I have a Giant Defy 4 which I want to renovate for my girlfriend. It currently has an 8 so set up and I need to replace the chain set but 8 speed is difficult to g hold of these days. As I can’t afford new sti’s could I keep the old sti’s and but a new 9sp chrankset, chain and cassette?

Thanks,

Jon

No, that wouldn’t work. The spacing between the sprockets on the cassette is narrower on 9 speed than on 8 speed, so the gears will not index correctly. Like wise you cannot use a 9 speed chain on an 8 speed cassette.You can get away with a 9 speed chainset with the rest being 8 speed, the spacings are the same at the front. 9 speed chainrings are slightly narrower, but doesn’t matter with an 8 speed chain.

Plenty of Shimano 8 speed road chainsets on google some for under £40
http://www.cyclebasket.com/m9b14s670p2528/SHIMANO_FC-2350_Square_Taper_Double_Chainset_8_Speed_50_34T_/RS_GB/6489
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/shimano-fc-2300-52-39-7-8-speed-double-chainset-prod20538/
http://www.freeborn.co.uk/shimano-fc-2300-7-8-speed-road-chainset
Or just get new chainrings even cheaper
http://www.freeborn.co.uk/shimano-fc-3300-sora-double-52t-7-8-speed-road-chainrings