Bicycle Mechanics - Moving shifters from Downtube to headpost

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Shvedi
12-30-06, 08:02 AM
Is there a way of moving the gear shifters on my old Sekine road bike from the downtube to the headpost (as they are on newer bikes)? If so, any clue how this is done?

Many thanks!

dobber
12-30-06, 08:24 AM
You mean like on the old Schwinns?

http://imagehost.vendio.com/bin/imageserver.x/00000000/lubomir/.mids/BicycleSchwinnSprint9.JPG

Today the majority of shifters are either integrated into the brake levers (brifters) or as shifters located at the ends of the handlebar (barcons). Check out Sheldon Browns amazingly detailed website for everything you could possibly need to know.

www.sheldonbrown.com

I'm sure if you really wanted to go with the stem mounted levers, you could scare up one up on eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/Schwinn-Varsity-Continental-Stem-Shifters-Friction_W0QQitemZ330067336829QQihZ014QQcategoryZ36140QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem). You probably need to be aware of differences in stem diameters (Schwinn was known to march to their own beat).
Stacey
12-30-06, 10:13 AM
You'll need a new shifter, to match the stem diameter as noted above and a cable stay to mount on the downtube near the head. Then you'll need to run a new piece of housing from the back of the shifter to the cable stay and then thread a new inner wire on the both runs. It goes w/o saying, you'll want to remove your old DT shifters too. :)

If you want to go this way, post both the the stem diameter and and down tube diameter, I or someone else should have the bits you need to do this.

Little Darwin
12-30-06, 10:58 AM
Or, if you have drop bars you could use something like these:

http://www.kellybike.com/2nd_xtra_takeoff.html

I think that Kelly is going out of business, but still has some available on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/KELLY-BIKE-CO-TAKE-OFF-SHIFT-LEVER-MOUNT-ADAPTER_W0QQitemZ330046126796QQihZ014QQcategoryZ56196QQcmdZViewItem

This is how I got mine.

You need the pair, and probably not the kit... the kit just adds cables etc.

These and the appropriate cable stops for your down tube, and you should be set to use your curent shifters up on the handlebars.

I noticed that there are a few sets for sale by individuals on eBay as well.
Steev
12-30-06, 11:04 AM
I have a couple of Suntour stem shifter mounts. If your downtube mounts are clamp-on, I'll swap you for the downtube mounts.