Double shifting with DT shifters technique - one hand or two?
09-09-19, 07:59 AM
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Double shifting with DT shifters technique - one hand or two?
Yesterday, I was riding in a hilly area and found myself having to simultaneously shift the FD and RD.
I never had formal instruction on shifting theory and live in a flat area so I normally keep it in the big ring.
When I was double shifting, I used my right thumb to shift the FD and my fingers to shift the RD.
This one-handed approach seemed natural and worked well. Is this how it was done BITD?
I never had formal instruction on shifting theory and live in a flat area so I normally keep it in the big ring.
When I was double shifting, I used my right thumb to shift the FD and my fingers to shift the RD.
This one-handed approach seemed natural and worked well. Is this how it was done BITD?
09-09-19, 08:05 AM
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I can't speak to BITD, but I do all my shifts with my right hand.
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09-09-19, 08:11 AM
#3
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That’s how I have always done it as well.
For a double shift, the alternative would be taking both hands off the bars and reaching down for the shifters. I don’t think many riders would be comfortable with that scenario.
I shift with my dominant hand. Is that what others do?
For a double shift, the alternative would be taking both hands off the bars and reaching down for the shifters. I don’t think many riders would be comfortable with that scenario.
I shift with my dominant hand. Is that what others do?
09-09-19, 09:28 AM
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09-09-19, 10:57 AM
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09-09-19, 11:22 AM
#8
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Yesterday, I was riding in a hilly area and found myself having to simultaneously shift the FD and RD.
I never had formal instruction on shifting theory and live in a flat area so I normally keep it in the big ring.
When I was double shifting, I used my right thumb to shift the FD and my fingers to shift the RD.
This one-handed approach seemed natural and worked well. Is this how it was done BITD?
I never had formal instruction on shifting theory and live in a flat area so I normally keep it in the big ring.
When I was double shifting, I used my right thumb to shift the FD and my fingers to shift the RD.
This one-handed approach seemed natural and worked well. Is this how it was done BITD?
Unless the shifter on one side isn't well-accessible to the hand from the other side (i.e. due to geometry reasons), it would be silly to use both hands to do a double-shift.
09-09-19, 11:41 AM
#9
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I use my nose to shift the left lever.
09-09-19, 12:38 PM
#10
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Same here. All shifting done with the right hand.
That's why I now have one bar end shifter (on the right side, for the rear derailleur) and one downtube shifter (on the right side, for the front derailleur) on a couple of my bikes. Still all shifting done with the right hand.
That's why I now have one bar end shifter (on the right side, for the rear derailleur) and one downtube shifter (on the right side, for the front derailleur) on a couple of my bikes. Still all shifting done with the right hand.
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09-09-19, 01:22 PM
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09-09-19, 01:33 PM
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For double shifts, right hand as described. Typically the thumb is used to push the lever forward, index and middle finger to pull back.
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09-09-19, 02:53 PM
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Interesting how many people use one hand to work both shifters. Seems to defeat the purpose of putting them on either side of the downtube. 
Each of my hands is dedicated to its respective shifter. That gives both of them brief chances to come off the bars and rest.
Each of my hands is dedicated to its respective shifter. That gives both of them brief chances to come off the bars and rest.
09-09-19, 03:02 PM
#15
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Seriously, I use one hand for both levers, as did pretty much everybody BITD. Nobody switched hands to shift the other side, well almost nobody. If it works for you I guess it's fine.
I can and do use either the left or right hand to shift, one or the other. Usually right since I'm right handed, unless I'm braking at the same time or something.
I can and do use either the left or right hand to shift, one or the other. Usually right since I'm right handed, unless I'm braking at the same time or something.
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09-09-19, 03:03 PM
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I also shift exclusively with the right hand. I often rest my thumb on the top tube to stabilize my hand and use my fingers to shift the levers. I don't think that levers being on either sided of the tube is a problem, although when the aero bikes and components came out I was already a retro grouch, but having both shift levers closer together, I did like.
If I am shifting both the front and rear, I'll use my thumb on the front lever. At least I think that is how I do it since I don't think about it too much.
If I am shifting both the front and rear, I'll use my thumb on the front lever. At least I think that is how I do it since I don't think about it too much.
09-09-19, 03:43 PM
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Interesting how many people use one hand to work both shifters. Seems to defeat the purpose of putting them on either side of the downtube.
Each of my hands is dedicated to its respective shifter. That gives both of them brief chances to come off the bars and rest.
Each of my hands is dedicated to its respective shifter. That gives both of them brief chances to come off the bars and rest.
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09-09-19, 05:40 PM
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I remember my first time realizing I could do the one-handed double shift on a Raleigh Professional with Nuovo Record, at 14 years old. Sweet sweet memories of that bike. I remember later asking my dad, a very seasoned veteran cyclist and mechanic, if the one-handed double shift was normal or preferred, and he told me no. I think he was just trying to shut me up and stop me bothering him. 
09-09-19, 05:50 PM
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I use both hands, L/L and R/R. Sometimes my knee, if I'm not careful 
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09-09-19, 06:13 PM
#21
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For me it's left hand for the front, right hand for the rear.
I don't double shift, I just drop from the big ring to the small ring and take it lower from there. Probably not the way I'm supposed to do it but it gets the job done.
I don't double shift, I just drop from the big ring to the small ring and take it lower from there. Probably not the way I'm supposed to do it but it gets the job done.
09-09-19, 07:01 PM
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Thanks for all the replies.
When I'm riding locally, there's only 1 "hill" (University Ave for the home slices). It's very gradual, so usually I drop into the small ring and then futz around with the RD.
Riding in the hills and rollers, I found myself shifting quite a bit to keep my speed up. Totally different technique than what I'm used to - lots of back and forth.
When I'm riding locally, there's only 1 "hill" (University Ave for the home slices). It's very gradual, so usually I drop into the small ring and then futz around with the RD.
Riding in the hills and rollers, I found myself shifting quite a bit to keep my speed up. Totally different technique than what I'm used to - lots of back and forth.
09-09-19, 07:16 PM
#23
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I'm old and cocky enough to do half steps with one hand, front with the thumb and rear with the middle and ring fingers. Impresses the kids.
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09-09-19, 07:43 PM
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I never could learn the shifting both with one hand method. It was l/l and r/r. Then I went to barcons. Pinky/palm shift FTW. Also the split finger/thumb down "fastball" shift when you need to dump gears in a hurry. 
Last edited by seypat; 09-09-19 at 07:47 PM.
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