1 X 9 LH Shifter Question...
 

Hello,
I am considering building a Pedal Force CX2 cross bike this winter. It will be intended for go anywhere riding...mostly paved roads but want the option of running 28-32c tires for poor road riding.
Will likely choose a single ring up front...likely 42t with 34-11 cassette 1 X 9. Will be a drop bar of course and my question is with respect to shifter options.

What do you guys do if running 1 X 9 without a front derailleur for the LH shifter? I will likely build with Sram Force or Ultegra 6700...but won't need the front derailleur shifting capability with only a single ring in front. Is best practice just not to run a front derailleur cable to the left drop bar brake/shifter lever and leave the shifting mechanism intact but inoperative?
Many Thanks.

If you go with SRAM then you can buy a brake lever that is the same size as the shifter.

Guess Campag4life is not so committed, turning off at a fork in the course..

Ergo Levers are also available without the shifting mech inside ,
to have matching carbon fiber brake levers.

How about levers that will work for Canti brakes? I presume the pull ratio is different than for road bike brakes and therefore road bike levers can't be used.
Anybody have any suggestions there?
Thanks for any links if available...

I'm using the left shifter on my 5600 105 levers without a gear cable. I've got a piece of wax covering the cable hole to try to keep mud out. Surprisingly, it has stayed in place through two races since I converted.

Cantilevers and road capilers have similar pull ratio and can share levers (there are no canti-specific levers). The only big mis-match possible to watch out for is that full length linear pull V-brake calipers have significatnly more mechanical advantage (MA) and thus need to be paired with compatable levers with less MA so there is sufficient travel. There are a few TEKTRO road style levers with low MA designed for use with V-brakes but all other road levers should be fine with cantis.
It would be very nice if there were road levers available with adjustable mechanical advantage in order to adapt both types of brakes and to be able to fine tune brake lever feel.

Yea there is a road / cantilever category, Brifters for drop bars
a V brake lever for road bars is offered , but they lack any of the integrated shifting.

Another type of drop bar lever, has the cable coming directly up out of the lever,
they pull a bit more cable than the aero style , but less than the V compatible ones..

the Sponsored Pros use Brifters, and cantilevers..

Canti and calipers have the same pull. Linear do not have the same pull.

If you are building it with 6700, isn't the routing under the bar tape? I would try and cap the lever with an old piece of cable...or not since it is under the tape.

I know you didnt ask.. get yourself a third eye chain watcher and maybe a bash guard of some sort. If you go with a bash guard, those are teeth specific so you might want to do the math and see if 39 is better than 42 for your commuting.

This is a trick question. On a 1x9 there is no left-hand shifter.

And how are going to set up a 1x9 with force?

Touché.

As noted above, I don't think SRAM have ever released anything (for road) in 9 speed. That said, I have a Rival/Force 1x10 combo kit on my cross bike--the SRAM brifters allow you to remove the whole shift mechanism and convert to just a brake lever. You can also buy a single right brifter + a single left S900 lever or something.

I'd recommend a chainguide on a 1xanything setup. I use a Paul Components one and it's excellent.

since you can't, easily buy just, a right lever, unless you pay significantly more,
as a repair part, you will have an unused left lever.. from the set.

Lots of people race on some doubles with a pretty small difference between the 2 chainrings.
so an 8t, 44 - 36 [110], or a 6t, 44 - 38 [130]
or a 44 - 39, 5t, [130 or 135] ... might be just fine..

there are single shifters
 

for sale for under $100 http://www.amazon.com/ACTION-SHIFTER.../dp/B001CZXTKK, and cheap a Shimano brake leaver http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-BL-R40.../dp/B000F5LLWG should create a similar feel for the other hand. I think you'd save quit a bit of money and a few hundred grams (if you care about that type of thing) over buying a pair.