Bar end vs down tube shifters

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Frame size matters.

On my size of a frame (64cm Rambouillet), the down tube bosses are simply too far away to be a reasonable option for the attraction of DT shift levers. I spiffed my NOS Simplex  retrofriction set to my mechanic when building up my custom the other year after trying them on the mocked up rolling chassis. My undersquare top tube seemed to make it even worse.

I could have asked for my bosses to be applied as far up as possible but the lever set wasn’t an absolute and I wanted them to be perfect for housing stops if going to bar ends as the alternative. No gain for stem mount for me.

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh 

[Craig Montgomery]

Quick little story. Riding 58-60 cm frames, down tube shifters are doable, quick, efficient,  but never liked one armed riding on gravel. Always preferred bar ends especially on gravel and especially touring. Balanced, lowers center of gravity and puts a hand on the bars which keeps you traveling straight and secure. Tried Riv's stem shifters a long time ago but the raising of the torso to get leverage and one handed riding was uncomfortably iffy. Maybe I didn't give'em a chance. Then, a few years back I tried top tube shifters on a vintage 50's British tourer (either a Gillott or Ephgreave, or Taylor or one of those gems designed and built in Heaven). These were not right behind the head set. They were set back maybe a third of the distance on the top tube so I didn't have to reach forward but rather back, to a point just forward of where the knees come up. Didn't have to lift the torso. Plenty of leverage. In fact, it was like my arm became a part of my torso and added to the stability of the bike. Overall an interesting and pleasurable riding experience. And there you have it. 

Craig in Tucson