Down tube shifting technique...
#1
Thread Starter
1/2 as far in 2x the time


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From: Northern Bergen County, NJ
Bikes: Yes, Please.
Down tube shifting technique...
Came up in a different thread, but I didn't want to hijack it. Guy calls himself icepick after all
.
I never thought about this before today.
Do you use the same hand to shift front and rear derailleurs or different hands.
A lot of the time I use my left hand for the front, and my right for the rear.
Seems inefficient now that I think about it.
Cheers, Eric
.I never thought about this before today.
Do you use the same hand to shift front and rear derailleurs or different hands.
A lot of the time I use my left hand for the front, and my right for the rear.
Seems inefficient now that I think about it.
Cheers, Eric
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: monroe (sw) wi
Bikes: cannondale 400st, dean el diente, specialized hybrid
Okay, I've been riding with DT shifters my whole adult life and I can't answer that question. I will, however, think about it until I go for a ride. Of course, then I'll be conscious of it and will undoubtedly hurt myself trying to shift naturally.
#3
BIKE RIDE


Joined: Jun 2014
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From: Michigan
Bikes: GUNNAR CrossHairs / Riv RoadUno / TrekBike 950
got two bikes with bar end shifters.
so when i'm riding the DT shifter or the brifter bikes, i first reach for the end of the handle bar.
then use one hand if it's the DT shifter bike.
Sometimes I use the left had if I'm only shifting / trimming the FD.
quite the first world problem, i must say.
so when i'm riding the DT shifter or the brifter bikes, i first reach for the end of the handle bar.
then use one hand if it's the DT shifter bike.
Sometimes I use the left had if I'm only shifting / trimming the FD.
quite the first world problem, i must say.
#4
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From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Came up in a different thread, but I didn't want to hijack it. Guy calls himself icepick after all
.
I never thought about this before today.
Do you use the same hand to shift front and rear derailleurs or different hands.
A lot of the time I use my left hand for the front, and my right for the rear.
Seems inefficient now that I think about it.
Cheers, Eric
.I never thought about this before today.
Do you use the same hand to shift front and rear derailleurs or different hands.
A lot of the time I use my left hand for the front, and my right for the rear.
Seems inefficient now that I think about it.
Cheers, Eric
#5
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2004
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From: northern michigan
Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712
I use right hand for right side shifter and left for left side. Seems pretty awkward to do it any other way.
#6
OldSchool

Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Chesapeake, VA
#7
"'74 Ron Cooper, Crashed and repaired in '76 '74 Witcomb track bike (bought in '75) '75 Carlsbad Masi, bought in '76 New bikes: 84-85 Gios torino" Professional" '76 Olmo Competition C Titiano"
No offense, but with a bike list like that… I would've thought …...
No offense, but with a bike list like that… I would've thought …...
#8
Senior Member


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From: Fredericksburg, Va
Bikes: ? Proteous, '65 Frejus TDF, '73 Bottecchia Giro d'Italia, '83 Colnago Superissimo, '84 Trek 610, '84 Trek 760, '88 Pinarello Veneto, '88 De Rosa Pro, '89 Pinarello Montello, 'Litespeed Catalyst'94 Burley Duet, 97 Specialized RockHopper, 2010 Langster
[MENTION=29368]rootboy[/MENTION] owning and riding are.....
I use the right for the rear unless it is a combination or if I feel like I need to trim the front. Use the left to shift the front unless it is a combination and to trim. But sometimes I change my mind while using the left and to a combination with the left. I am very efficient!
The objective is to shift to the right gear ratio, not figure out which hand to use. This approach used for both friction and index on DT shifters. On the barcons, I never cross arms.
I use the right for the rear unless it is a combination or if I feel like I need to trim the front. Use the left to shift the front unless it is a combination and to trim. But sometimes I change my mind while using the left and to a combination with the left. I am very efficient!
The objective is to shift to the right gear ratio, not figure out which hand to use. This approach used for both friction and index on DT shifters. On the barcons, I never cross arms.
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#10
weapons-grade bolognium


