It is that time of year where I start to take stock of the bike stable and begin a cleaning and overhaul of the bikes that require it. I have a 1980s full chrome Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 and I created a list last evening of what all needs done and what upgrades I would like to do to make the bike more appealing to ride. It was my commute bike, I put full honjo hammertone fenders on it and a Brooks pro saddle. I no longer commute as a result of a job change, but some of the changes I am thinking about:

Nitto Randonneur handlebars, I have one set on a SS I ride and really am starting to like them.

New bar tape, undecided on color but I will be putting some red sidewall tires on the rig so the tape may be red with stitching.

Here is where I am undecided, the bike came to me with a 6 speed double DT. I have upgraded the tranny to a 7 speed hyperglide triple and had a set of RSX STI triple shifters that work great that are currently in place. You would think I would be happy with this bike and the DT, and I am for the most part. But I am thinking of finding new brake levers and indexed down tube shifters and swapping out the STI. Now part of the reason I am thinking this is flexability in swapping out a few parts on the DT and going single speed when I want. But as I think about doing that the only thing I avoid going from geared to single is re wrapping the bar as opposed to removing the shift cables and leaving the STI on. There is one ride I do in the spring (2 days, 208 miles) and doing it on a single speed has become my personal challege the last few years. The ride is notorious for having really bad wet weather, fenders would be kinda nice to have. No rain last year but I have been in some all day stuff on that ride with no chance to get out of it. Funny thing is since I put fenders on that bike it has not rained while riding it yet. Plus the total uniqueness of the bike and it's age and total style as a single have appeal for me.

I have been shopping for some shifters, they have to be clamp on, no bosses on the frame. Have run across some Suntour/Sunrace accushift 7 speed clamp on that are index only, but I think I would like to have the option of going friction. But it is not a deal breaker if I can't find clamp on index/friction. I already own 2 decent sets of friction only down tube clamp on levers original equipment. Any thoughts? Stupid me threw away a set of 7 speed index shifters I had when I switched over to barend shifters pre STI on one of my other bikes. Of all the parts I have ever bought that is the only thing I have thrown away, why I have no idea. Never dreamed of going backward.

Also ran across a ebay seller that had a full Suntour GPX group, 7 speed of course. Thought about shelling out the $600+ for a minute and redoing the bike that way. Oh yea I paid $65 for the entire bike, I got $80 in the saddle, probably $120 or so in fenders. Sorry, just some random thoughts on how to waste more money.

How compatable are the Sunrace/tour shifters with SIS?

One last question, do you think I should outline the lugs with red enamal paint. Saw a Paramount on the forum, chrome with red paint in the lug outline.

I stripped all the parts off tonight and after thinking it through, I have decided to give it a first rate cleanup, new bars and tape and stick with the components I got. Changing the shifting mech won't make it ride any better. I like the STI fit of my hands, if I want to SS, I'll just pull the cables out.

And I'm gonna line the lugs. I'll do a pictoral of the process.

I bought a used bike that came with a Suntour GPX group on it. I removed the shifters and changed them for brifters (not a good combo, IMO). The GPX shifters, it turns out, work beautifully with an early Campy Chorus rear derailleur (first or second generation Campy indexed shifting - this derailleur has bolts to allow you to change the parallelogram angle). In standard-mode (6-speed with Suntour) the GPX shifters shifts the old Campy derailleur over a Shimano 8-speed cassette just about perfectly. Switching it to UL mode (7-speed with Suntour) it shifts that Campy derailleur over a Shimano 9-speed derailleur almost perfectly. Wait, 6-speed shifters and 8-speed cassette? 7-speed shifters with 9-speed cassette? The GPX shifters do not have a stop to prevent you from rotating the lever all the way over some 320 degrees if you want, clicking all the way over in whatever setting you have the selector in.

The GPX shifter pulls about 2.9mm of cable per click in UL mode and about 3.2 mm in standard mode. Shimano 7 and 8-speed shifters pull 2.8 and 2.9 mm, respectively. Shimano 6-speed shifters pull 3.2 mm.

I bought a used bike that came with a Suntour GPX group on it. I removed the shifters and changed them for brifters (not a good combo, IMO). The GPX shifters, it turns out, work beautifully with an early Campy Chorus rear derailleur (first or second generation Campy indexed shifting - this derailleur has bolts to allow you to change the parallelogram angle). In standard-mode (6-speed with Suntour) the GPX shifters shifts the old Campy derailleur over a Shimano 8-speed cassette just about perfectly. Switching it to UL mode (7-speed with Suntour) it shifts that Campy derailleur over a Shimano 9-speed derailleur almost perfectly. Wait, 6-speed shifters and 8-speed cassette? 7-speed shifters with 9-speed cassette? The GPX shifters do not have a stop to prevent you from rotating the lever all the way over some 320 degrees if you want, clicking all the way over in whatever setting you have the selector in.

The GPX shifter pulls about 2.9mm of cable per click in UL mode and about 3.2 mm in standard mode. Shimano 7 and 8-speed shifters pull 2.8 and 2.9 mm, respectively. Shimano 6-speed shifters pull 3.2 mm.

As I recall, I was wondering how i ended up with a mixed group. STI was just coming out, my bike at the time had Shimano Exage group. I "upgraded" to a 105 triple drivetrain and used barend shifters as they were the least expensive alternative to STI. Fast forward to a new bike and then wanting to have a backup bike with STI. I bought a set of RSX shifters to run with the triple 105 DT. I since bought a triple RSX crankset and have a set of wheels with RSX hubs. They all reside now on the chromie. That is why I am thinking to not dump any more money into the chromie on parts to try and get something different when it is not necessary, just work on the cosmetics. Frame has developed some surface rust that needs to be addressed and decals are a little beat up. Lug lining will be cool as will new bars.