Road Cycling - Does anyone still do this?

A few years back I joined my brother and sister on a Team in Training Ride, and I noticed one of the coaches (actually I think it was Cindy Olavarri (sp?)) had a setup where she used her STI/Ergo shifters for the rear derailleur and went to a downtube shifter for the front (using a simple brake lever on the left hand side).

This weekend, my Ultegra STI shifter for the rear derailleur exploded and I had to replace it with a 2003 Dura-Ace STI lever (that's all I could find) . My LBS said that the levers of that vintage (approx. 2000) were more prone to failure than new ones. I'm doing Ride the Rockies in two months and I'm now paranoid about the other shifter failing. So my question is, would it make sense for me from a reliability/practicality standpoint to go to the downtube setup for my front? I also figure there's a bit of weight savings to boot.

Thanks,
Clay

A few years back I joined my brother and sister on a Team in Training Ride, and I noticed one of the coaches (actually I think it was Cindy Olavarri (sp?)) had a setup where she used her STI/Ergo shifters for the rear derailleur and went to a downtube shifter for the front (using a simple brake lever on the left hand side).

This weekend, my Ultegra STI shifter for the rear derailleur exploded and I had to replace it with a 2003 Dura-Ace STI lever (that's all I could find) . My LBS said that the levers of that vintage (approx. 2000) were more prone to failure than new ones. I'm doing Ride the Rockies in two months and I'm now paranoid about the other shifter failing. So my question is, would it make sense for me from a reliability/practicality standpoint to go to the downtube setup for my front? I also figure there's a bit of weight savings to boot.

Thanks,
Clay

I remember watching the Tour d'France last year and it appeared that Lance Armstrong had down-tube shifters whenever the stage was a lot of climbing. I later read something that he prefereed down-tube shifters for climbing.

downtubes for the chainrings are a decent setup... it's not liek you are constantly shifting them.. small ring=uphill, big ring=downhill... easy cheesy

jeff

I think mostly it is done for the weight savings. It definately isn't more convenient.

My mechanic at my FBS did that on his favourite roadbike... then again come to think of it, he just has a hood on his left handlebar. He reversed his brake levers (motorcycle background) and since he doesn't run a rear brake, only has the front brake operated from the right Ergo along with the rear derailleur. Front derailleur is operated by the left downtube shifter. It may seem odd to some but this is also a guy who races XC on a singlespeed fully rigid MTB.

That's one reason why tourers and Randonneurs often use down-tube shifters or bar-cons, they are more reliable than STI/Ergo. That being said, if you check over your equipment before the big trip and it is in good shape, I tend to think you are not taking too big a risk.

Another option is to keep an old friction shift down-tube lever in with your spares, that way if your STIs break down unexpectedly, you can re-run your cable and have your shifting back. Kinda' extreme, but different people have different tolerances for being stuck without a way to shift gears.

Yet another option you should keep open is that if one of your shifters does go bad, be sure you know how to use the limit screws to lock the dérailleur in place in a middle gear so that you still have the full range of gears available with the other dérailleur. That is, if your rear shifter goes bad, you can lock the dérailleur in the middle and still have a three speed with the front dérailleur; or visa versa.

I run DT shifters on my racing bike. In fact, I've removed STI from all of my bikes. My tourer and tandem both have bar ends, and my fixie don't need no stinkin shifter. For long brevets, touring, etc., I found the STI not that reliable, especially if you encountered a lot of bad weather.

Dave

I run DT shifters on my racing bike. In fact, I've removed STI from all of my bikes. My tourer and tandem both have bar ends, and my fixie don't need no stinkin shifter. For long brevets, touring, etc., I found the STI not that reliable, especially if you encountered a lot of bad weather.


Right on. STI is the biggest scam ever propegated on the general cycling public. Heavier, more expensive, less reliable and above all, not needed for your average 200 mile/week rider.

Sometimes its easier to get that fine adjustment on the front using a friction shifter over STI.

