Conference noted::bicycle

I have a bike with the Shimano SIS system and I don't like it.  There is
no feeling in the shifting.  It may be OK for beginners.  Also Shimano has
a habit of coming out with something new and dropping it 1 or 2 years after.

The Spring Nashbar catalog has the SIS system on sale for only $69.  This 
includes freeweel, derailleur, Uniglide chain, and shifters.  I am tempted, 
but between my cheap frame (Univega Sport Tour) and cheap checkbook, I'll have 
to wait till DEC stock tops $200.

Chris

    
    	I tried the Shimano SIS at Gamache's in Fitchburg.  He had it
    set up on a wind trainer, the bike had a QR seatpost binder bolt so I
    could alsmost make it fit me.  I found myself spinning up to a shift
    point and leaning on the shift lever, which felt so stiff that it would
    never budge, then suddenly it gave way and the bike was in the next
    gear, whackie !  I think its a clever, novel solution in search of a
    problem, I would prefer to not have the problem than to use this
    solution. 
    
    	Campy, Simplex and Huret, predictable, reliable, serviceable...
    (dare I say "European" ?), parts will be around for a while, won't
    be obsoleted by the next wave of "gee whizz, how'd I EVER live w'out
    it ?" schtuff.
    
    	Only negative is that you have to learn to ride (& shift).
    

    The moral of the story---try it BEFORE you like it! These gadgets
    can be pretty tempting...

Latest reports are that every bike over $250 will have a click shifter
next year.  Shimano is going to upgrade to 7 speeds which will cost yet
more bucks to upgrade because you need shifters and a freewheel. (Just
try to buy a right shifter with out a left one!)  Rumors have it that
Campy will have a clicker, too.

I have SISsy shifters on a TREK 2000 -- it came that way -- I loosened
up the shifter so that it does not take a big push to shift it and so
that it does not wake up the neighborhood when I shift.  I still like
my Campys better.

ed

Took a while, but I have upgraded to a Shimano SIS kit.  Actually, I bought an 
upgrade kit for my cousin for Christmas, not knowing that he bought one for 
me!  His wife must have been laughing as we both asked her advice.

My Univega Sport Tour is a real flexy-frame, so, in the best backwards 
tradition, I bought a Cannondale SR-500.  The only problem is that the 
shifters need an adapter to fit on the fat tubes, and no one has them in 
stock.  I called Shimano of America and told the clerk that I couldn't find any 
in the local stores, so he said that he'd send me a pair, if that was enough.
I admitted that I needed a pair for upgrading my cousin's bike, since I gave 
him a SIS kit.  The guy said, "All I ever got from my cousin was socks!"
and agreed to send me two sets, for free!  Saved me nearly $20.

Nice to know that some companies still treat the customer well.

chris

Okay, all you SIS owners, here is a question.  I have two freewheels, 13-24 
and 13-21, and on both the 19 tooth cog is very noisy.  No matter how quiet I 
adjust the rest of the system, this one rattles like crazy.  On the 13-24, it 
will even hop when I stand going up hill.  Has anyone else had this problem?

<This morning a nylon strap fell into the freewheel, breaking the chain, and 
pushing the derailleur into my newly built wheel - ouch!  Only a one mile 
carry home.  Looks like I will be buying a new SIS system.>

cbs

re: < Note 37.7 by RICKS::SPEAR "The Culture Penguin" >
                     -< Anyone got the 19 tooth chatters? >-

Are both of your freewheels Shimano and are they new, SIS era?  If they're 
not, maybe the spacing is off.  Even if they are, it may be the spacing.  SIS 
is very sensitive to correct spacing of the cogs, and it can very, from what I 
gather.  My girlfriend has used both 13-22 and 13-23 freewheels on her 105 SIS 
system and I don't remember any real noise problems.

Kevin

    RE.37.7
    
    I have a cassette block, which allows me to change rings instead
    of the complete block. After using the original rings for 6 months
    I put a 16 on, and it is far noisier than any of the other rings.
    So maybe the noise has something to do with wear and tear, or just
    poor machining. It does not seem likely that it has anything to
    do with the number of teeth.
    
    I find that I am using the big chainring the noise is noticable
    in all sprocket combinations. My wife also has Shimano SIS and finds
    the same. Any clues ?
     

Both freewheels are SIS, bought this spring with less than 700 miles on the 
pair.  The 19 cog on the 13-24 was noisy from day one when I put SIS on my 
new Cannondale.  I adjusted the cable tension barrel, and the other gears were 
smooth as silk, but 19 was always chunka-chunka.

< I removed the chain and derailleur (sp) last night with considerable effort.
The nylon strap made a hopeless mess out of the derailleur.  But the worst is 
that when the derailleur tore out of the frame, it ripped out all the threads 
in the aluminum bracket.  ouch!  Any suggestions for aluminum repair in the 
Hudson area? >

cbs

    re .10	Aluminium repair ?   What do you want done ?   If it
    just needs a tap running through, that's simple; if you want it
    drilled, tapped and helicoiled, that's simple but you'll need a
    small machine shop (big ones won't bother).  Try calling Harry's
    in Framingham.  I assume you don't want it welded, drilled and
    retapped ?   If you don't want to have the frame fixed due to cost
    and can get by without clickety_click you could try a Simplex rear
    changer (that's what it is, so why use french words we can't spell).
    These aren't threaded into the hanger, instead they fit through
    the hanger bolt hole and have an allen head bolt that secures them
    from the hub side.

