Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

Is low normal better than high normal with STI shifters?

Search
Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Is low normal better than high normal with STI shifters?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-18-10, 05:52 AM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
late's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Southern Maine
Posts: 8,941
Mentioned: 130 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12185 Post(s)
Liked 1,492 Times in 1,104 Posts
Is low normal better than high normal with STI shifters?

Looking at XT rear derailleurs and wondering if one was better than the other.
I'm just a commuter/recreational rider.

Last edited by late; 01-18-10 at 05:56 AM.
late is offline  
Old 01-18-10, 07:00 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Steev's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Backwoods of Ontario
Posts: 2,152
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I would prefer high normal with STI. I am more likely to want to sweep multiple gears while braking coming to a stop in traffic than in any kind of accelerating scenario.
Steev is offline  
Old 01-18-10, 07:40 AM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
Retro Grouch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225

Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.

Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times in 364 Posts
I much prefer high normal. For one thing, that's the way that STI's are designed to work.

Low normal was originally designed for mountain bikes because it's supposed to offer some kind of advantage when coming down one steep hill and immediately riding up another. My son likes low normal for his freeride bike because it lets him do something that I don't quite understand while he's riding a wheelie.
Retro Grouch is offline  
Old 01-18-10, 07:55 AM
  #4  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
late's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Southern Maine
Posts: 8,941
Mentioned: 130 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12185 Post(s)
Liked 1,492 Times in 1,104 Posts
Thanks,
I have used high normal before; but I was wondering... The description says
reverse spring which I think means high normal.

This summer I was touring and coming into Bucksport and the derailleur wire broke leaving
me with a limited choice of gears.

That's not what the post id about, I am trying to work up the courage to pull the trigger
on a new bike.
late is offline  
Old 01-18-10, 08:49 AM
  #5  
Call me The Breeze
 
I_bRAD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Cooper Ontario
Posts: 3,702

Bikes: 2004 Litespeed Siena, 1996 Litespeed Obed, 1992 Miele (unknown model), 1982 Meile Uno LS.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Liked 7 Times in 4 Posts
"reverse spring" would be low normal. Also known as "rapid rise"
Annoying if you ask me. I prefer the traditional high normal design.
I_bRAD is offline  
Old 01-18-10, 08:58 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
late's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Southern Maine
Posts: 8,941
Mentioned: 130 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12185 Post(s)
Liked 1,492 Times in 1,104 Posts
Ahhh,
thanks again.
late is offline  
Old 01-18-10, 09:21 AM
  #7  
Junior Member
 
Worldcyclotour's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: SoCal
Posts: 23

Bikes: Serotta Legend Ti, Surly Long Haul Trucker, Specialized Epic

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I prefer the XT rapid rise on my touring and commuting bikes but I use Campy shifters not STI. The reason: when I'm carrying a load and climbing the effort to shift to an easier gear takes less effort and "throw". I've used both high and low normal and for me I like the rapid rise. FYI the campy shifters work perfect with the jtek adapters, don't know about Shimano road shifters and rapid rise. My guess it would work just fine, but it's just a guess.
Worldcyclotour is offline  
Old 01-18-10, 10:01 AM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656

Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!

Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,095 Times in 741 Posts
Originally Posted by Worldcyclotour
I prefer the XT rapid rise on my touring and commuting bikes but I use Campy shifters not STI. The reason: when I'm carrying a load and climbing the effort to shift to an easier gear takes less effort and "throw". I've used both high and low normal and for me I like the rapid rise. FYI the campy shifters work perfect with the jtek adapters, don't know about Shimano road shifters and rapid rise. My guess it would work just fine, but it's just a guess.
Isn't the Shiftmate great? I have one matching Campy 10-speed Ergos to a Shimano rd and Shimano 9-speed cassette and the shifting is perfect.

The reason Ergos work well with a "rapid rise" rear derailleur is (assuming they are NOT the escapement version) they allow multiple shifts in both directions so you can sweep several downshifts using the mouse-ear. Shimano STI's, with their one "upshift" at a time, cannot downshift multiple cogs with one sweep when used with a rapid rise rd.
HillRider is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
krumbee
Bicycle Mechanics
16
06-07-20 03:22 PM
jefnvk
Touring
28
12-11-16 10:41 AM
kennj123
Hybrid Bicycles
9
10-16-15 10:29 AM
mihlbach
Bicycle Mechanics
11
10-11-11 09:51 AM
AltheCyclist
Mountain Biking
1
07-27-10 01:04 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.