Bike Forums - View Single Post - OK, it's time to ask: How DO you shift gears?

01-25-05 | 12:49 PM

#9

Mr_Super_Socks

Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2005

Posts: 881

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From: Philadelphia, PA

Bikes: Gilmour lugged steel, Bianchi Volpe, Bike Friday Pocket Rocket

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smokey

First, I'm a newbie to this forum; been lurking about for about a month. To date, this is my second post. I'm a 52-year-old "retired" road cyclist, having ridden on the roads (just recreational/fitness stuff) for about 20 years. Now, I'm strictly indoor...stationary cycling only for me (lots of reasons).

Recently, however, after about 12 years of "retirement", I've thought about getting a bike again. So, I wandered into one of the many LBSs in the San Diego area and started looking around.

First thing I noticed: No SHIFTERS!

Upon further review, I noticed that, yep, there were front and rear derailleurs...but no shifters on the down tube. What's up with that, I thought? Poking around still futher, I also noticed some little lever-like thingys...on the brake levers??? And the breaks themselves... moved side to side**********!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, just how DO you shift? (I was too embarassed to ask the sales person.

)

When I rode, my hands were on the brake hoods a LOT; I'd say 70-80% of the time. Since it seems the shifters have now been moved to - of all places! - the brake levers, I would think that sqeezing hard on the brakes the wrong way (i.e., applying some inward pressure)...might cause the gears to shift (when you don't want them to)??!! And what are those little lever-like thingys supposed to be for? I noticed that they, too, were moveable. So, what are you telling me, you now need need two hands to shift!!!???

This is progress???

It sure seemed like it was a lot easier - and safer! - in my day.

P.S. Please register the tongue-in-cheek nature of this thread. However, my question is a serious one; I've never been on a bike where the shift levers were NOT located on the down tube.

I have gone back and forth on this. I realize you aren't asking for an opinion on Brifters (Brake/shifters -- Sheldon Brown's term, not mine) but I will give it anyway, because you CAN have a bike the way you are accustomed to it -- ie w/ downtube shifters -- and I personally swithched my bikes back to downtube shifters after a few years with brifters. The technology is great and usually works the way it's supposed to. There's a reason every pro rider uses them. However, after doing some heavy touring with bar end shifters, riding a tri-specific bike with aero-bar shifters and then having adjustment problems and eventually failure of an STI shifter, I gave it up. I just like the feel, the simplicity and the fact that they are dead reliable and super easy to adjust. I also think a bike with downtube shifters looks a lot spiffier. I work on my own bikes and sometimes treat them badly, so ease of replacing/adjusting cables is a big plus.

In my experience, the only real downside to not being able to shift as readily is on unfamiliar terrain. with my downtube shifters i am constantly anticipating/guessing grades, etc. It's a fun challenge at times, but with you aren't in the right gear when you want to be, it can be a bummer, too. But if you know the road, you learn the grade and the delay in shifting makes 0 difference. In the end, the legs do the work and if you don't want to mess with the new-fangled stuff, you ain't gots ta.

Just my $.02.

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