    	Reg
        

    re: .9 it sounds as if the 16's being new and the chain's being
    old and compatible to everything else is causing the noise.
    
    re: .7, is there a symmetry problem?  The classic solution to some
    such problems is "disassemble and turn the offender over" I've done
    this 4 times to Maillard Helicomatics and it was always the 24 tooth
    cog.
    
    repair?  Let us know how it works out.
    
    ed

    	Does anyone know how to adjust a 600EX rear derailleur?
    
    	I have a Cannondale SR600, and on Tuesday it suddenly started
    changing gears on steep hills.  First to second to third...
    	I am now in friction mode and I am having no problems.
    	I tried adjusting the cable tension using the barrel adjuster
    on the rear derailleur.  However, one click to the left or right
    caused the shifting to be much worse.
    	If necessary, I will have Wheel Works adjust it for me, but
    this seems like something that I would like to know how to do.
    
    Thanks,
    		Nick B...

	I just bought a bike with 600EX.  The cable hasn't streached
	enough yet to need adjustment but here's what the manual says:

     1. Turn the ring of the shift lever to "SIS", and then adjust; the ring
	must be moved downward before making the adjustment.  Mount the chain 
	on the largest chainwheel gear and the smallest freewheel gear.  
	While	turning the crank forward, pull the shift lever slowly
	back until it clicks, and shift to second gear. [Not what I'd call
	second gear]  If the chain does not shift, or rubs, adjust as
	follows:

      - If the chain does not shift to second turn the adjustment bolt
	[barrel nut on the cable] 1 to 2 turns CCW

      - If the chain rubs and shifting is delayed turn the adjustment
	bolt 1/2 to 1 turn CCW

      - If the chain shifts to 2nd and rubs against 3rd turn the bolt 1/2
	turn CW.

     2. Turn the crank forward and shift through each gear one at a time.
	If shifting from low to high gears is delayed, turn the adjustment
	bolt 1/4 turn CW.  If the chain rubs, readjust as described above.


	Good luck!
	chris

    RE:  .14
    	The directions on how to adjust SIS cable stretch worked perfectly.  
    
    Thanks,
    		Nick B...

I would like to buy new freewheels for my 6-speed 600 SIS setup, but wondered 
about the compatibility of Shimano freewheels.  I called Shimano of America, 
714-951-5003, and talked to Greg Hoffman who is the consumer technical rep, 
as opposed to dealer rep.  He assured me that all 6-speed Shimano freewheels 
are compatible: 600EX, 600SIS, 105, Light-Action, Dura-Ace, etc.

And you thought this was going to be another case of Shimano orphaning the 
owners of older components!

Chris

I'd like to upgrade my touring bike to SIS. Since I'd like to continue to use
the wheels I already have, that means I need to get freewheels that are spaced
the same as SIS. Does anyone know of ones that will work?

The current issue of the Performance catalog claims that the Aris freewheel
works fine, but I called Colorado Cyclist, and their technical person says the
Aris doesn't work with SIS (they sell it too, so it wasn't just a buy-what-we-
sell gambit). He suggested using DuraAce. Aside from the fact that I'm not
anxious to spend $75/freewheel, Bicycling says DuraAce isn't compatible with
the rest of the SIS line, and I need a wide-range freewheel (I said touring
bike).


HEEELLLLP

    What's wrong with the Shimano Hyperglide or freewheels???? Unless you
    have a Dura Ace derailleur, you don't have to go bankrupt...
    
      Chip

    I'll second .18. Shimano make Hyperglide 6-speed freewheels in ranges
    like 14-28, costs about �10 in the UK.
    
    
    Rod

	Some places also still carry Shimano 600EX (non-Hyperglide)
	freewheels.

	chris

>  What's wrong with the Shimano Hyperglide or freewheels???? Unless you
>  have a Dura Ace derailleur, you don't have to go bankrupt...
 
    I hadn't realized they still existed -- Performance doesn't list them
in their catalog (but I just discovered Nashbar does). Does anyone know why
these are 6-speed, when the SIS freehubs are usually 7-speed -- is there a
difference in spacing?

    Nashbar says the Deore XT Rear Derailleur is compatible with both 6 and 7
speed SIS. The only braze-on levers they list as 6-speed compatible are the
600 levers. 

    Does anyone about the Aris freewheels?

    The Aris freewheels are compatible with duraace 7 speed.
    
    ed

Ed, do you know if they're compatible with non-DuraAce SIS? As I mentioned
before, Bicycling claims that SIS and DuraAce SIS are spaced differently.

    I believe they are.  I use the freewheels, Aris and D/A interchangeably
    with all my Shimano stuff.
    
    ed