Professional Cycling - down tube shifters

Perhaps I saw the brief camera close up wrongly, it looked liked Lance had downtube shifters on his
climbing bike in one of the early stages. Did anyone else notice?

Perhaps I saw the brief camera close up wrongly, it looked liked Lance had downtube shifters on his
climbing bike in one of the early stages. Did anyone else notice?

He's traditionally run a left-hand downtube shifter to save weight on the bigger mountain stages.

This is the second most asked Lance question.

Off topic:

Lance's bulging legs make Ivan's legs look like 12 year old.

Read somewhere (I think it was on the mechanical forum) else that he likes the downtube shifter for the chainrings for some reason.

On topic:

Will the down tube front derailer shifter become the coolest thing in the cycling world?

Answer:
Not unless Shimano gives it a new name, gives it a cosmetical change, and(most importantly) price it higher than current top of the line shifter, then there will be a lot of "me too" buyers.

I've actually considered building my next bike with one on the left side. Lance isn't the first to do this. It has nothing to do with weight - its cause STI's suck at trimming. How much do you shift between 53/39? Not that often, or at least i don't. Once i drop down to 39, its cause I'm on a climb - I'm gonna be there for a while. The left STI has very little advantage. I like it, but not cause Lance does it. I think Basso does too, i think Pantani even did it.

I like it, but not cause Lance does it. I think Basso does too, i think Pantani even did it.

Yup.

http://www.campyonly.com/marcobike.html

It especially makes sense from a KIS,S standpoint. Brifters occasionally dump chains onto BBs or crankarms.

It especially makes sense from a KIS,S standpoint. Brifters occasionally dump chains onto BBs or crankarms.

Yeah... especially STI. With a downtube shifter, you can ease the chain onto the small ring if the chain is heavily deflected. With STI, you pop the release and the chain will just fling itself and possibly skate across or overshoot the inner ring only to end up sitting on the BB while you slam yourself into the toptube. Not a fun experience by any measure and certainly not something you'd want to risk in a climbing stage of the TdF.

So here's the question. You have to have a frame with a hole for DT shifters, right? You can't put one on with some kind of adapter or anything? That sucks.

the first I recall doing it was andy hampsten...and you save like 100 grams doing it, as I recall. It most certainly is a weight oriented decision.

the first I recall doing it was andy hampsten...and you save like 100 grams doing it, as I recall. It most certainly is a weight oriented decision.

Im pretty sure you will find that just about all their bikes are already at the race limit. The overwhelming answer to this question generally seems to be the increased ability to trim the chains position

ummm at but not under, right? therefore the 70-100 grams he saves from using a downtube shifter must have some use, no?

ummm at but not under, right? therefore the 70-100 grams he saves from using a downtube shifter must have some use, no?

Almost all bike companies can, do or have made a bike that is not race legal. In last years Alp D'Huez stage there was a little stir over Lance Mountain TT bike since it was orginally underweight (read PR Stunt). So saving weight is not as important as we make it out to be.

All of those bikes could be well under weight with both STIs, it isn't a weight saving thing - for the millionth time.

So here's the question. You have to have a frame with a hole for DT shifters, right? You can't put one on with some kind of adapter or anything? That sucks.

I feel the DT and bar end shifters are better for the chainring becuase of the trimming. If you don't have the hold for DT shifters you can easily add a bar end shifter for the left side. This is my plan when I upgrade bikes. Which will be sometime next year.

Again there is somewhat of a weight savings, but overall I believe it's the ability to fully adjust that front derailer so you get no rubs at all. I only have a double on the front and have trouble a lot of the time. It's a fricken PITA.

I've actually considered building my next bike with one on the left side. Lance isn't the first to do this. It has nothing to do with weight - its cause STI's suck at trimming. How much do you shift between 53/39? Not that often, or at least i don't. Once i drop down to 39, its cause I'm on a climb - I'm gonna be there for a while. The left STI has very little advantage. I like it, but not cause Lance does it. I think Basso does too, i think Pantani even did it.

I long ago converted the front derailleur on my CX bike to a bar-end friction shift.

STI shifters are just flat out terrible for Front D's.

The friction shift bar end is a thing of wonder.

You don't even have to go as far as DT now cause you get a friction shifter up near the brake levers, with Kelly Take Offs http://www.kellybike.com/2nd_xtra_takeoff.html.

But ... can one safely assume that it is an indexed downtube shifter? With a double, trimming should not be a big issue, should it?

But ... can one safely assume that it is an indexed downtube shifter? With a double, trimming should not be a big issue, should it?

Trimming is a bigger issue with a double then with a double as there is a much bigger gap between rings.

it probably isn't indexed. I honestly don't know why anyone would run an indexed DT shifter on the front. Do you really need index for 2 gears? Seriously. Just shift until its on the ring. I'm sure its adjusted so that it can't shift the chain off on either side, but other than that - infinitely variable so he gets no grrrrr, grrrrr, grrrr sound when he's running a high chain cross.

If you've ever ridden a tri bike they have bar end shifters, anyhow the chainring is not indexed. It's friction. Only the back has the "clicks" for gears.

As far as trimming on the front, I've never ridden a triple, but on my double, you have to micro adjust the front if you are changing gears alot. If you are in the easier gears, say 20-25 it's fully out, but as you go to the harder gears, say 19-12 you have to click the front over just a bit to keep from rubbing. This is on the small chainring only. On the large chainring(53) I never go above gear 21 (I have a 12-25 in the back) So those top 2 I never use in the big chain ring. If I'm in the smallest chainring, I'll use all but the 12 tooth. Hope this helps.

All of those bikes could be well under weight with both STIs, it isn't a weight saving thing - for the millionth time.


I think you're wrong

I think you're wrong

Why do you think? Have the points not been made clearly for the non-weight arguement and that weight is not an issue on those bikes anymore.

oh. i know andy hampsten did it for weight....but i couldn't really care less. it's just fun seeing you guys get worked up over such an innane issue.

what fabric is his socks made out of?

This has been argured before.. its a good read, but make sure to read posts 52, and 59

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=65895&page=1&pp=25&highlight=frankie

Remember todays climbing bikes are engineered as a whole system now, not just a regular bike with bigger cogs. Everyone wants to go up hil on a 14 lb bike, but who wants to descend at 60mph on one?

Yes, the bikes are at the weight limit, but by saving weight on the seldom used front shifter allows you to add weight in other areas, to make it more comfortable or perform better, such as making the frame stiffer and more effiecient, and the bike more stable on descents.

some horses aren't worth beating you know? I know the answer, and you know the answer...but dude we're wrong. STI can't trim worth a S. Especially at the hands of a wrench who earns 6 figures tuning bikes.

Looks like he's got an old dura-ace or ultegra aero lever on his left bar rather than run the idle STI with its guts taken out. STI and aero hoods have totally different moulds, wouldn't that be uncomfortable in the 'feel' of the bike? like wearing two different shoes?

some horses aren't worth beating you know? I know the answer, and you know the answer...but dude we're wrong. STI can't trim worth a S. Especially at the hands of a wrench who earns 6 figures tuning bikes.


Trim with your STI and then ride a non-indexed shifter. It is night as day. Maybe smoothie is right about the weight savings, but I doubt it is only for that. Plenty of climbers don't use it.