deaconbam

I am encouraging my son to us my mid-70's Raleigh Record 10-speed to help him exercise more and get a handle on his depression. Unfortunately, he also has some motor skills problems, so he has trouble with the old style shift levers that are mounted on the down tube.

Can I put a dual-control shifter on the handlebar, near one of the brake levers on this old gem, one that will control the front dreailleur with one lever and the rear dereailleur with the other? If so, who makes them, and where do I get one? What do I look for? I keep seeing "9-speed," but not 10-speed. Do the derailleurs have to be changed-out too?

Thank you in advance for your help.

Deaconbam

mechBgon

Hi deaconbam, I would suggest converting the Raleigh to a mountain-bike style of handlebar & brake levers, and use thumbshifters that have a "friction" mode. This puts all the controls right where they're handy. Your local bike shop can do the conversion, parts and labor, for less than the cost of one dual-control shifter. They can also evaluate whether you can switch to indexed shifting by replacing the rear derailleur while they're at it.


As an aside, the dual-control shifters on the market today wouldn't be suited for your Raleigh. When they say "9-speed" they mean a bike with nine gears on just the rear wheel, and the right dual-control lever would only handle the rear shifting while the left one would only handle the front. They don't control both front & rear from one lever. So again, I think a nice "cross-bike conversion" job will suit your need better.

Also, if your son's suffering from depression, see a good mental-health therapist. I work with a crew of them, they're excellent at what they do.

deaconbam

Thanks, he has been seeing a psychologist and a psychiatrist. Both suggest exercise as one means of controlling his depression. I have seen more instances than I can count of cyclists getting started because someone suggested it as a means of fighting depression.

Little Darwin

I haven't received mine yet, but I plan to use Kelly Take Offs (currently available on eBay) on my touring bike.

https://cgi.ebay.com/KELLY-TAKE-OFF-s...QQcmdZViewItem

They are used to move down tube shifters beside the drop bar's brake levers.

powers2b

Bar end shifters would work.
Better yet you could just cut the cables and have him ride SS.
Then show him the SS/FG forum and show how 'cool' riding SS can be.

dbg

Single speed is a wonderfully pure experience. Of my dozen or so rebuilt or restored bikes, the old Peugeot converted to SS is still my favorite ride.

barba

I know this was not an answer to your original question, but another vote for a single speed conversion (unless you live in a very hilly region). They are very easy to ride and if you pick a good gear combo (I like 42X16 or around 70 gear inches), you can get up most inclines. All you have to do is pedal. You can always switch it back to a 10spd as your son gets more skilled and comfortable on a bike.

Old Hammer Boy

While I have not suffered from clinical depression, I've read quite a bit of literature describing the theraputic value of exercise for sufferer's of depression. That's great advice you're receiving. Good luck.