Originally Posted by CyLowe97
The non-snarky answer is that Lance is a notorious weight-weenie and that climbing the Alps is apparently easier with the slight drop in overall bike weight achieved by using a downtube shifter over a current brifter. Notice, it's only for the front deraileur....
It's fun that these things pop up from time to time on the forum so those of us who don't live on the search function of the forum can stumble on good trivia like this.....
I had always assumed it was not for weight but for reliability. Down tube shifters, at least for the front never drop the chain. Which would be deadly to Lance. Because with the UCI weight limit he can't go lower than 14.99lbs anyway. If Lance were 100% concerned about the weight he would use a light handlebar, or saddle, or seat post, or even a lighter stem!