Professional Cycling For the Fans - Why did lance use downtube???

Like alot of people, I tried that lucky seven thing and lost. But I had noticed something peculiar about lances photo on the scratch card. It seems that in the 04' tour de france, lance used a downtube shifter for his front derailleur. Why?? It could just be preference, but I am very intrigued by this.

Heres a pic;

http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/5877/tdf20011a4yr.th.jpg (http://img380.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tdf20011a4yr.jpg)

That question has been asked here roughly 15 times.

Man am I stupid, if someone wants to delete this thread please do. appearently there are a number of threads about this already...

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 think this proves he was doping.

I agree with CyLowe. I had never noticed that so it would never have occcurred to me to search on it. That's a pretty cool trivia fact.

For tech TDF trivia how about the question:

When first introduced why didn't the best riders use deraillers while lesser riders did?

For tech TDF trivia how about the question:

When first introduced why didn't the best riders use deraillers while lesser riders did?

The best riders were hours ahead of the peons. Riders used to carry their own tubes, tools, and make their own repairs: no support vehicles/team cars. The top riders could change tubes or rear sprockets without any threat from the no-name riders.

Perhaps the top riders were also "weight weenies" or they felt the need to prove their superior athleticism without using any new technology? :D

...to piss off the french.

I actually really want to do this with my new bike, but perhaps with the lever up by the hoods. STI for two gears is stupid.

That question has been asked here roughly 15 times.

So you probably have an answer you could have provided instead.

http://www.cyclingphotos.freeserve.co.uk/cycling3/hampsten1.jpg

Andy did it first

I think this proves he was doping.


Yeah, touching that shifter gave him a short quick EPO shot, and drinking those little half cans of Coke helped him p!ss it all out before the finish...

They are coming up with a half can of Coke/p!ss test to prove it....some new mathematical formula.

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!

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!


People have neglected to notice that Jan also has a down tube shifter there. So Trev is right, it can't be for saving weight, cos Jan Ullrich certainly isn't a weight weeny. He shows us this every summer.

Apparently is it for saving weight.

After re-watching the Lance shows I recorded (Lance Chronicles, Science of Lance, etc) I remember the Trek guy saying that the reason the mountain stage bikes don't have some of the same stuff done to their frames is to save weight. Going up a mountain is about reducing weight. Riding in the peloton is about drafting. TT is about slipping thru the wind. Hence the vast differences in the bikes and their setup. The Trek guy said that the 150 grams they save on the weight of the SSL frame is 150 paper clips - which isn't a lot but in the rider's mind when he's almost dead going up the mountain it might give him the mental edge. That's part of the reason the mountain bikes don't have the shark fin, etc.

I was pondering this fact the other night while I couldn't sleep. A lot of the opinions seem to focus on the going up the mountains. I think it might be for the decents.

On the downhills of a hors categorie mountain, riders hit insane speeds. With the roads closed, it's easier to get a good line where you have room to brake on the straight and clip the apex of every turn. What I'm thinking is that using a downtube shifter and dedicated brake lever provide some advantage in braking over a brifter. Better feel, modulation. Or maybe an ounce of prevention against accidentally shifting while braking.

its a friction shifter for the front so they can fine tune the derailer so its not rubbing. Climbing days there is very little shifting in the front so being able to finely adjust the front is the key

Apparently is it for saving weight.

After re-watching the Lance shows I recorded (Lance Chronicles, Science of Lance, etc) I remember the Trek guy saying that the reason the mountain stage bikes don't have some of the same stuff done to their frames is to save weight. Going up a mountain is about reducing weight. Riding in the peloton is about drafting. TT is about slipping thru the wind. Hence the vast differences in the bikes and their setup. The Trek guy said that the 150 grams they save on the weight of the SSL frame is 150 paper clips - which isn't a lot but in the rider's mind when he's almost dead going up the mountain it might give him the mental edge. That's part of the reason the mountain bikes don't have the shark fin, etc.

they can shave all the weight they want off the bike but they will just have to put it back on in the form of weights to make it race legal.

I've never seen Jan use it recently.

And no, they don't have to add weight because if its not an uphill TT Lance would probably like the extra weight needed to be legal to go in to stiffer wheels, stiffer bars, or whatever.

I'm pretty sure it was either Smoothie or Eventservices that has an e-mail response from Frankie Andreu saying that it was for no other purpose than weight - however I still contend that there was benefit to be had by running a friction shifter to allow for cross-chaining without rubbing (yeah, I'm sure there are lots of times when Lance has to cross chain to the small cog - small chainring during climbs - no he's not going to shift up the the 53 and drop it down a few cogs in the back. Takes too long.).

But anyway, yeah - Frankie Andreu said its for weight only.

Like alot of people, I tried that lucky seven thing and lost. But I had noticed something peculiar about lances photo on the scratch card. It seems that in the 04' tour de france, lance used a downtube shifter for his front derailleur. Why?? It could just be preference, but I am very intrigued by this.

Heres a pic;

http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/5877/tdf20011a4yr.th.jpg (http://img380.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tdf20011a4yr.jpg)



Also, I'm pretty sure that isn't from the 2004 TdF. Jan wasn't German road race champion in 2004, Kloden was. Also, Jan was on a Giant with DuraAce in 2004, not a Record Pinarello.

Which means that this was... 2001. There wasn't much news about having to add weight to bikes in 2001.

Also, I'm pretty sure that isn't from the 2004 TdF. Jan wasn't German road race champion in 2004, Kloden was. Also, Jan was on a Giant with DuraAce in 2004, not a Record Pinarello.

Which means that this was... 2001. There wasn't much news about having to add weight to bikes in 2001.


Damnit, you are wise in the ways of bicycles. Instant cool points for you.

There is a featured thread on this topic on the "who gives a shi!t page"

That question has been asked here roughly 15 times.



There is a featured thread on this topic on the "who gives a shi!t page"

Wow, it's so hard to figure out why roadies get stereotyped as being arrogant and anti-social... :rolleyes:

Wow, it's so hard to figure out why roadies get stereotyped as being arrogant and anti-social... :rolleyes:



We're not arrogant, we're just better than you! ;)

Smoother shift on chainrings; shorter cable run.
For the same reason he wore black sox . . . that's all that was clean.

We're not arrogant, we're just better than you! ;)

Awww, man... Can't a guy with a carbon fiber kickstand and titanium mounting bolt reflectors get a break around here? :)

Looks like Ullrich, right behind him has downtube shifters too.

Don't forget it's not just the shifter, but the extra cable and housing that probably all add up to a little over 100 grams of weight savings. I read an article in 2005 that Lance has superstitions about starting and finishing on the same bike. So the downtube shifter is added when needed on different stages.

Joseba Beloki also uses a downtube shifter when climbing.

The shifting from the front rings back and forth with a friction shifter is a lot easier while putting so much power onto the drive system.

In conclusion, my friends, it's a combination of weight savings, fine adjustments, and ease of shifting with force on the drive chain.