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Picked up a bike for my daughter which is 3x7 equipped. I want to convert to trigger shifters, she finds the gripshift difficult and looking at kit I can get 3x8 shifters and a cassette for not much more than the cost of the 3x7 triggers
I am right in recalling that 7 and 8 speed are the same chain width, aren't they? Am I missing anything?
3x8 shifters and a cassette
The wheel might not be compatible - weren't 7sp and 8/9sp hubs different? Look and see if theres a spacer in there. The chain was the same width so the cassette (and therefore the free hub) had to be wider for 8sp
what they said cassette on 8 is wider and 8/9 was same with spacer needed for 8 speed
& works with 7 speed only
As above, the 7 speed cassette is narrower than the 8 speed. You can fit a 7 speed onto an 8 speed hub with a spacer, but not vice-versa.
You can just use the 8 speed shifters on 7 speed cassette. It's not perfect but works well enough (4.8 vs 5mm gaps on cassette IIRC). We swap regularly on our tandem - touring and race wheel are 8 and 7 speed respectively.
The chain was the same width so the cassette (and therefore the free hub) had to be wider for 8sp
good spot - will have a look in a bit