Originally Posted by
nashcommguy
Did you have to mount the shifter here or did you have the option of mounting it on the handlebars? Mounted where it is it would seem a little chancey for urban commuting to me. By that I mean taking one's hand off the hbrs and reaching down and behind one's leg while riding to shift. Though I DO like the idea of the shorter cable length for less adjustments. My commute is 20 mi, mostly rural and I spend alot of time in one gear, so I think I could mount it there and be alright. The thing I like about this system is the idea of being able to drop down to 75% in the event of a headwind. And I've got a 500 ft difference in elevation on my way home w/an 18% grade on one big hill. So, I believe the 67.5% gearing would really help there. I'm doing switchbacks as it stands.
Yes, it is an option to easily mount the shifter on the bars or the downtube (if ya have a braze-on), but I mounted the shifter on a rear-rack braze-on ‘cause I wasn’t planning to (and don’t) shift much, and I really didn’t want to run a cable up to the bars. It does take a little more thinking to shift, but that also adds to the fun of the thing. It also reminds me of motorcycle suicide shifters. Like you, my cyclocommute is 20m, with about 1/3 on a quiet MUT (the American Tobacco Trail). But there are days, like last night’s ride home, where things like a strong headwind and a long day at work make me appreciate the capacity to shift to a lower gear-inch and spin.
Originally Posted by
nashcommguy
Did you build the wheel yourself? If so, what were the spoke lengths used? I build my own wheels which is why I want to know.
Very much liking the Velocity Deep Vs, I laced the S3X (36H) up with straight 14g 274mm spokes.
Originally Posted by
nashcommguy
I ride fg 2-3 times per week w/a seatpost rack and trunkbag. My gearing is 48x16 lightly loaded. While not experiencing any type of knee trauma...yet, I thought I'd get a head start on the prevention. And for around 150.00 assembled I feel like I'd have a pretty nice, versatile fixed conversion.
My gearing is 48x17, and I’m in direct drive for 99% of my commutes. In the spring I’ll go back, probably, to 48x16. I use the SA cogs, purchased separately from a place called SmallBikeParts.com.
Originally Posted by
nashcommguy
Btw, is the shifter indexed or friction? Sorry about all these questions, but I'm thinking of asking for one of these for Christmas and have to justify the expense.
Indexed. From what I’ve read elsewhere on the Forum, there seems to have been a problem with early shifters, but the latter ones (which I think I have) appear to be fine.
Merry Christmas!