ADAP7IVE

/rant why is it that not one of the major manufacturers makes a left-hand lever that will shift the rear derailleur? I just want smooth shifting without a workaround.

Di2 is nice, but so damned expensive. Doing a workaround gets old too. /endrant

FBinNY 

I don't know about Shimano or Sram, but Campy is entirely controlled by the cam. It wouldn't take an awful lot to make a left cam with RD indexing cuts using either 3D printing or building up a left one, then milling the new pattern.

Once the first is made, others could be replicated by methods like investment (lost wax) casting or otherwise.

One other part needs to be changed, the ratchet cam that controls the main shift lever. But this is a simple part that can simply be flipper over to work in the opposite direction.

The same process could be used to make right FD levers if anybody wanted.

I suspect that some enterprising soul could actually produce the cams profitably, since the numbers needed to be reasonably economical are low, and there's probably enough of a market willing to pay a premium for them.

BTW - since the same cam is used across the quality range, the one investment would allow multiple options at various price points.

IMO - this is a great project for a ME student cad/cam learning project.

79pmooney

Is this something where the Gevenalle shifters would work? I know little about them but TiCycles has done a number of bikes with them and I respect their opinion and judgement a lot.

goats@gevenalle.com
503-512-9378

Ben

ADAP7IVE

I like Gevenalle too (great ideas, look great too), but when I contacted them about this a few months ago, they said a right-hand rear der. shifter couldn't be easily mounted on the left.

FB's right, there has to be a market of people like me, who for whatever reason don't have the strength or dexterity in their right hand to shift the rear mech on a brifter. The rise of one-by systems was helpful, but we need a left-hand rear-shift option. Bar ends are fine too, but there are even southpaws with no disability who might like to swap their brifters. Seems like a big market to just ignore.

I'm looking into making my own now; if I make any progress, I'll report back to the forum.

CliffordK

Obviously the bar end shifters should be relatively easy to reverse, but wouldn't necessarily be convenient to use, except perhaps bar-end shifters and bullhorn bars with reverse mounted brakes.

I've meant to try to look at reversing Campy brifters. Perhaps I'll take a look at them shortly.

John E

Problem easily solved with friction shift.

As for a market for left-hand rear derailleur control, the bicycle polo crowd would be interested.

oliviathesis

What a great point, something so simple would make life for a lot of people easier.