Jonni

Hi everybody. I am Jonni and i am looking to buy a bike to commute from work and some leisure touring. I am pushing 40 and haven't had a bike since i was teenager. So this couple of weeks i have been visiting bike stores in my area. I live in Iceland 25 miles from the capital Reykjavik.. I don't want to buy bike from supermarket but from bike stores. There is only one SMALL bike store in my home-town but only sells Mountain bikes.
Also before i continue. I am missing 2 fingers on my right hand. My index and my middle finger so i need advice on shifters that requires only your thumb to shift. Ideal would be thumb shifters and brake system that need only my left hand operate or least be able to rear brake with my left hand..
Anyway back to bike. I found one bike in my local bike shop that uses thumb shift. It is GT Palomar with Microshift Tab w/Gear Indicator.
Also couple days ago i discovered this bike in Reykjavik. Wheeler Protron 627 Comfort that is quite simple bike with Shimano Nexus 7 and grip shifters. I prefer thumb swift but with only seven gear it should be more easy to ride.



what you think guys.

Murray Missile 

Find a bike you like and have the shifters switched to ones that work for you. Your front brake is 80% of your braking power, you could have the brakes switched over to the US configuration, left hand front brake, right hand rear brake. You might also look into an Internal Gear Hub with a coaster brake for the rear with a hand brake for the front controlled by your left hand.

Retro Grouch 

That's a question that only you can really answer. I don't know you but I'm sure that you routinely do things that surprises other people. I'd agree with selecting your bike independently of the shifting and brakes and retro-fitting it to whatever controls you think best for you.

Jonni

Thanks for yours input. I am going to find bike that i like and retro fit it with shifter that uses only thumb. I am leaning more to hybird bike with Dérailleur gear rather than buying bike with internal gear hub. I am going check one bike this weekend called Kross Evado 1.0.
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Caliper

Twist grip shifters, MTB trigger shifters. Basically all flat bar shifters really.

Older road bikes with down tube or stem shifters would work as well.

About the only thing that would really be a problem are current road bike integrated brake/shift levers.

headloss 

You probably want to stay away from Shimano's shifters. Sram gives you the option of a grip-shift. Sram also uses the thumb for shifting both levers while Shimano is thumb and index finger.

On a side note, I think you meant department store, not supermarket. Supermarket implies a store for food/groceries.

Jonni

Thanks guys for you feedbacks. Regarding supermarket headloss. It was just first word that came up to me . Actually in my country we have one store chain that sells food/groceries,clothes, toys and bikes as well. Also we have department store that sells bikes.
I prefer going to bike store that focus selling only bikes.

Retro Grouch 

Now I'm curious. What's the Icelandic word for such a store? I'm thinking it's something non-anglicized so definitely not "supermarket" or "department store".

fietsbob

I happen to like Internal gear Hubs . they are low maintenance, and easy to shift by feel since 1 follows 2, and 2,3 ,3,4 etc.

there are Thumb shifters *. a proper Specialist, Bike Shop can change the shifting scheme to suit your hand as they are.

there you do not have to take it as it came , they, if typical of any shops I've worked for, will work with you on parts swapping.

Perhaps the Capital City will offer a better small shop option , rather than large ones that may tend to sell as is with out variations.

*sitting on top of the bars they can be used like a faucet handle, if really hand dexterity challenged.

it is also possible to move both controls to the end of the handlebars that has better function..


also note this whole section of this forum https://www.bikeforums.net/adaptive-c...t-other-needs/

Jonni

I think we just call it stórmarkaður that means in english supermarket. Anyway here is little info about this store i was referring too. Hagkaup - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia or Hagkaup | Our Companies | Hagar Hope this answer your curiosity

Jonni

Thanks for your input fietsbob regarding internal gear hub. I haven't decided jet and i am open buying bike with internal gearing if i find one that is appealing to me. I did find one bike for around $900 via internet. It is this bike City Glide - Lifestyle - City - Bikes - Norco Bicycles . I like retro feel of it. Also if i am not mistaken Shimano makes thumb shifter for Nexus 8 right so there shouldn't be big deal chancing from revoshift to thumb shift. I am going to bike store that sells this bike this weekend and check it out.