I have a 1987 Miyata One Twelve Mixte. It came with heavy steel Northroads style bars which were cracked, so I replace with VO Postino bars. Those were alright but I still wasn't riding the bike as much as I thought I would. Last summer decided to get some Soma Highway One drop bars, NOS OEM Shimano brake levers and make the bike like it was originally. Although the bike looked original I absolutely didn't like drop bars/levers. I even tried installing modern road levers thinking the more ergonomic hoods would be better. They were but marginally.
So yesterday I removed the drops and installed VO Porteur bars, along with the Miyata's original Shimano brake levers and Miyata branded rubber grips. I still have to reach down to shift and I think that is actually the issue. So my options are: 1. keep downtube shifters and practice using them more & eventually I'll get used to it. or 2. Install something like VO or Paul thumbie mounts and move the shift lever up to the handlebars.
Current shifters are friction front (triple) and indexed or friction rear (6-speed "Light Action"). I know these shifters will work on the thumbie mounts because I have the appropriate spacer piece and have the identical set on some modern bar end pods. I can't use those bar end shifters on the current VO bars because not the right size diameter, and don't want to buy another Porteur bar in order to use bar ends. I have bar ends on my other mixte, so want something different.
I have Suntour friction as well as Suntour XC Pro ratcheted friction mountain levers that I could use if I didn't mind not having indexing. I tried the XC Pro ratcheted shifter on the bar and they're very bulky and "mountain bike" looking.
Photos:
1987 Miyata One Twelve Mixte by
velocivixen, on Flickr
VO Porteur Bars on Miyata by
velocivixen, on Flickr
Vintage Grip & Lever by
velocivixen, on Flickr
Vintage Brake Lever Clamp by
velocivixen, on Flickr
So....keep downtube shifters or go for thumbies? If I keep downtube (which look so clean & neat) how long should I give myself in order to get used to shifting?