Re: [RBW] Downtube shifter diehards vs. downtube shifter experimenters

[John Speare]

I like indexed DT 8 speed shifting on my commuter and my long distance bike. I guess I actually love it.

 

I'm generally moving towards indexing on most of my bikes:

-- trails bike (Rawland dSogn) has 8 speed brifters -- which I love for technical climbing.

-- CX (RB-T) bike has single 8 speed brifter

-- mountain bike is indexed.

 

Until now, I didn't realize that I'd made such a transformation. I must say though, that I do miss the feel of Suntour barcons, which I used to run nearly exclusively on all drop-bar bikes.

 

My move to the dark side of indexing stated with the DT shifters though, which index beautifully since there's only one loop in the housing.

 

 

 

 

On Fri, Jul 29, 2011 at 5:00 AM, Forrest <ftm...@me.com> wrote:

Among those of you who now use downtube shifters (or have in the past), how many of you are confirmed fans of downtube shifting, and how many of you tried it as an experiment but then switched to a different shifting system that you felt was better? Oh, and any thoughts re downtube indexed vs. downtube friction would be welcome.

Thanks,  -- Forrest (Iowa City)

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John Speare
Spokane, WA USA
http://cyclingspokane.blogspot.com/

[Brewster Fong]

 

 

On Fri, Jul 29, 2011 at 5:00 AM, Forrest <ftm...@me.com> wrote:

Among those of you who now use downtube shifters (or have in the past), how many of you are confirmed fans of downtube shifting, and how many of you tried it as an experiment but then switched to a different shifting system that you felt was better? Oh, and any thoughts re downtube indexed vs. downtube friction would be welcome.

I went the opposite way. I used dt friction shifters for over 15 years. Used mostly Campy dt shifters - record, c-record and mavic "retrofriction" shifters shifting 7 and 9 speeds. Never had any problems.

 

Then I tried Campy ergo shifters and became a convert!!  Love the shifters and now have it on my two road bikes.  Good Luck!  

[René Sterental]

I just put the DuraAce 9 speed downtube shifters on my 58 Hunqa. I run the rear one on indexed mode and I actually like them a lot. Reach is not too bad although I usually find myself coasting while I shift since I have to remove one hand from the handlebar. At this time, I'd be hard pressed to say if I prefer them on the downtube or on the stem quill as I have them on the Atlantis right now: http://tinyurl.com/3l9oxn5

 

I don't think that if I was running Noodles or equivalent I'd put them on the downtube but now the Homer is my only remaining bike with that setup and I haven't ridden it in a while.

 

René

[velomann]

The first "real" road bike I owned (Bianchi Limited, 1986-ish) had
downtube shifters and I've always had at least one bike so equipped
since then. In my long range plans for a custom rando bike, it will
have downtube shifters. My daily commuter has friction DT shifters, as
does my Trek 560. I also have bikes with thumb shifters, a Bontrager
mtb with grip-shifts (hate those but haven't taken the time to convert
yet), and a cross bike with brifters - whose only advantage I can see
is when I race I really can shift quicker. But those buggers are sure
expensive to replace and I hate components I can't service myself.
Strangely, the only thing I don't currently have running is bar-ends,
but that's going to change when I get the dirt-drops on the 91 MB
2 ;-)

As others have said - though maybe not here, one advantage to DT
shifters (besides simplicity) is that on longer rides you regularly
take you hands (or one hand at least) off the bars. This helps relieve
pressure and fatigue, I think.

And maybe it's how I was "programed" when I formed my love for the
bicycle, but I prefer the look of a steel road bike w/DT shifters to
the look of any other bike.

Mike

[Joe Bernard]

Dowtubers are great for "double shifts",too, wherein you want to get a rear upshift with a front downshift at the same time so the cadence change isn't so drastic. Get ahold of both shifters with one hand and push forward. Sweet.

 

Joe "push push" Bernard

Fairfield, CA.

[Ray Shine]

I have the gamut of shfters, as well. On my commute-rigged Bleriot, I use an old pair of SunTour stem shifters in friction. Like Rene, it's a convenient place to locate them for upright riding. Also, as someone else mentioned, I can shift both at once with one hand, although I don't do that very often. He is a pict of the shifters set up on the Bleriot when I had Alba bars. I now have Jitensha flat bars on it, but still use the stem shifters. By the way, stem and dt shifters sure make switching out h'bars a lot easier.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8581354@N03/4549201864/in/set-72157623799483763/

---

From: Joe Bernard <joer...@gmail.com>
To: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Tue, August 2, 2011 4:08:06 PM
Subject: [RBW] Re: Downtube shifter diehards vs. downtube shifter experimenters

Dowtubers are great for "double shifts",too, wherein you want to get a rear upshift with a front downshift at the same time so the cadence change isn't so drastic. Get ahold of both shifters with one hand and push forward. Sweet.

 

Joe "push push" Bernard

Fairfield, CA.

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[charlie]

This is all sounding pretty shifty to me..............

On Aug 2, 5:51 pm, Ray Shine <r.sh...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> I have the gamut of shfters, as well. On my commute-rigged Bleriot, I use an old
> pair of SunTour stem shifters in friction. Like Rene, it's a convenient place to
> locate them for upright riding. Also, as someone else mentioned, I can shift
> both at once with one hand, although I don't do that very often. He is a pict of
> the shifters set up on the Bleriot when I had Alba bars. I now have Jitensha
> flat bars on it, but still use the stem shifters. By the way, stem and dt
> shifters sure make switching out h'bars a lot easier.
>

> http://www.flickr.com/photos/8581354@N03/4549201864/in/set-7215762379...
>
> ________________________________
> From: Joe Bernard <joerem...@gmail.com>

> To: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
> Sent: Tue, August 2, 2011 4:08:06 PM
> Subject: [RBW] Re: Downtube shifter diehards vs. downtube shifter experimenters
>
> Dowtubers are great for "double shifts",too, wherein you want to get a rear
> upshift with a front downshift at the same time so the cadence change isn't so
> drastic. Get ahold of both shifters with one hand and push forward. Sweet.
>
> Joe "push push" Bernard
> Fairfield, CA.
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW
> Owners Bunch" group.

> To view this discussion on the web visithttps://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/xEV7rvMH4OYJ.