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From: Across the street from Chicago
Bikes: Battaglin Cromor, Ciocc Designer 84, Schwinn Superior 1981
For rolling hills, I use my right hand to shift both derailleurs if I'm downshifting from the big ring and dropping to a larger rear cog.
#13
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From: Omaha NE USA GO HUSKERS!
Bikes: 1999 Lemond Zurich 1987 Centurion Ironman Expert 1990 Schwinn Traveler 1984 Schwinn High Sierra 1988 Diamond Apex 1994 Mt Shasta/GT Palomar 1993 GT Interceptor BMX
I use left for left and right for right for both my friction and index DT shifters
Pretty straightforward for me
Pretty straightforward for me
#14
Zip tie Karen
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100
Whichever hand is [was] convenient is [was] the one the one that did the shifting, whichever shifting was needed at the time. Both with one hand, reaching through with one hand to shift the other side, whichever...
I'm right handed, and usually rear shifts are the more frequent. But not for rolling terrain, then it's both simultaneously for the most part.
But I no longer own any downtube shifting bikes. : (
I'm right handed, and usually rear shifts are the more frequent. But not for rolling terrain, then it's both simultaneously for the most part.
But I no longer own any downtube shifting bikes. : (
#16
[MENTION=350383]crank_addict[/MENTION] - I've never seen a setup like that. Was it designed like that or did you create & "coax" it to be like that? Could you tell more about it, as in parts (if you made it)? What's on the back?
#17
Disco Infiltrator




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From: Folsom CA
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
So I had an idea that with half-step or step-and-a-half gearing, you were supposed to move them together with the same hand, at the same time? It only would work in one direction from each gear, I guess.
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Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
#19
Sunshine
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From: Des Moines, IA
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
I shift both with my right hand.
...im lefty. Not sure if its because I like my dominant hand to stay on the bars and steer?
The front is easy to both shift and trim with my index and thumb, even though its on the left side of the tube.
...im lefty. Not sure if its because I like my dominant hand to stay on the bars and steer?
The front is easy to both shift and trim with my index and thumb, even though its on the left side of the tube.
#20
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From: Maidstone, Kent, England
Bikes: 1970 Holdsworth Mistral, Vitus 979, Colnago Primavera, Corratec Hydracarbon, Massi MegaTeam, 1935 Claud Butler Super Velo, Carrera Virtuoso, Viner, 1953 Claud Butler Silver Jubilee, 1954 Holdsworth Typhoon, 1966 Claud Butler Olympic Road, 1982 Claud
Left hand front, right hand rear. Never even thought about it before, it's natural and instinctive for me.
#21
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From: Madison, WI
Bikes: 2023 Canyon Endurace 7 CF Di2, 1982 Trek 957 (retro), 80s Trek 710 (retro), 1995 Trek 930 MTB (singlespeed), Surly LHT
Came up in a different thread, but I didn't want to hijack it. Guy calls himself icepick after all
.
I never thought about this before today.
Do you use the same hand to shift front and rear derailleurs or different hands.
A lot of the time I use my left hand for the front, and my right for the rear.
Seems inefficient now that I think about it.
Cheers, Eric
.I never thought about this before today.
Do you use the same hand to shift front and rear derailleurs or different hands.
A lot of the time I use my left hand for the front, and my right for the rear.
Seems inefficient now that I think about it.
Cheers, Eric
I really like indexed downtubes.
#22
Banned
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@crank_addict - I've never seen a setup like that. Was it designed like that or did you create & "coax" it to be like that? Could you tell more about it, as in parts (if you made it)? What's on the back?
The small lever is for the rear derailleur, a Cyclo Gear Comp. - Benelux Sport P2 / Super 60. The derailleur is quite an oddball but a quality piece. All steel, short cage, parallel action with ball bearing pulleys.
I'm learning there's no 'hurry' nor 'hooray' in using Huret....
#23
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From: Las Vegas, NV
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I use my right hand for both DT shifters.
#24
Thread Starter
1/2 as far in 2x the time


Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,744
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From: Northern Bergen County, NJ
Bikes: Yes, Please.
Yeah, what... That I would have thought about this before ? Or just not cared?
#25
Thread Starter
1/2 as far in 2x the time


Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,744
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From: Northern Bergen County, NJ
Bikes: Yes, Please.
If you are referring to the forum name, I did not stop racing by choice, but left my bikes at my parents house from 1976 unti recently. I don't bore everyone I meet with the story. The short version is in ”about me ” in my profile,




