John E

Before this, the only "suicide shift" reference I ever heard was to the seat tube mounted Simplex Tour de France and related direct-action rod-type front derailleurs from the 1940s and 1950s. Schwinn put these on the inaugural (1960) Varsinentals, until parts manager Keith Kingbay later got the Huret brothers drunk on martinis at a Chicago steak house and convinced them to lower the price on their cable-controlled alternative. (See "The Dancing Chain.")

I guess some have also referred to the Cambio Corsa and related systems as "suicide shift," but that was before my time.

"Suicide levers" is an apt description of turkey brakes handles, which provide a very false sense of security while compromising both stopping power and steering control/stability.

JohnDThompson 

I've had people ask some strange things when I ride a vintage bike. E.g. "why are the frame tubes so skinny?" referring to the steel frame, and "why does your frame have a double tube?" referring to the frame mounted Impero pump painted to match the frame.

rumrunn6

fwiw: briefly saw a news article somewhere yesterday that some schools will be removing analog clocks because kids don't know how to read them ...

papaStrudel 

I have a similar story. I was getting some work done on my moto (at a "recycled" bike shop... plenty of old bikes hanging on the walls). A guy comes in (customer, not employee), looks at the DT shifters and then says "Wow you're riding with suicide shifters?? Did you know they were called that? Because you have to look down and can't see where you're going!". I just kind of smiled and nodded because I am pretty bad at responding appropriately in those situations. Are they really that foreign to people?

T-Mar

Meanings will change, as what was once common place disappears. Today, it is common practice to use the term "clincher" to refer to tyres with steel or Kevlar hoops encased in the beads. However, this was is technically a misnomer as the true, original, clincher tyres used a very thick rubber bead but no encased hoop. Tyres with the hoops in the beads were called "wired-on". However, as true clincher tyres disappeared from the market, the cycling public changed the meaning.

Similarly, down tube shift levers and brake safety levers were common as we were growing up but are near extinct and foreign to the young generations. They're no more incorrect in applying the term"suicide levers" for down tube shift levers than we were in changing the meaning of "clincher".

In fact, in the original context, they are correct. The term "suicide xxxxx" appears to have originated with our motorcycle brethren who applied "suicide shifter" and "suicide lever" to motorcycle shift systems where the rider had to remove a hand from the handlebar to perform a gear shift. These terms do not appear to have been used when the systems were common place, but originated after the fact, as safer and more convenient technology was developed. So, I find it hard to be anything more than slightly amused when younger riders refers to my down tube mounted shift levers as being "suicide levers". In both the modern context and the original context, they are correct.

crank_addict

Yep. Add per the OP.... but without calling them anything. Just an inquisitive "what's dat"?

Local amee tri-events used to be anything goes for bikes but now it seems everyone including 1st timers got the tt cf zappy shifter bikes. I ride nostalgia vinti but do get some odd comments. Fave was a young fellow asking where could he get those mini lightweight shifters. Lol

edit: what's the slang used for stem shifters?

DIMcyclist

Actually, '86' as in, "86 that guy!" or, "That's it, buddy-- you're 86'd," came from a famous 1920s speakeasy- Chumley's on 86 Bedford St. in Greenwich Village, NYC. It's a cool bar, not much changed since those days.

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fietsbob

Would love to see a Guidonnet lever as an interrupter top mount, for drop bars..

DiabloScott

At the restaurant I worked at in the 70's, "86" meant either "we're out of that", or "get rid of that".

Ex: the chefs would write 86 prime rib on the chalk board so the waiters wouldn't take orders for it.

Also: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/86/

The Chumley's thing is in there as a possible with a bunch of others, but Snopes thinks the most likely answer is "it rhymes with 'nix'."

Jadesfire 

A coworker of mine many years ago was taking out boss's lunch order. Boss told her, "86 the tomatoes." Good thing the coworker double-checked if she really wanted 86 tomatoes on her salad before the order was called in. Life lesson.

Phamilton

I've heard of stem shifters also being referred to as "turkey" or "suicide" levers.

I actually just switched from stem shifters to "reach down switchers" on my old commuter road bike a couple weeks ago. Stem shifters IME more of a problem than DT. I had to "shift" my center of balance considerably to use them. Now it's just drop the arm down a little. If I had brifters and a 10 spd cassette, I'd shift so often I'd forget that I was riding a bike. Somewhat ironically, I shift even less often now with DT than with stem shifters, but this is unrelated to the shifters themselves.

