Athena 8 spd or 9 spd?

[SadieKate]

Hello all. I've been lurking for awhile on this unique forum. Definitely, a class all your own.

I suspect someone on this forum has the answer to a somewhat silly question. I think I know the answer but you never know.

In our garage stash we had a set of brand new Athena shifters. I don't recall if there was any packaging. Anyway, we assumed they were 8 spd and put them on my bike using an 8 spd spacing kit with a 9 spd cassette. Shifting works flawlessly.

Here's the kicker. I was sleuthing around on Campy's site trying to determine the year and whether I could buy a new ratcheting mechanism to upgrade the shifters themselves to 9 spd. It's very hard to tell, but the graphics from the 1998 Campy spare parts catalog appear to match better than the 1997 graphics. I suspect the levers are 1997s because of the flawless 8 spd shifting, but it's just weird.

Does anyone know the difference visually? It's the CARBON logo on the front of the lever that has me stumped. Thanks for any help you have to offer.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/SadieKate/Mercian/Athenalever.jpg

[julia]

hey SadieKate - I don't have a clue, but welcome to the forum!

julia

[shinomaster]

wow julia nice avatar!

[SadieKate]

Thanks, Julia!

[saab2000]

You say you have 8-speed shifting, but 9 speeds in the back. Is one of the gears blocked out with the limit screws on the der?

Nice bike, nicely set up! Like the brakes.

DBRK will like the Mercian frameset!

[ShockTreatment]

I have a set of levers that look identical to those, and they are 1997. You could convert them to 9-speed by rebuilding with a 9-speed cam from a 1998 Athena, but I'm not sure that part is still available.

[SadieKate]

ShockTreatment - The cam was probably available until Branford burned. Now that I can identify the part it will be easier to start asking around (EC-RE313 in case anyone has one :) ). There is obviously no hurry since everything is working fine. Thanks for confirming what I suspected. Those line drawings are a bit fuzzy for the black cap that says CARBON.

saab2000 - when I "advanced" to 8 spd, I also pulled from the garage stash a set of 1999 Chorus/Open Pro wheels that would only take a 9 speed cassette. With a Wheels Mgf spacer kit, you pull one of the larger loose cogs and all the resin spacers, and replace the spacers with the spacer kit. Thanks for the compliments on the bike. It is a 1981 King of Mercia and I'm the original owner. It was a 1st Yr Anniv gift from the hubby. I've kept him around for obvious reasons.

[Steve Hampsten]

Your Mercian is cool - I had a Strada Speciale from way back in 1978. Only sold it a few years ago.

Your blog is nice, too - mind if I link to it? (If I can ever figger out how to, that is)

Sorry for the lack of Campy content...

[gt6267a]

you are such a tease only showing us the head tube and fork. how about showing us the rest of the bike?

[SadieKate]

My goodness. I'm already being called names. How's this?

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/SadieKate/Mercian/MERCIAN_0009.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/SadieKate/Mercian/MERCIAN_0013.jpg

[SadieKate]

Your blog is nice, too - mind if I link to it? (If I can ever figger out how to, that is)Feel free! Our virtual club is all about charity rides and friendship. You may see our jersey anywhere you least expect it.

[gt6267a]

thanks. that is a nice looking bike!

[Steve Hampsten]

A pair of Honjo fenders would really bring out the bling on that Mercian...

[72gmc]

Welcome, SadieKate. Fender fetishists lurk here, and as one of them I second Steve's unsolicited fashion advice.

[Javaman]

and that bottle cage mount is so...different. I like it!

[SadieKate]

And ride my precious Mercian in the rain? :eek:

Besides I just built up a Milwaukee Bike Co singlespeed for these:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/SadieKate/MBC/fendersb072_12.jpg

and this:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/SadieKate/MBC/MBC_DSCF0009_flask.jpg

Oh no. That Mercian looks like that for a reason.

[julia]

wow julia nice avatar!

hey thanks shino - detail of a painting. PM me if you want a link to my site.

cheers,
julia

[SadieKate]

and that bottle cage mount is so...different. I like it! It is simply a Tandems East double bottle cage mount. It is a L-bracket that mounts to the frame and then 2 bottle cages mounted to it. I only had one bottle cage mount and didn't want to clamp anything over the paint. Easy fix.

http://www.tandemseast.com/parts/accessories.html

[Javaman]

It is simply a Tandems East double bottle cage mount. It is a L-bracket that mounts to the frame and then 2 bottle cages mounted to it. I only had one bottle cage mount and didn't want to clamp anything over the paint. Easy fix.

http://www.tandemseast.com/parts/accessories.html

What about the one for the flask holder? :beer:

[SadieKate]

That would be from Ahearne Cycles (http://www.ahearnecycles.com/flask.htm). :rolleyes:

[Javaman]

That would be from Ahearne Cycles (http://www.ahearnecycles.com/flask.htm). :rolleyes:

really glad you're member of this forum!! :beer:

[SadieKate]

Glad you appreciate my choices in beverage transportation. I may need to see if I can carry a thermos next. We're not exactly having a heatwave here.

[mwos]

SadieKate,

I can't answer your question but welcome to the forum, you'll enjoy the knowledgeable and friendly people here. Are you the same SadieKate from the Team Estrogen forum?

Kathi

[SadieKate]

Yes, 'tis I!