Cyclocross - Bar end (bar con) shifters

Does anyone on this forum know of a good source for bar end shifters?

I have an older Cannondale (early 90s R400) that has downtube shifters, and I am slowly converting it into a dirtroad bomber. I have found that I do not like the downtube shifters on rough roads. I have considered the kelly take offs and a product by Pauls, that turns downtube shifters into thumb shifters; although, I do not know how the Paul's product would work with drop bars. The bike has a 7 speed drivetrain now (1 chainring, 7 in back). Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Ebay. I picked up a brand new (old stock) Ultegra 8 speed bar ends, complete with cables, for $35 for my 7 Mtb. They're fully compatible.

George

Rivendell carries some expensive bar end shifters, but check out the Dia-tech gizzie that allows you to mount a down-tube lever as a bar end shifter, $30.00 the pair.

http://rivendellbicycles.com/webalog/shifters_derailleurs/17068.html

Some of the online merchants should have barend shifters, too.

Here's some at Nashbar:

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=104&subcategory=1194&brand=&sku=3043&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

Supergo

http://www.supergo.com/profile.cfm?LPROD_ID=24975&lsubcat_id=7643&lcat_id=7605&referpage=

Does anyone on this forum know of a good source for bar end shifters?

I have an older Cannondale (early 90s R400) that has downtube shifters, and I am slowly converting it into a dirtroad bomber. I have found that I do not like the downtube shifters on rough roads. I have considered the kelly take offs and a product by Pauls, that turns downtube shifters into thumb shifters; although, I do not know how the Paul's product would work with drop bars. The bike has a 7 speed drivetrain now (1 chainring, 7 in back). Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Have you thought about hunting for some Suntour Command-Shifters (http://member.nifty.ne.jp/HiShimojo/suntour/suntour-2.html)?

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

I have a similiar set up to yours except it is an 8 speed. I have one Ultegra barcon on the right bar end set in friction mode. I have no problems with it. I think I got the set for around $50. of course I am only using one but my guess is they come in a set. I have been thinking of getting a thumb shifter though b/c in CX races I am like 90% of the time gripping the bar tops.

I have a set of Shimano Dura Ace bar end shifters in the anterior end of my bullies. They are redily available from a variety of online vendor or your LBS should be able to get them. Cables and all I think I paid about $50. Mine are indexed for 9 speed and I have them on a 7 speed cassette so I use the right one in friction mode.

..I have been thinking of getting a thumb shifter though b/c in CX races I am like 90% of the time gripping the bar tops..
You mean like Rapid-Fire shifters?

You mean like Rapid-Fire shifters?No.....Thumb shifters are pre rapid fires. Actually you can still find them on cheap department store bikes, but of course, nowhere near the quality of the original XT's, Suntours, and even the Record OR's....

No.....Thumb shifters are pre rapid fires. Actually you can still find them on cheap department store bikes, but of course, nowhere near the quality of the original XT's, Suntours, and even the Record OR's....

Oh man, that's retro... I remember swearing I'd never use Rapid-Fires because thumbs were lighter and could be friction shifted if something go bent. Then I succumb to Shimano's planned obsolescence.

Thanks to everyone for your responses. I have looked in all the usual outlets, Nashbar, performance, etc., but I was wondering if there were any alternatives (like a cyclocross supply store) that I did not know about. I got some good ideas from your responses though, and it is good to know the 9 speed stuff will work with 7 speed clusters.

Thanks again

I hav'nt heard of rapid fire shifters. I really don't know what it is I want? Just something like I have seen on MTB's. A little thumb lever mounted on the top bar that way I would hardly have to move my hand positioning to shift.

btw:
http://www.store.yahoo.com/cyclocrossworld/components.html
this seems like a good store but they don't have anything that we have discussed. But just for future reference it's the clossest thing to a CX store I've seen

I hav'nt heard of rapid fire shifters.

