Bicycle Mechanics - Thumb shifter for 9-speed?

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.



PDA

View Full Version : Thumb shifter for 9-speed?

scrambledwonder
03-30-07, 02:22 PM
Hello there,

Will an old seven-speed thumb shifter set in friction mode work for a new 9-speed cassette?

Thanks!

-Dustin

Sheldon Brown
03-30-07, 02:24 PM
Hello there,

Will an old seven-speed thumb shifter set in friction mode work for a new 9-speed cassette?

Yes, but the sprockets are so close together that you may find the shifting a bit finicky.

Hyperglide is generally a bit dodgy with friction shifting anyway, because it doesn't give audible/tactile warning when the derailer isn't quite lined up with the sprocket.

Sheldon "Friction? No Thanks!" Brown
DogBoy
03-30-07, 02:26 PM
You could get some bar end shifters and paul thumbies and have some 9-sp thumb shifters, but that's not a cheap solution.

scrambledwonder
03-30-07, 02:37 PM
Thanks Sheldon!

So basically I'd have to go with bar-end shifters converted to work with Paul Thumbies?

Hmm. . . A bit pricey, but perhaps.

I'll probably just pick up a pair of shimano below-the-bar shifters (as we used to call them right when they came out).

Thanks again,

Dustin