STI or down-tube shifters on a bike I'll use twice a year?
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STI or down-tube shifters on a bike I'll use twice a year?
I'm building up my old Raleigh road frame into a bike to keep in California, where my sister lives and where I visit about twice per year.
I'd be riding the bike in San Francisco sometimes, and in the mountains around Yosemite where my sister lives. So I'm building it up with a triple crank.
STI would be nice for shifting on hilly terrain and mountain roads, but down-tube shifters will never break down. In a bike that I use twice a year, perhaps the STI shifters (Sora 8-speed in this case) would gum up over time whereas I'd never have to worry about down-tube shifters. (In another recent thread, I determined that the STI would shift well enough over Biopace chainrings.)
What would you choose for building this bike? I'm just looking for advice and feedback here. Thanks.
I'd be riding the bike in San Francisco sometimes, and in the mountains around Yosemite where my sister lives. So I'm building it up with a triple crank.
STI would be nice for shifting on hilly terrain and mountain roads, but down-tube shifters will never break down. In a bike that I use twice a year, perhaps the STI shifters (Sora 8-speed in this case) would gum up over time whereas I'd never have to worry about down-tube shifters. (In another recent thread, I determined that the STI would shift well enough over Biopace chainrings.)
What would you choose for building this bike? I'm just looking for advice and feedback here. Thanks.
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"c" is not a unit that measures tire width
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I don't like the Sora thumb lever. If it was my bike I'd probably put barcons on it.
#4
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If the bike will be stored indoors, you run basically zero risk of the STI shifters "gumming up". If that was a concern, an even bigger concern would be the freehub pawls gumming up, but neither happens. If funds aren't limited, I'd go with the Sora brifters.
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If you were keeping the bike in Florida or Kansas, I'd say save the money and go with dt shifters.
BUT, for hilly to mountainous riding, the benefits of STI/Ergo brifters are too good to pass up. I've used barcons and, while they are more convenient than dt shifters, they don't hold a candle to brifters in the hills.
BUT, for hilly to mountainous riding, the benefits of STI/Ergo brifters are too good to pass up. I've used barcons and, while they are more convenient than dt shifters, they don't hold a candle to brifters in the hills.
#6
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I'm of the opinion that the shifters don't matter as much as the HG chain and cassette. That's what makes the shifting easier. I use old Campy NR downtube shifters with an NR derailleur, and a 10sp Shimano wheel and chain. It shifts as well as anything out there.
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Considering the number of Shimano shifters I've seen that just flop around and don't engage due to being gummed up from lack of use, I would definitely go with DT shifters or bar ends. It's usually an easy fix to make the STIs work again, but you'll want to be riding the bike, not getting it fixed.
(Yes, they really DO get gummed up from lack of use. The grease Shimano uses solidifies and keeps the pawl from engaging the teeth on the cam.)
(Yes, they really DO get gummed up from lack of use. The grease Shimano uses solidifies and keeps the pawl from engaging the teeth on the cam.)
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I have 9 bikes and some of them were not ridden for years due to some health issues. Each has STI on it with most being Dura Ace. Not one of them has gummed up and most were purchased in 1999 or earlier. I would not worry about gumming shifters.
I agree that shifting is all about correct set up. Having said that, shifters that are housed in the brake levers are awful convenient.
I agree that shifting is all about correct set up. Having said that, shifters that are housed in the brake levers are awful convenient.
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I'm just using parts that I already have for this build, as
a) I have lots of bike parts sitting around
b) I'm not going to use the bike very much.
So it's the 8-speed downtube shifters vs. the 8-speed Sora brifters.
The brifters were given to me, gummed up, and I overhauled them initially with a solvent bath to clear all of the gunk out, and I've just oiled them with light oil (actually ProLink chain lube if I remember correctly) but whatever the case I don't expect this to have the same problem of gumming up from lack of use - the bike would be hung in my friend's garage in San Fran and it's not a dusty environment.
I'm leaning toward the brifters as they will be nice to have in the mountains, although DT shifters will never break and therefore are nice for a bike that won't have access to the shop in my basement.
a) I have lots of bike parts sitting around
b) I'm not going to use the bike very much.
So it's the 8-speed downtube shifters vs. the 8-speed Sora brifters.
The brifters were given to me, gummed up, and I overhauled them initially with a solvent bath to clear all of the gunk out, and I've just oiled them with light oil (actually ProLink chain lube if I remember correctly) but whatever the case I don't expect this to have the same problem of gumming up from lack of use - the bike would be hung in my friend's garage in San Fran and it's not a dusty environment.
I'm leaning toward the brifters as they will be nice to have in the mountains, although DT shifters will never break and therefore are nice for a bike that won't have access to the shop in my basement.
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"c" is not a unit that measures tire width
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I'm just using parts that I already have for this build, as
a) I have lots of bike parts sitting around
b) I'm not going to use the bike very much.
So it's the 8-speed downtube shifters vs. the 8-speed Sora brifters.
The brifters were given to me, gummed up, and I overhauled them initially with a solvent bath to clear all of the gunk out, and I've just oiled them with light oil (actually ProLink chain lube if I remember correctly) but whatever the case I don't expect this to have the same problem of gumming up from lack of use - the bike would be hung in my friend's garage in San Fran and it's not a dusty environment.
I'm leaning toward the brifters as they will be nice to have in the mountains, although DT shifters will never break and therefore are nice for a bike that won't have access to the shop in my basement.
a) I have lots of bike parts sitting around
b) I'm not going to use the bike very much.
So it's the 8-speed downtube shifters vs. the 8-speed Sora brifters.
The brifters were given to me, gummed up, and I overhauled them initially with a solvent bath to clear all of the gunk out, and I've just oiled them with light oil (actually ProLink chain lube if I remember correctly) but whatever the case I don't expect this to have the same problem of gumming up from lack of use - the bike would be hung in my friend's garage in San Fran and it's not a dusty environment.
I'm leaning toward the brifters as they will be nice to have in the mountains, although DT shifters will never break and therefore are nice for a bike that won't have access to the shop in my basement.
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I have 9 bikes and some of them were not ridden for years due to some health issues. Each has STI on it with most being Dura Ace. Not one of them has gummed up and most were purchased in 1999 or earlier. I would not worry about gumming shifters.
I agree that shifting is all about correct set up. Having said that, shifters that are housed in the brake levers are awful convenient.
I agree that shifting is all about correct set up. Having said that, shifters that are housed in the brake levers are awful convenient.