RapidFire shifters are push-button shifters. They originally came out in 1990 and were meant to replace thumbshifters although that took a while as thumbshifters were lighter and more reliable. There's a left and right shifter. They mount underneath the bar on pods or attached to the brake levers. These are indexed shifters. There's a small button to release the cable tension for one gear at a time and a larger ratchetting paddle to exert cable tension (most rear shifters can shift three at a time... the front can usually only go up one at a time) thus providing the desired shifting effect.

Here's a picture of some old RapidFire shifters integrated with brake levers. You can sort of make out the two grey pushbuttons on the backside.

http://www.firstflightbikes.com/Shift86.jpg

RapidFire Plus shifters (aka trigger-shifters) came out around 1993 and are much like the RapidFire shifters except that instead of having a small button, they incorporate a trigger assembly that is set slightly forward of the bar and is activated by your index finger. Reliability was improved as well. They effectively resolved many of the shortcoming of the earlier push-push style RapidFire shifters. When people think of RapidFire these days, they're usually referring to RapidFire Plus.

These are the ones I have on my MTB. I have the integrated version where the shifters are attached to my brake levers. You can see the trigger poking out just aft of the brake lever. If you look harder you can make out the end of the paddle a little further down.

http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/cycling/bikes/K2/1999-OzM/images/ST-M952.jpg

Here's the aft view of them mounted on my handlebars. The trigger is hidden in this view but you can clearly see the paddles.

http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/cycling/bikes/K2/1999-OzM/images/10620620/PICT0029.JPG



I really don't know what it is I want? Just something like I have seen on MTB's. A little thumb lever mounted on the top bar that way I would hardly have to move my hand positioning to shift.

As you've rightly guessed, MTBers call those thumbshifters or thumbies. As was previously mentioned, the pinnacle of thumbshifter design culminated with the Shimano DeoreXT and Suntour XC Pro thumbshifters. These were 7 and 8 speed units with an on-the-fly friction option. Thumbshifters are no longer being produced.

Here's a picture of some Suntour XC Expert thumbshifters.

http://www.firstflightbikes.com/Shift91.jpg

You may want to check with First Flight Bikes since they seem to have some old stock of thumbshifters (http://www.firstflightbikes.com/shifters.htm).

A while back, a company called Forge Engineering (makers of motorsport parts) marketted some conversion kits (http://www.singletrackworld.com/article.php?sid=938) that would allow you to run Dura-Ace barcons in a horizontal fashion much like the old thumbshifters. They don't look as slick but they worked. Unfortunately, they've also been discontinued.

However, Paul Components (http://www.paulcomp.com/) still produces similar conversion kits for both MTB (http://www.paulcomp.com/thumbmtn.html) and dropbars (http://www.paulcomp.com/thumbrd.html). I would assume that combined with their CrossLevers, you could achieve a pretty sweet CX setup.

http://www.paulcomp.com/roadthumbie.jpg

yes indeed thank you khoun

I know they're not the greatest quality, but I got a set of shimano tourney thumb-shifters for my girlfriend's bike (on the cheap drop bar to flat, downtube shifting to top mount). it's a 6-speed freewheel with a triple in front, and they actually work pretty well. The indexing works perfectly on the rear, but in the front the friction shift tends to not stay in place perfectly (it will sometimes shift itself down, though not enough to actually move the chain). I'm sure they won't last forever, at like $6 or something I could just replace them every few months.

In reply to thread.

Here In Britain there's a shop called St John's Street Cycles,or sjscycles.com which sells some new Shimano thumbshifter levers which work in friction mode for £14.99,i don't know how the quality compares to the XT levers as i've never used them,but my old mountain bike when i was about ten had the most basic 'SIS' (SYS?)thumnbshifters on them and they never failed.These shifters are called Shimano Altus C20,so perhaps you could get a shop in America to order them,if you quote the name of levers for them.

Cheers
Tim