Cyclocross - Has anyone used the Kelly takeoff shifters?

I just wanted to know what anyone felt about them. They look neat, but I am fine with my barend shifters. [URL=http://kellybike.com/images/takeoff_photo.jpg]

They work pretty well.
I actually cannot handle barends. STI/Ergo is the most common of course but the TO's are ok too. The advantage is if you crunch a lever, you don't have to replace an expensive STI/Ergo.

that is why I always stuck with the barend levers. I was a courier, so I never wanted to risk having to replace a STI lever since they cost so much. DO you race with them?

Yes. I do prefer STI/Ergo but the Kelly TO's are ok too.

I can't use barends because I hit them with my knees.

I noticed almost all the racers in the events I attended this year used STI. I absolutly love my barcon. I only use one since it's a single speed. In fact I was able to get out on my road bike a couple weeks ago, b4 the snow :( and kept reaching for my barcons and they werent there :). I really probably should get a little thumb shifter like some mtb's b/c I find my hands on the top of the bars almost the whole time, rarely on the hoods and sometimes maby on long pavement on the drops. Those take offs look wierd though. Do they just sell that bracket that you could but some old down tube shifters in?

Yes, you can put any DT shifters on TO's. THey don't come with shifters.

Those shifters are kinda strange.I've never seen them before.I use STI.

Personally, I'd like to see the return of the old Suntour command-shifters (http://member.nifty.ne.jp/HiShimojo/suntour/suntour-2.html).

Personally, I'd like to see the return of the old Suntour command-shifters (http://member.nifty.ne.jp/HiShimojo/suntour/suntour-2.html).

Those look like lawn sprinklers

Those look like lawn sprinklers

And that's a bad thing? :D

I never owned a bike with one but a friend of mine back in college had them on his bike and so I have spent some time using them. I always found them to be a pretty good alternative to STI, Ergo and barcons. They're cheap, simple, useful, fairly durable and can be operated reliably even with heavy gloves.

This isn't my bike (actually I don't know this person... just happened to find it on the web) but here's how they would look mounted on the bars.

http://www.cs.unca.edu/~boyd/touring/bike/bike0%7Bimage8%7D.jpghttp://www.cs.unca.edu/~boyd/touring/bike/bike0%7Bimage9%7D.jpg

Now it looks like giant wing-nuts holding the brake levers on.

Now it looks like giant wing-nuts holding the brake levers on.

That's even cooler! :D