View Single Post
Old 01-21-09 | 08:35 AM
  #21  
Longfemur
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 0
I've had bikes with just about any version of these things on them at one time or another. It's just a matter of opinion, of course...

I disliked bar end shifters. There's more cable clutter, for one thing, and it always seemed awkward to me to have the shifters so far away from the centreline of the bike. It seemed more natural to just reach straight down for the shifters. I much prefer mechanical simplicity, especially on any bike that looks or is Italian. Italian and "touring bike" are two concepts that just don't mix. The Italians have always considered road riding and touring to be the same thing, with the same bicycle requirements in terms of geometry and positioning for comfortable efficiency. So, unless you plan on heavy touring, I see no point in putting touring paraphernalia on a road bike that was not intended for them in the first place.

I had Mafac centrepulls for a long time. Again, I think it's a matter of simplicity. Quality sidepulls work just the same, but with less clutter (no need for hangers, just the brakes themselves). If it's a good quality vintage road bike, looks do matter, and I like a clean, uncluttered bike.
Longfemur is offline  
Reply