Bob Dopolina 

Oh contrare, mon ami, I quite enjoy slang but 'brifter' isn't being passed off here as slang. It is being touted as superior jargon to the well established word shifter.

I think I have made my position clear as to why I think it is utter fail.

Bob Dopolina 

I am not being argumentative. I am just disagreeing with you on a single point of terminology (and if it weren't for anonymous arguments and porn what good would the interwebz be?).

I do believe that DT shifters are simple, easy to service and probably work just fine for many recreational riders. But honestly, I would rather have a newb rider keep their hands on the bars to shift that have them take one hand off (usually their right, dominant hand) to reach down to shift while weaving all over the MUP.

For an intitiate, integrated shifting is far friendlier and easier to use. Olde farts like us would not have this issue and, outside of competitive situations could probably get along with DT shifters just fine.

See, we do agree on this point.

joe932

How do you expect them to reach for their water bottle then? How do you expect them to wipe glass off their tires? How do you expect them to reach for food from their jersey pocket?

And a new rider should master shifting before riding in a group.

Anyway, we agree to disagree. No harm done.

Motolegs

I hope he finds his way back with a report on that bike.

banerjek

He bought the bike with DT. I'm sure he'll be fine.

Bob Dopolina 

They usually stop to eat or drink.

I fully agree that these are basic skills that should be mastered by all.

"Glass? What glass? I didn't see any glass...Why is my tire so squishy? Oh look, ducks."

joe932

I live in central California. We have horrible goathead thorns out here. Glass is the least of my concerns.

Bah Humbug

If I walked into one of my local shops that deal equally in high-dollar road and tri bikes they wouldn't be certain which I meant.

Bob Dopolina 

^^^ Sorry, integrated shifters comprise 90%+ of the non mass merchant road bike market. DT shifters are a niche product on new bikes.

joe932

He's probably thinking of Dura Ace bar ends for triathletes.

Bob Dopolina 

Which were replaced by DT shifter 20 years ago and Di2 buttons in the last few years.

Bob Dopolina 

I've never had to deal with those. I can see how they would be a huge PITA.

Long Tom

Goatheads. Ugh. The bane of my childhood. Like stepping on a thumb tack. They'd punch right through your callouses on your feet. Fester. Ugh.

Ok, so perfect thread to ask this. WTF does STI stand for, anyway? Single Tap Integrated?

rjones28 

Shimano Total Integration.

https://techdocs.shimano.com/media/te...9830609300.pdf

Motolegs

Somehow those look nastier than the Colorado variety. Longer growing season??

Homebrew01

You guys still arguing ?? Jeeesh

RJM

Those retroshifters seem pretty cool, might have to try a pair sometime.


My main point is if you are racing and training to race, you should probably go with the equipment level that everybody else has. It seems like a better, more logical choice.

joe932

Not sure. The photo is a stock photo, but they are indeed that long here.

jdowdy411

OP here, and I know! But while I've made my decision awhile ago, this ongoing thread is very entertaining!

jdowdy411

I'm actually buying the bike with DT's in about a month (college budget...yay), but I borrowed a buddy's bike with indexed DT's and rode it for about a week and loved it. The test rides sold me on the DT's, really looking forward to having my own!

OldsCOOL

My Cannondale build will have era 7sp indexed Shimano DT levers. I also have a bike with 6sp Suntour Accushift. I'm spoiled by SIS but dont mind friction, either.

3alarmer 

...I've never seen Tribulus terrestris in Colorado, but given the Mediterranean origin, our climate is probably better suited to its full potential.
I'm trying to spread the word that it is a traditional male aphrodisiac back in those regions, in hopes that some of it will disappear here.

Jiggle

The question is largely irrelevant. STI is so cheap and plentiful there's no reason to avoid it.

I have a 1980s trek pro series with downtube friction shifters. It doesn't slow me down.

Motolegs

That's because it's legal to smoke here.

banerjek

Actually, there is.

OP didn't have enough scratch to buy good STI and he would have limited his upgrade options. So a number of people advised that he get good DT instead.

If I left my bikes parked on racks, I'd definitely go DT rather than the 6700 and Rival I run on my road bikes.