-speed? Triple? 130mm BCD?

OK, here's what I found on QBP.

• FSA Pro Road, 52T, #CR3988
• FSA Pro Road Triple, 50T, #CR2013 (1 left)
• FSA Pro Road Triple, 42T, #CR4029
• Shimano Sora 3503, 30T, 74mm BCD, #CR8313
• Dimension Multi Speed, 24T, 74mm BCD, #CR0900

Supplies are slim because of covid-related supply chain difficulties. Q also has complete Sora 3x9 cranksets, with 165, 170, or 175 mm crank lengths. These use the new asymmetrical 4-arm spider. I see this as your best bet for maintaining compatibility with your current 3x9 STI levers and derailleurs and accommodating future replacement parts or upgrades. The cost difference between a full crankset and three rings is small. You will also need to get a Shimano threaded Hollowtech II bottom bracket. It's more insurance against obsolescence. If your current BB is 19 years old, it's about time anyway.

Your local bike shop should have a QBP account.

revcp 

Nothing the matter with 9 speed. The triple on a road bike is a bit odd. It would be easy to upgrade the crankset to a compact double. A 10 speed crankset would play fine with 9 speed chain, and one could do that for $75 shopping judiciously, $100 if replacing the bottom bracket as well.

JAP1998

Wow, you guys gave me so much food for thought. I am definitely going to change the cassette and flush the shifters (maintenance). That will at least give me time to weigh my options. I am 61 and not a hard core rider, or do competition etc....just trying to stay fit and moving 😂

Iride01 

With a 130 rear spacing you can put 11 speed 105, Ultegra or DuraAce on it if you really want to spend the money. If you have more burning a hole in your pocket, then you might even put Di2 Ultegra or Di2 DuraAce.

But if you are in really hilly area and need a wide range of gear ratios, then you might be better off with 9 maybe 10 speeds and a 3x front, IMO. 11 speed stuff really doesn't like 3x and you won't find many new 3x 11 speed road groups.

oldbobcat

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with 9-speed, just that hardly anybody is making replacements for it anymore. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised to find the Shimano is making an updated 3x9 Sora drivetrain. Triples are still popular with some riders, I understand how they use them, and this Sora 3x9 hits a sweet spot between flexibility and cost.

oldbobcat

On the other hand, the benefits of putting a lot of money into upgrading a 19 year-old bike are, erm, arguable.

fishboat

Very subjective cost/benefit, I agree. One thing that can help put things into focus is the cost of a new frame/bike that's basically equivalent to, for example, the Lemond bike being discussed. I started picking up Lemonds (853..) after pricing out new steel (853, Platinum OX..etc) bikes. The higher-end Lemonds look t be a pretty good value at that point. I'm fine with 2x or 3x 9-speeds and don't really need 10+.

Iride01 

I don't really disagree with you on that.

Any work done to an old bike is just for the satisfaction of the owner. And possibly the satisfaction of others that admire it but would never be willing to pay what the owner invested in it.

drlogik 

I say get a new chain, put it on and continue to ride. The chain may make some noise as it runs-in but as long as it doesn't skip too badly, just ride it...or avoid the gears that skip...!

+1 that parts will be hard to find for an older bike but you might try eBay.

dedhed

Parts are available. just not cost effective for the LBS to find them. If they can't look in their QBP and find them, they're hard to get.

​​​​​​Shimano 105 5500/5501 9sp Chainring - $21.95 - Bike Parts 360

​​​​​​https://www.amazon.com/SRAM-PG950-9-...dDbGljaz10cnVl

​​​​​​https://www.jensonusa.com/Shimano-10...BoClloQAvD_BwE

sweeks

I spec'd a triple on my road bike (Airborne "Carpe Diem") after reading Joe Friel's book "Cycling Past 50" twenty years ago, when I had just turned 50. As I got in better and better shape, I used the granny less and less. But it's nice to have a "bail-out" gear as I get older.
It did come to my attention that the BB interface on this drivetrain (Ultegra 3 x 9) is "Octalink V1", which wasn't in use for very long. This prompted me to find a spare BB, just in time (!), so I can keep the crankset for the rest of my natural riding life!


Ultegra 3x9