Downtube Bosses

[Ryan Ray]

I'm trying to move to down tube shifters on a bike that doesn't have bosses. I do have cable stops right where the bosses would be. It seems like these would get in the way of clamp on shifters right? Do I just need to get the replaced by a frame builder?

Also: looking to buy some down tube shifters if anyone has some retroflection, power ratchet, or 8 speed shamans...

- Ryan

[Ryan Ray]

Ha. My auto correct took "retrofriction" and replaced it with "retroflection."

Retroflection shifters don't change gears, but instead ask "what about yourself makes you want to change gears?"

[Seth Vidal]

On Fri, Mar 9, 2012 at 12:03 PM, Ryan Ray <ryan...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Ha. My auto correct took "retrofriction" and replaced it with
> "retroflection."
>
> Retroflection shifters don't change gears, but instead ask "what about
> yourself makes you want to change gears?"
>
>

I've found it is normally my knees or labored breathing about me which
makes me want to change gears.

I like the idea of retroflection shifters.

:)

-sv

[William]

Yes your housing stops are most likely in the way. 

Yes getting bosses put on by a frame builder is a solution. 

You should probably scope that out first before you decide whether or not you still want to do it.  For example, most framebuilders won't work on your frame unless it's been completely stripped down.  Is it worth the effort?  Some frame builders have a pretty long backlog.  Then there's the cost.  Once you know the details of how your framebuilder operates, then everything else should fall into place. 

[Ryan Ray]

I could just cut off the stops and install clamp on shifters. It wouldn't preclude me from getting bosses put on at a later date.

- Ryan

[NickBull]

Hi, HC,

You don't say what diameter downtube you have, nor how many cogs you want to be able to shift.  If it is a "standard" 28.6mm clamp size then there are a number of alternatives.

I'm assuming that there is room on the downtube above the cable stops for you to attach a clamp-on shifter.  Then you can just run the cable through the holes in the cable stops.  I don't think that putting the clamp below the cable stops would work so well because the shifter will get held up by the cable stop and not be able to shift to the "last" gear.

If you're shifting 5, 6, or 7 cogs, then you can go on EBay and find yourself the relevant used or NOS clamp-on shifter for your derailleur pretty easily.

If you're trying to shift 8 or 9 cogs, then one strategy is to get a Huret clamp that has been modified to work with Dura-Ace downtube shifters from a guy who sells these clamps on EBay, search on item 170599854261. 

Another strategy is to get crappy SunRace 7-speed downtube shifters and use the clamp for those with your Dura-Ace downtube shifters.

Nick

[Ryan Ray]

• "standard" 28.6mm clamp size

• 8 cogs

• I noticed those clamps on ebay. Definitely worth a try.

Thanks,

[PATRICK MOORE]

That's the approach I highly recommend: taking sharp cutting tools (even better, power tools) to a nice frame. 

Seriously -- Steve Palincsar's opinion notwithstanding (hiya, Steve!) -- it's not hard to remove cable housing stops; I've done so several times, successfully. Use a Dremel to cut and smooth, then do the finishing by hand with a fine flat file. I stripped five or six stops, not to mention rear canti bosses and derailleur hangar tab, from a nice old early '90s Diamond Back mtb to make me a 60" geared fixed off road bike. After I filed and sprayed with rattlecan, I could not see any attachment marks.

(I'm looking at cutting the tt stops off my #3 custom Riv -- no rear brake. Mmmmmmmmmh!)

(Even funner is using a hammer to get a frame to fit cranks or tires it was not meant for -- have done that too, successfully -- tho' I'd draw the line at the Riv.)

Patrick "grateful to Steve 'cuz he's praying for my soul" Moore

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[J L]

Ryan, the best bet might be to use a nice set of clamp on dt shifters.  It might line up right that the clamp is held up by the stops.  I used to have a dura ace set from the 70s. Suntour, campy, etc all make high end clamp on shifters. 

Jl

[Steve Palincsar]

On Fri, 2012-03-09 at 11:57 -0700, PATRICK MOORE wrote:
> That's the approach I highly recommend: taking sharp cutting tools
> (even better, power tools) to a nice frame.
>
>
> Seriously -- Steve Palincsar's opinion notwithstanding (hiya, Steve!)
> -- it's not hard to remove cable housing stops; I've done so several
> times, successfully. Use a Dremel to cut and smooth, then do the
> finishing by hand with a fine flat file. I stripped five or six stops,
> not to mention rear canti bosses and derailleur hangar tab, from a
> nice old early '90s Diamond Back mtb to make me a 60" geared fixed off
> road bike. After I filed and sprayed with rattlecan, I could not see
> any attachment marks.

It's easy to do all sorts of crimes and abominations. The question
isn't is it easy to do, but should it be done at all.

> (I'm looking at cutting the tt stops off my #3 custom Riv -- no rear
> brake. Mmmmmmmmmh!)
>
>
> (Even funner is using a hammer to get a frame to fit cranks or tires
> it was not meant for -- have done that too, successfully -- tho' I'd
> draw the line at the Riv.)
>
>
> Patrick "grateful to Steve 'cuz he's praying for my soul" Moore

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanged,_drawn_and_quartered

[Steve Palincsar]

On Fri, 2012-03-09 at 12:05 -0500, Seth Vidal wrote:
>
> I've found it is normally my knees or labored breathing about me which
> makes me want to change gears.

I think you're waiting too long...

[Seth Vidal]

Touché!

-sv

[PATRICK MOORE]

Mmmmmmmmhh!

On Fri, Mar 9, 2012 at 2:23 PM, Steve Palincsar <pali...@his.com> wrote:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanged,_drawn_and_quartered

[Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery]

"high end clamp on shifters"

An oft-repeated quote around here is, "hey, those are the good cottered cranks!" Always good for a chuckle.

[PATRICK MOORE]

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/components/durax-comp.html

18 oz/pair for arms, no rings -- not too shabby! And damned pretty!

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[jimD]

In discussions (and my own thought processes) like these, I'm reminded of 'Tool Time' the tv series.

I offer this as a cautionary note. Things can and sometimes do go wrong.
-JimD

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[Horace]

Depending on the location of the cable stops, clamp-on shifters might not be a problem at all.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7850806@N06/6822567370

- Ryan

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[Ryan Ray]

Thanks. Nice pic.

- Ryan

On Friday, March 9, 2012 10:28:50 PM UTC-8, Horace wrote:

Depending on the location of the cable stops, clamp-on shifters might not be a problem at all.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7850806@N06/6822567370

On Fri, Mar 9, 2012 at 8:55 AM, Ryan Ray <ryan...@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm trying to move to down tube shifters on a bike that doesn't have bosses. I do have cable stops right where the bosses would be. It seems like these would get in the way of clamp on shifters right? Do I just need to get the replaced by a frame builder?

Also: looking to buy some down tube shifters if anyone has some retroflection, power ratchet, or 8 speed shamans...

- Ryan

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[John Speare]

Agreed. Cutting off the existing cable stops and putting a clamp-on solution is the quickest/cheapest/dirtiest fix.

 

Once you’ve done that, a frame builder could sand the area and braze-on DT bosses in a few minutes. Assuming you don’t care about the paint, it’s a trivial fix for a competent builder and likely pretty cheap, depending on your local market.

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