Road Cycling - Anybody Notice Lance Trek Bike

Anybody notice Lance Armstrong Trek Bike pictured in Sport Cycle January 2001 issue on page 73, he's right shifter is Shimano and he's left shifter is Campagnolo , can anybody explained this to me, or do we need to ask this question to Lance, personally Just asking,'coz I am intrigue:rolleyes:

Wow, I didn't see the picture, but I am very curious too! If and when you find out, please post the reason. I'm sure a lot of people are interested.

Thanks,
Marcy :)

He probably likes the ability of Campag Ergos to micro adjust the front mech. Thats the main reason for my fetish.

I just visited "Lance Website" and there is a statement, on the equipment used by Lance that He use a Full Dura Ace Groupo, Now please any body Help me if you have seen the issue of Sport Cycle January 2001, page 73, If my "eyes" is playing tricks on me. Question, why will Shimano Hide these facts, Just asking:confused:

You cant scan the image by chance, can ya?

Joe, I am sorry, but my scanner is not working properly, but I can send it to you by mail if you want it, I will just tear of the said page and send it to you, you can write your address, to my email at orguasch@hotmail.com,

I wish i had a scanner...

Don't have any hard information to add, but during the TdF the tech question column on the Velo News web site had a similar question, and the response was that Armstrong's bikes had a number of "older" pieces of equipment on them, including a downtube shifter for the front derailleur on the bike for the mountain stages (IIRC) and discontinued Look pedals, and so on. A quick look over at Velo News' current web site (they having moved since the TdF) didn't bring up anything that old, so perhaps those columns weren't archived.

I will not take that buls#@$@$ from them, its really clear in the picture is a campagnolo,

A look at the shot of Armstrong on the cover of the October 2000 issue of Bicycling magazine shows the bike from the other side, complete with downtube shifter, and front brake cable. I don't know squat about Campy, so I'll just email you a JPG of a scan of the shot, and you can have at it.

UncaStuart, can you attach the image to your post? Im not sure if you need to re-size the image, the max file upload is 100K ... if not, whoever gets the pic, post it here...

I got the Picture I will try to post it here, Now the issue has been settled, Thanx, Unca

Joe, I just send you the picture, I didn't know where it was posted, anywayz I hope you got it, okay

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Hi folks,

Not sure if you've figured out why Lance has a downtube shifter for his front derailleur but I do remember reading an interview with his TDF mechanic (I dont' remember his name and I can't seem to find the article....of course...). He said that Lance chose to use the downtube shifter to save weight over the normal setup.

Before you kill the messenger....I'm just telling you what I read. No confirmation on campy v. dura-ace. Just that his mechanic setup his bike that way to save on weight.

If I can find that article I will be sure to post the URL.

Hammer...
welcome to bike forum hope you enjoy the site, we have a very lively and friendly members here, and I offer a toast to you Buddy :beer:

Hammer,
That sounds reasonable and practical, but I and not sure I understand how it works. Note, I am not taking issue with you as the messenger but with the mechanic's explanation. If there is still a Campy brake lever that appears to be an Ergo lever, how is adding the downtube shifter saving weight? I guess you would save a few grams on the foot or so of housing and cable. Is that enough to offset the additional weight of the downtube unit? That said, I can understand the attraction of the downtube shifter for the front. How often do you make that shift, especially if you are Lance or pretty much any other pro? And I can certainly see the advantage of being able to trim the front derailleur to eliminate chain rub. My 105 STI levers offer 2 clicks for the middle ring to allow for some trimming, which is OK, but a friction unit might make it easier.
I'm just askin' 'cause I still kind of new at all this so I really don't know all the ins and outs.
Regards,
Raymond

Lance is using a simple Shimano brake lever, no STI stuff, with a down tube shifter. There is not a lot of difference between a Shimano and Campy lever from a distance, but Campy have the cable tension release built into the brake lever, not the brake.

People still use the non-integrated brake levers, with bar-end gear levers on the ends of aerobars.

RainmanP,

I hear your issues and I had the same thoughts. It didn't quite make a lot of sense when I read it. I've been trying to find the article for the last couple of days...I'm determined to find it!!! :crash:

I realized, during a ride yesterday evening, a significant reason why you might use a downtube shifter for your front derailleur. It's d@mn near impossible to trim the derailleur with STI. Certainly too difficult to be convenient during a race. With a good ol' downtube friction shifter, no sweat. So, maybe he's running wider-range gearing on his cassette, and needs that capability.

All the above sounds reasonable, but maybe it just comes down to personal preference?

Lance rocks..hope he wins the Tour De France this year! :)

Rich

I have toyed with trying a friction shifter. With the grip shifter I had before I could trim the front der even though it was indexed. I miss that since I switched to STI. Even though it does have two clicks for the middle ring, sometimes is still seems like there are combinations where the chain rubs and not even on the extremes. Luckily, this is not often an issue because I am running a cushy 14-25 cassette so I am usually in the middle or on the big ring where trim is not much of a problem.
Regards,
Raymond

Anybody notice Lance Armstrong Trek Bike pictured in Sport Cycle January 2001 issue on page 73, he's right shifter is Shimano and he's left shifter is Campagnolo , can anybody explained this to me, or do we need to ask this question to Lance, personally Just asking,'coz I am intrigue:rolleyes:


Its not campy, its a brake, plain break, no shifter.

That would reek HELL if he had campy and shimano on his bike, not to mention that wouldnt work.



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Thanks and have a nice night :D

That would reek HELL if he had campy and shimano on his bike, not to mention that wouldnt work.
actually...

campy left shifter/9sp fd and shimano right shifter/9 sp rd would probably work pretty well.

true, true

The part that was hilarious about this thread was that they really really thought it was a campy shifter.

I remember reading that lance liked the weight savings of the downtube shifter,

I don't have much trouble trimming my STI levers.

Riding with Shimano and Campy on the same bike would make his sponsor very angry, and no pro rider is going to do that.

I'm not cetain but wouldn't the fact that the two hoods would have a different shape be very annoying?

Its not campy, its a brake, plain break, no shifter.
That would reek HELL if he had campy and shimano on his bike, not to mention that wouldnt work.
Both companies would like us to believe that

actually...
campy left shifter/9sp fd and shimano right shifter/9 sp rd would probably work pretty well.
Better than well. Ergo left is the type O of the cycling world, the "universal donor" - it can shift anything like a friction downtube shifter.

My guess is with a downtube front shifter set to friction, on climbs he can do major cross-overs to the small cogs and adjust the front derailleur to eliminate any risk of chain rubbing and avoid moving to the large ring.
Full ten speeds without major cadence change. In other words, a downtube allows more adjustment than an STI. Would that be a reason along with weight saving?

I was reading this thread with great interest until I realized that it was FOUR FREAKING YEARS OLD. There. Now I've done my part to keep it on life support.