Lascauxcaveman 

"Maybe you have to look," seems the proper response. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I looked at my DT shifters while actually on the bike and moving. Even while adjusting the D ring; it's all braille to me.

The Golden Boy 

My problem is looking at them... "I've got some ****ing awesome-ass cool Simplex Retrofriction shifters on here..."

The Golden Boy 

I don't buy it.

If your address is 86- and you were kicking a guy out- why would he be "86'd?" That means he's going TO 86.

The restaurant code... I got nothing- but it's so stupid random.

I understand the cockney rhyming code thing- and I have used the word "nix," but...

The DX thing... it's kind of like seeing faces in clouds- you hear someone using a term, you don't know it- but you fill it in with something that you know that sorta sounds like it...


Besides all that- obscure restaurant code, obscure local pub phrase... taken and and popularized throughout the entire US, or the bastardization of a term utilized by MILLIONS of servicemen from every state across the US. Common sense tells you the likelihood of a term used by millions of people, over decades across all levels of society, is going to stand a greater chance of becoming more common- even if it's misheard and misrepeated.

robertorolfo

I think "turkey levers" also get a bad rap. I always remembered them being pretty bad, but recently I got a used bike with them and was impressed by how well they worked and how useful they can bed. I moved them over to my commuter and really enjoy the ability to brake while just casually cruising upright on the tops. If they are properly adjusted, and your brakes are good, they work just fine.

As for DT shifters, am I the only one that occasionally feels their finger rub against the front wheel before or after a shift? Might just be my bulky winter gloves, but every now and then I get a little grind.

jimmuller 

I don't typically have that problem. And I like reach-down switchers.

top506

I was told that '86', restaurant jargon for out of/get rid of, comes from the original Delmonico's in NYC sometime in the late 19th century. Item #86 on the menu was the house beefsteak, and they always ran out of it. And after almost 50 years, DT shifters are second nature. Don't look at 'em, don't reach for 'em, I put a hand down to shift and they're there. You can really impress the young ones by shifting half steps, up/down in the front and up/down in the rear with one hand at the same time.

Top

uncle uncle

Not only are you always full of great info that you so graciously share T-Mar, but your diplomacy is also always above reproach. Chapeau, my friend.

Chombi1 

Some years ago, my older brother's friend came in for a visit from southern CA and he noticed my brother's Honda CBR600 next to his car........right away, first thing that came out of his mouth was "Oh no!, You actually ride a "Suicycle"??!!. Both of us wanted to smack him right there where he stood, but we were better than that.......

old's'cool

By the same token, the meaning of 10-speed has certainly changed since the 80s.

old's'cool

By the same token, the meaning of 10-speed has certainly changed since the 80s

PilotFishBob 

Suicide levers - funny, I only started cycling in 2011, and now - whatever it has, I shift with 'em. Brifters, dt shifters, barcons, doesn't matter. I switch the cognitive map to match the ride and away I go! I used to be dismissive of "turkey wing" brake extensions, but I have them on my Schwinn World Voyageur and, properly adjusted, they're fine. work great - go figure... On the subject of discard slang, I've used "86" in lieu of "jettison" or "throw away" forever I think. Interesting on the possible origins, I always thought it was naval in origin but - maybe not? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/86_(term)

cycleheimer

Integrated shifters are nice until they break. Then you are in a jam out on the road, and they will be expensive to replace. Down tube shifters, in my opinion, seem more responsive. I personally have no problem reaching for them. Bar ends are "the bomb" for commuting and touring. Safety levers can be nice to have, which is probably why some new bikes are coming with brake interruptors. I have safety levers on 1 bike, and only use them when I just need to slow down a bit. I actually like them on the bike, and they've been fine on the bike for 40 years.

ExPatTyke

I was drifting over some Ebay listings last night (as I frequently do after a glass or three of red, much to the cost of domestic harmony), and came across this one: -
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-C...EAAOSwF-Ja2F5t

I've never seen shifters in that position before - possibly eye-watering if you shift forwards off the saddle a bit quick.

Kovkov