To remove the "red shaft thing" pull the brake lever down and go inside and remove the long screw that tightens the handlebar clamp. Pull that long screw all the way out, then the "red shaft thing" can be pulled out in the direction of the shift lever mount.
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My C&V Bikes:
1972 Bottecchia Professional, 1972 Legnano Olympiade Record,
1982 Colnago Super, 1987 Bottecchia Team C-Record,
1988 Pinarello Montello, 1990 Masi Nuova Strada Super Record,
1995 Bianchi Campione d'Italia, 1995 DeBernardi Thron