Originally Posted by
ColinL
I suppose if the OP is extremely proficient with the DT shifters he might be able to make it work. But taking your hand off the bars in order to shift is unquestionably a disadvantage, especially when you have to move the shifter a precise amount with no indexing (clicks).
It's not that big of deal. As you note people did it for years.
I finished second in a training crit a few years ago on my steel Paramount with down tube shifters, and the shifters were not the reason I lost.
With DT shifters you're at a slight disadvantage in that you'll be less likely to shift as much and be in the perfect gear, and not shifting up in a sprint ( unless you're really good.) But unless you're losing races by a few feet, it's not going to matter.
And btw, just because the shifters are on the DT, doesn't mean they aren't indexed.