What is your preferred position for Paul Thumbies on Alba's?

[RDS]

Going to give the Paul Thumbie's a try on Albatross.  Where do you prefer the shifter to be located on the bars?  On the outside portion of the bar near the brake handle?  On the top portion of the bar?  Inside portion of the bar (if that is doable)?  Or where?

[Deacon Patrick]

I tried them all and found that for the mixed terrain riding they were all great for some and annoying for others. Experiment and see. Don't tape your bars till you're happy. Grin. As a rule of thumb (pun intended), put them in your most common grip position.

With abandon,

Patrick

[Ron Mc]

take your time and get them just right - here's what I did on my MAP bars, which are almost Albas  

  

It ends up being farther away than you first imagine and closer to vertical than horizontal, but these let me push with knuckle and pull with thumb and still have room for a couple of different hand rest positions.  

[Kellie]

Here's a photo of Paul's Thumbies on a Cheviot. Really like them on the Albatross. I've also seen them slid to the inside. I also have Thumbies on drops.

[Shoji Takahashi]

I had thumbies set up "normal" like Kellie, and "inside" like Keven (as seen on Rivbike). I've since moved to Shimano deerhead shifters, also mounted inside. 

Here's a pic of the albas with thumbies:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/stakx/13961703460/in/album-72157644332271299/

The main advantage of inside mounting is being able to grip forward of the brake levers. (I have my levers mounted far back as I sometimes have a kid on a Yepp Mini front-mounted bike seat.)

The normal set up works great for bullmoose bars: 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/stakx/13022887783/in/album-72157644332271299/

In any event, +1 for Patrick's advice-- try 'em out. (Unfortunately, you'll have to re-cable. So maybe mount 'em up and try them before cabling?)

Happy riding,

Shoji

[Garth]

Here : 
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UsTKn56Gp3o/Ua8Tu_6zMLI/AAAAAAAABs4/-G6bxAd0PN8/s1024/franklinbarrs.jpg

[Richard L.]

Ron,

 

Are your MAP bars the newer wider version?

Thanks,

Richard

 

[Ron Mc]

Hi Richard, yes they are (615mm) and I really like the width.  It took me awhile to get used to them, steering (really just relaxing grip and shoulders) and especially standing to climb, but I love them now.  We're having monsoon rains, but managed to find a window in the weather this morning and rode almost 30 mi.  A few weekends ago, rode 65mi and then 55 the following weekend.  They're really cozy.  

[Richard L.]

Thanks Ron.  Your set up looks great.

Richard

[Matthew J]

Did a couple day tour on my 1x6 bike with Albas.  Here is a (too dark) shot from my friend's basement before heading out for the day: