Upgrading Sora Shifters??

Ah_go_on · 23-02-2011 3:55pm #1

Hi All, I've been happily riding my trek 1.2 for the past year and have recently ventured into some racing (Adventure/duathlons etc). I'm finding it annoying having to change position from the drops to the hoods in order to change up a gear and back again, this seems to be slowing me down slightly. Is it possible to upgrade to shifters such as tiagra that will shift up and down from the drops??

And if so, is it expensive?? (Would love to just get a new tt bike but finances don't permit:()

Chips Lovell · 23-02-2011 3:59pm

8 speed Sora? Or the newer 9 speed one?

Ah_go_on · 23-02-2011 4:03pm

Its a 2010 1.2, 9 speed sora with tiagra mech

Chips Lovell · 23-02-2011 4:09pm

OK. It's easy enough so. You just need to buy a set of Tiagra shifters. Would probably get new cables too if they haven't been replaced in a while.

€165 here. http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=80&idproduct=12157 Might get them cheaper if you shop around.

Ah_go_on · 23-02-2011 4:14pm

Thanks El tonto. Is it difficult to install them or should I use my lbs??

funkyjebus · 23-02-2011 4:45pm

you will also need new handlebar tape to complete. its easy enough once you know how. Have you ever changed your cable? check online for a video and see if you think its doable, sure you can always try and if you mess up then bring to the LBS.

Also, just to say, make sure it is tiagra as 105 or ultegra wont work as they are 10 speed.

funkyjebus · 23-02-2011 4:48pm

just a thought, if you have the money, now might be the best time to upgrade to 10 speed as the shifters are the most expensive part.

Glencarraig · 24-02-2011 9:35pm

rosebikes.co.uk price for Tiagra shifters is €129 plus 5.95 postage, they will arrive 4 days from placing the order, why would you pay C/Superstore €165 ???

Ah_go_on · 24-02-2011 10:05pm

Glencarraig wrote: »

rosebikes.co.uk price for Tiagra shifters is €129 plus 5.95 postage, they will arrive 4 days from placing the order, why would you pay C/Superstore €165 ???

I'll buy them in cyclesuperstore as I'm a firm believer in supporting Irish businesses even if it means spending a few quid extra. Anybody an idea how much it would cost to fit them?? Don't fancy making an arse of it:eek:

Glencarraig · 24-02-2011 11:14pm

C/Superstore wont fit them for that price, their workshop cost is €60 per hour, a total rip off. I bought the complete tiagra groupset from rosebikes for well under €300 and had Fitzcycles in Stillorgan fit the groupset for €40. I really dont see why we should tolerate the rip off prices we get charged here.

bmacg · 25-02-2011 12:13am

Go for it! I recently changed out the entire groupset on my trusty old Trek 1000, the whole project starting off becuase I found the sora shifters annoying.
Fitting new shifters is fairly straightforward, but I'd agree with the poster above who said its a gooid idea to take the opportunity to change the cables too.
You don't even need to change the handlebar tape. If you want to you can just unscrew the sora shifters completely off the brackets, leave the old brackets in place, and screw the new shifters on to them.
However, its probably better to do the job properly and change the tape. This way you can adjust the position of the shifters to get them just right.

Chips Lovell · 25-02-2011 9:58am

Ah_go_on wrote: »

Thanks El tonto. Is it difficult to install them or should I use my lbs??

I don't think it's a difficult job. My view is that if you're the kind of person who wants to learn how to service their bike, then do it yourself. If you're not mechanically inclined, then bring it into a shop. It's quite straightforward if you follow the installation instructions.

What you have to do is roughly:

1. Remove old bar tape.
2. Loosen the cable clamps on deraileurs and brakes
4. Pull out the old cables through the shifter body
5. Loosen the clamps on the shifter bodies and pull them off the bars
6. Put new shifters on, position correctly, tighten clamps.
7. Cut new cable housings, using the lengths of the old ones as a guide.
8. String new cables through the shifters and housings.
9. Clamp cables on deraileurs and brakes.
10. Cut cables to length
11. Adjust cable tension on front and rear deraileurs.
12. Wrap bars with new tape.

You'll need a set of allen keys and cable cutters for the job.