blcknspo0ln

that is all.

starving

The stick shift analogy is probably the best analogy yet. Downtube shifters are like a stick shift.

himespau 

In that they give you better gas mileage and that everyone in Europe uses them and thinks all of us Americans are ******* for needing something easier?

pgjackson

Stick shift is more fun, especially in a sporty car. Not sure DT shifters are more fun. But if you are buying a nice Euro sports car, you get stick. It's just not the same with auto.

RT

I wonder which bike the OP went with? Maybe he should start a thread that discusses this topic instead of friggin DT shifters.

starving

Today I bought a Windsor Wellington 2.0 with Shimano STI 2200 shifters for $350. After reading the fine print, I didn't like the Motobecane Mirage nor the Lightning DT because they both had 32 spoke wheels, and I prefer more durable 36 spoke wheels. The photos of the Wellington actually shows 2300 shifters, so maybe they are a little better than the 2200.

dtrain

2200 to 2300 is a 100 more, gotta be better (spinal tap).

starving

Question is....are they both worse than Sora?

dtrain

They're lower quality - based on older Sora stuff. Sora is 3xxx, Tiagra is 4xxx, 105 is 5xxx, etc.

But your wheels are 4 better than your other choice.

starving

Exactly.

pgjackson

If Sora, 2300 and 2200 are generally considered bottom basement, entry-level, el cheapo crap, what are we to think of DT shifters?

starving

Let's put it this way. Pros including Lance used to use downtube shifters. As for Sora? Sora was never good enough for the pros, and never will be.

Photo of lance using a left downtube shifter and a right Dura Ace brifter....


Now show me a photo of any pro using Sora.

big chainring 

That's an incredible deal. Ride it and enjoy it. In regards to all the quality of components, downtube shifters, wheel upgrades and the rest of the baloney,....
This is what I ride, and I love it. Its old, heavy by todays standard, but its a darn nice ride. No problems keeping up with guys on $5000 uber bikes either. Really when it comes down to it, a bike is a bike. Two wheels and handlebars.

dtrain

Do those BD bikes come with Dura Ace DT shifters and derailleurs?

hhnngg1

If Sora was the only 'brifter' groupset available at the time that downtube shifters were the only other pro option, a lot of pros would have gladly used it. It's only not used because the Sora group came out after the higher models trickled down from pros.

Sora's actually not bad. It does require a bit more tuning after a year of use than the ultegra/105 stuff, but unless you're doing criteriums where you're really doing a lot of hard, high speed shifting, you can ride with the best on Sora.

My new Sora triple was flawless - I was shocked. Now 3 years later, not so flawless, but still pretty dang solid given how little I adjust it. (It's probably overdue for a cassette change, but I'm too cheap to do it since it's still working.)

RT

It ain't no Dura Ace.

starving

I would recommend 2 upgrades for your bike....

1. Rubber brake hoods. They would be a lot more comfortable.

2. Toe clips and straps. They would make pedaling more efficient and safer. Here is a good deal.... https://www.amazon.com/Avenir-Alloy-P...630106&sr=8-11

The rest of your bike is fine. The most important part of any road bike is skinny tires, which you have.

I disagree. During a sprint, shifting from the drops is very difficult with Sora. It is faster with DT shifters.

None of the bikes from Bikes Direct come with Sora shifters. They come with 2200 or 2300 shifters.

No, but their DT shifters have the same design as Dura Ace DT shifters. 2200 brifters have a inferior design compared to Dura Ace brifters.

EdgewaterDude

Same here with my 2300/Sora stuff. I've found that it has never gone way, way out of adjustment...ever. It probably uses less than 30 minutes of adjustment every year or so. If anything, the cassette changes are mostly my fault since I'm far too lazy to clean/change my chain when it needs to be done.

milnerpt

Back to the intent of the OP's post:

If we are talking about a budget of 250-300 from bikes direct, you have to realize there is going to be a small amount of assembly (pedals, stem adjustment, more?) that may require you to buy a tool or two (pedal wrench?). One visit to a bike shop for an issue will bump your budget costs up to basically a low end performance bike, as a previous poster mentioned. Granted, learning to do your own wrenching will save you lots of money, but there is something to be said of having performance lifetime adjustments, or a walmart 100% satisfaction policy if you are having problems.

big chainring 

The bike is dialed in the way I like it. Don't use any attachments for my pedals. I like bare naked rat-traps. Hoods are the 1/2 hoods that are unique to MAFAC levers. Skinny tires, I use tubulars.