Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Thumb Shifters on road bikes

Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Thumb Shifters on road bikes

Old 05-26-09, 11:52 AM
  #1  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 41
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thumb Shifters on road bikes

Hello,

Why do some road bikes use thumb shifters instead of little paddles behind the break leaver?

What are the advantages of having them placed there?
is it possible to use them when your holding onto the drop handlebars?
tobywuk is offline  
Old 05-26-09, 11:57 AM
  #2  
Super Moderator
 
Homebrew01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Ffld Cnty Connecticut
Posts: 21,845

Bikes: Old Steelies I made, Old Cannondales

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1173 Post(s)
Liked 924 Times in 610 Posts
Campagnolo uses the thumb shifters, and yes you can reach them from the drops.

I've heard that very low-end Shimano (Sora ?) also uses thumb shifters, but that they are not reachable from the drops.
__________________
Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.

FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
Homebrew01 is offline  
Old 05-26-09, 12:28 PM
  #3  
C3 H6 O3 ACID
 
jasandalb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Old Peoplesville
Posts: 1,138
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Homebrew01
Shimano (Sora ?) also uses thumb shifters, but that they are not reachable from the drops.
+1... Anything below 105 level in Shimano is thumb down-shifting, and brake lever up-shifting.

Its all weight and "performance" level... the "paddles" would better suit people who race OR spend a good deal of time in the drops.

I rarely get in the drops so its not an issue for me. I dont race, and am not a weight weenie so those suit me just fine. I like being able to just click away and go.....
jasandalb is offline  
Old 05-26-09, 12:33 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
Rutnick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,892
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by jasandalb
+1... Anything below 105 level in Shimano is thumb down-shifting, and brake lever up-shifting.

Its all weight and "performance" level... the "paddles" would better suit people who race OR spend a good deal of time in the drops.

I rarely get in the drops so its not an issue for me. I dont race, and am not a weight weenie so those suit me just fine. I like being able to just click away and go.....

tiagra would beg to differ.
Rutnick is offline  
Old 05-26-09, 12:35 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Québec, Québec, Canada
Posts: 225

Bikes: Fuji Touring 64cm, Peugeot Canada PB-18 61cm and winter beaters

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I have 7-speed Sora shifters on my road bike, and it has thumb shifters. The left thumb shifter downshifts the chainring, and the right thumb shifter upshifts the rear cog.

I have XXL hands so I can of crane my thumb up to reach the thumb shifters while in the drops, but it's not the most comfortable thing in the world. I figure that somebody with smaller hands might not be able to do that.

When riding on the hoods I really like the position of the thumb shifters.
hernick is offline  
Old 05-26-09, 12:39 PM
  #6  
umd
Banned
 
umd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 28,387

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL2, Specialized Tarmac SL, Giant TCR Composite, Specialized StumpJumper Expert HT

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by jasandalb
+1... Anything below 105 level in Shimano is thumb down-shifting, and brake lever up-shifting.
Originally Posted by Rutnick
tiagra would beg to differ.
You have to wonder where some people get their information...
umd is offline  
Old 05-26-09, 12:41 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
hendrick81's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sandy Eggo
Posts: 2,129

Bikes: 2006 caad8, 2010 caad9 1, 2011 caad10 4

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Liked 4 Times in 1 Post
Tiagra have paddle shifters
hendrick81 is offline  
Old 05-26-09, 12:43 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 6,432
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 539 Post(s)
Liked 44 Times in 38 Posts
Originally Posted by jasandalb
+1... Anything below 105 level in Shimano is thumb down-shifting, and brake lever up-shifting.

Its all weight and "performance" level... the "paddles" would better suit people who race OR spend a good deal of time in the drops.

I rarely get in the drops so its not an issue for me. I dont race, and am not a weight weenie so those suit me just fine. I like being able to just click away and go.....
No, Tiagra, which is between Sora and 105 has the paddle shifters:
EDITED:WRONG PICTURE

It's anything Sora and below that has the thumb shifters.

Last edited by PaulRivers; 05-26-09 at 01:14 PM.
PaulRivers is offline  
Old 05-26-09, 12:45 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
hendrick81's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sandy Eggo
Posts: 2,129

Bikes: 2006 caad8, 2010 caad9 1, 2011 caad10 4

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Liked 4 Times in 1 Post
Originally Posted by PaulRivers
No, Tiagra, which is between Sora and 105 has the paddle shifters:


It's anything Sora and below that has the thumb shifters.

Why are you showing dura ace**********????
hendrick81 is offline  
Old 05-26-09, 01:27 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 6,432
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 539 Post(s)
Liked 44 Times in 38 Posts
Originally Posted by hendrick81
Why are you showing dura ace**********????
Sorry! I searched for Tiagra and just linked to the first picture. Turns out the site doesn't sell Tiagra so Dura-Ace came up...sorry.
PaulRivers is offline  
Old 05-26-09, 01:49 PM
  #11  
C3 H6 O3 ACID
 
jasandalb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Old Peoplesville
Posts: 1,138
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
WOW!!! SORRY FOR THE WRONG INFO..........next time just banish me

Guess I'm the only one who's made an error......

Last edited by jasandalb; 05-26-09 at 01:52 PM.
jasandalb is offline  
Old 05-26-09, 02:06 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
UGASkiDawg's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Denver
Posts: 928
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by jasandalb
WOW!!! SORRY FOR THE WRONG INFO..........next time just banish me

Guess I'm the only one who's made an error......
True...this is BF where everyone is right....except you
UGASkiDawg is offline  
Old 05-26-09, 02:22 PM
  #13  
umd
Banned
 
umd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 28,387

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL2, Specialized Tarmac SL, Giant TCR Composite, Specialized StumpJumper Expert HT

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by jasandalb
Guess I'm the only one who's made an error......
Originally Posted by UGASkiDawg
True...this is BF where everyone is right....except you
I think most of us have made an error at one time or another. That doesn't mean we can't still point out other errors when we see them...
umd is offline  
Old 05-26-09, 02:47 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
kwrides's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 3,198

Bikes: 2007 Orbea Onix, 2007 Windsor The Hour, 2008 Kona Jake

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by jasandalb
WOW!!! SORRY FOR THE WRONG INFO..........next time just banish me

Guess I'm the only one who's made an error......
https://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.p...35&postcount=1
kwrides is offline  
Old 05-26-09, 02:51 PM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
Rutnick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,892
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by tobywuk
Hello,

Why do some road bikes use thumb shifters instead of little paddles behind the break leaver?

What are the advantages of having them placed there?
is it possible to use them when your holding onto the drop handlebars?
bikes with THUMB shifters are sold at Rivendell!




Rutnick is offline  
Old 05-26-09, 06:58 PM
  #16  
C3 H6 O3 ACID
 
jasandalb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Old Peoplesville
Posts: 1,138
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by UGASkiDawg
True...this is BF where everyone is right....except you
Hit that on the head
jasandalb is offline  
Old 05-26-09, 06:59 PM
  #17  
C3 H6 O3 ACID
 
jasandalb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Old Peoplesville
Posts: 1,138
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by umd
I think most of us have made an error at one time or another. That doesn't mean we can't still point out other errors when we see them...
agree... I was just playin around with that last comment
jasandalb is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.