Convert My Triple Road to Ultegra 9sp

Triathlon Forum
1

Help me figure out what I need to convert my Triple Road to Ultegra 9sp. Assume the brake/shifters need to go. What else do I need to piece this together? Right now the rest of the drive train is:

Shimano Sora triple, 30/42/52  ![http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/icons/images/chain.gif](http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/icons/images/chain.gif) Chain Shimano 8-speed  ![http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/icons/images/rearcogs.gif](http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/icons/images/rearcogs.gif) Rear Cogs Shimano Sora, 12-25  ![http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/icons/images/bottombr.gif](http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/icons/images/bottombr.gif) Bottom Bracket Shimano 4-taper  ![http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/icons/images/frntdeur.gif](http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/icons/images/frntdeur.gif) Front Derailleur Shimano 2200  ![http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/icons/images/reardeur.gif](http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/icons/images/reardeur.gif) Rear Derailleur Shimano Tiagra
2

Assuming by Ultegra 9sp you mean a double setup, and that you only what to replace what you have to, you’ll need the following:

  • shifters
  • bottom bracket
  • cranks
  • rear derailleur
  • chain
  • cassette
  • possibly a new rear wheel (if it’s not 9sp compatible)
    .
3

Thanks J.

  1. Yes. It will go to a double My rear wheel is UL 9spd (it is from my Tri-bike).

  2. I have an extra 9spd cassette.

  3. So its:

  • shifters
  • bottom bracket
  • cranks
  • rear derailleur
  • chain

You didn’t mention a Front DR. It is for a triple, so I guess that needs replacing also.

And chain rings on the cranks. Is it at all possible that the cranks/bb could stay as is, and just use the two outer CR’s. I guess this would depend on (a) the bold pattern and (b) whether the outer two rings are too far away from the frame, such that the Front DR won’t access them?

4

Current front and rear derailler will work fine with a double setup. The current rear derailler will have a bit more chain capacity, but you won’t notice any real performance difference in shifting. Front derailler can be adjusted to work with the double spacing just fine, I believe.

You can use your existing crankset and BB, but the chainline will be off a bit.

Why are you changing? To get the extra cog or something else?

5

Monk,

It sounds like you want to move your rear wheel from your tri bike to your Cannondale road bike. Why are you changing the triple up front?

Dave

6

Why are you changing the triple up front?
Because I think it is called a “granny gear”.

7

After putting you through that, and looking at current pricing/sales, etc., I think I can move my Ultegra 9sp over to my road bike and redo my Tri bike with Ultegra 10sp for about $500.00.

8

Then just take off the little ring and adjust your front derailler limits. You can convert to a double for free. That’ll likely leave you with a 42 tooth small ring - with might suck if you live someplace with lots of hills.

9

Monk,

I like my triple…it comes in handy when you only want to put out 150 watts on 10% climbs (and have a cadence over 30) or if there is a 50 mph head wind - I was riding into a very very bad head wind on a very slight uphill and had to use my 30…but I’m likely as wimpy as a granny…

I was tempted to swap it over to a compact set-up just for a bit better shifting…but I adjusted it a bit and its working well enough…money better spent elsewhere.

I like having a road bike/triple and a tri bike/compact…I don’t mind if people make fun of me - they are just insecure…

Dave

10

tech–To convert Ult 9sp to 10sp do I have to do anything more than change:

the rear DR,

the cassette,

the bar-end shifter?

11

I doubt you’d have to change the rear derailler. The 10 speed chain is a bit more narrow, but not enough to not work with the pulleys on a 9 speed derailler (just narrow enough to wear out a lot quicker and cost a lot more!). If you’re really picky about it, you could buy a set of 10 speed pulley/jockey wheels and replace the 9 speed ones on the derailler.

You could also swtich your bar end shifters to friction mode and avoid replacing them as well. So - you could get by with just a new chain and cassette if you’re willing to give up SIS.

Full disclosure - I don’t use 10 speed stuff so I’m not speaking from direct experince.