I remember watching the Tour d'France last year and it appeared that Lance Armstrong had down-tube shifters whenever the stage was a lot of climbing. I later read something that he prefereed down-tube shifters for climbing.


He used DTs on a climb? I would think DTs better for the flats and STI for the hills? I.e. when standing just keep yer hands on the hoods and shift and not have to reach down for the DTs....

I have used DTs for years, then bar ends then STIs. I would prefer STI. BUT they are fussy and require your derailler, cables and limit screws to be perfectly set or they will shift poorly or shift but make that CLATTER CLATTER CLATTER noise of on imperfectly lined derailler. God I hate that.

STIs do have a life, my 1998 Shimnao 105 finally gave up this winter. Replaced them with new Shimano 105 STIs. I find them better because they have a trim adjustment for my tripple.

STIs are good for the fast, lightweight rec. rides. Ya know, out and back rides.

For touring I recommend bar ends. They last forever. Are not finnicky and are easy to adjust. My touring bike has bar ends and you do not have to reach down as far as DTs.

I don't think I would go back to DTs myself. But everyone has their druthers.

Digger

Right on. STI is the biggest scam ever propegated on the general cycling public. Heavier, more expensive, less reliable and above all, not needed for your average 200 mile/week rider.

Personally, I think that STI is safer than taking your hands off the bars to reach for the downtube. Furthermore, I find myself shifting more often to stay at my target cadence.

-mark

He used DTs on a climb? I would think DTs better for the flats and STI for the hills? I.e. when standing just keep yer hands on the hoods and shift and not have to reach down for the DTs....

I have used DTs for years, then bar ends then STIs. I would prefer STI. BUT they are fussy and require your derailler, cables and limit screws to be perfectly set or they will shift poorly or shift but make that CLATTER CLATTER CLATTER noise of on imperfectly lined derailler. God I hate that.

lance only used a DT shifter for the front derailluer on his climbing bike. he had an STI setup for the rear.

that clatter clatter clatter doesn't happen as often when you use DT friction shifters. if you start to hear that, just move the lever until you don't hear it anymore. :) even though i haven't had any serious problems with my STIs, i think i'm gonna go back to DTs pretty soon anyway. i dig the STIs and the control they give me over my bike, but i'd rather have something that lasts forever and is cheap to replace. as it stands, i can't afford $200 to replace my shifters/levers if they break.

This weekend, my Ultegra STI shifter for the rear derailleur exploded and I had to replace it with a 2003 Dura-Ace STI lever (that's all I could find).

poor baby...how will you get along with a 2003 dura ace shifter instead of an ultegra one? ;)

the '03 DA shifters are much nicer than any of the other '03 shifters IMO. the metal paddle seems much more reliable than the plastic (oh, sorry "composite") that they put on all the other models...

lance only used a DT shifter for the front derailluer on his climbing bike. he had an STI setup for the rear..


Ah ok that makes sense.




that clatter clatter clatter doesn't happen as often when you use DT friction shifters. if you start to hear that, just move the lever until you don't hear it anymore. :) even though i haven't had any serious problems with my STIs, i think i'm gonna go back to DTs pretty soon anyway. i dig the STIs and the control they give me over my bike, but i'd rather have something that lasts forever and is cheap to replace. as it stands, i can't afford $200 to replace my shifters/levers if they break.

Yup, the DTs aren't as finnicky and can be adjusted better if your derailler and cables aren't perfect.
STIs are expensive, but I don't race on my bike hence aren't hard on the shifters. and I expect these new ones to last me 6 years like to old ones. O' course, that raises the question, if I don't race then why bother with STIs? Well....they are sexy and I have an imagine to maintain. :D

If I was gonna give up on STIs I'd go with bar end shifters tho. I like em beter than DTs. Just my preference.

Digger

lance only used a DT shifter for the front derailluer on his climbing bike. he had an STI setup for the rear.

Pantani had this set-up a few years back.