Shifters on the downpost
12-18-20 | 06:03 PM
#26
Death fork? Naaaah!!
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,535
Likes: 961
From: The other Maine, north of RT 2
Bikes: Seriously downsizing.
Stay tuned, sports fans, I've got something cooking on an older Klein.
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You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
12-19-20 | 01:28 AM
#27
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 153
Likes: 51
From: USA
Bikes: more than 20
I've never been a fan of down tube shifters. I've always ridden a 25" or larger frame and the dt is too far away to reach, my chin hits the top tube before my hand gets to the shifters on some bikes. I ran Suntour Barcons on nearly everything back in the day and still have them on a few vintage Raleighs. Longer legs doesn't always equate to longer arms, with a frame that had a 12" tall headtube, it means the DT shifters can be as much as 8" farther away than on say a 21" frame. Ad four or five inches of saddle height the reach issue gets even worse. These days, some 40 years later, its my gut not my chin that gets in the way but at 6ft 3in tall and over 300lbs, I pretty much gave up on road bikes except for a few upright conversions I still ride.
12-19-20 | 09:09 AM
#28
Senior Member♣️
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 4,075
Likes: 3,004
I love my vintage road bikes but two things bother me. The first is the pedals - I ride with SPDs even though they are not period correct.
Second, I use down tube shifters, but do not like doing so. I feel that they are unsafe. That said, I do not mind eliminating the down tube shifters for something that is period and, even in this case, model correct. This old German bike sports a set of Campagnolo Barcons which I find much easier and safer to use than their down tube siblings. Others may disagree...
However, in either case be it down tube or bar end, the user will have to learn to feel the shift, seeking that sweet spot each time until doing so becomes automatic...
Second, I use down tube shifters, but do not like doing so. I feel that they are unsafe. That said, I do not mind eliminating the down tube shifters for something that is period and, even in this case, model correct. This old German bike sports a set of Campagnolo Barcons which I find much easier and safer to use than their down tube siblings. Others may disagree...
However, in either case be it down tube or bar end, the user will have to learn to feel the shift, seeking that sweet spot each time until doing so becomes automatic...
12-19-20 | 09:38 AM
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,958
Likes: 1,243
From: Menomonee Falls, WI
Bikes: 1984 Schwinn Supersport, 1988 Trek 400T, 1977 Trek TX900, 1982 Bianchi Champione del Mondo, 1978 Raleigh Supercourse, 1986 Trek 400 Elance, 1991 Waterford PDG OS Paramount, 1971 Schwinn Sports Tourer, 1985 Trek 670
Yeah I got nothing against barcons, I have the Suntour ones on my Supercourse. I can shift quicker with the DT shifters on my other bikes though.
All my frames are 25 inch, or greater, but my arms are long, and as stated in an earlier post, way easier then going for the water bottle.
My favorites are the Suntour Superbe levers on my 84 Supersport, really nice feel, and probably the only reason I still have that bike.
Tim
1984 Schwinn Supersport
All my frames are 25 inch, or greater, but my arms are long, and as stated in an earlier post, way easier then going for the water bottle.
My favorites are the Suntour Superbe levers on my 84 Supersport, really nice feel, and probably the only reason I still have that bike.
Tim
1984 Schwinn Supersport
12-19-20 | 11:02 AM
#30
Banned.
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 27,199
Likes: 1,463
I've never been a fan of down tube shifters. I've always ridden a 25" or larger frame and the dt is too far away to reach, my chin hits the top tube before my hand gets to the shifters on some bikes. I ran Suntour Barcons on nearly everything back in the day and still have them on a few vintage Raleighs. Longer legs doesn't always equate to longer arms, with a frame that had a 12" tall headtube, it means the DT shifters can be as much as 8" farther away than on say a 21" frame. Ad four or five inches of saddle height the reach issue gets even worse. These days, some 40 years later, its my gut not my chin that gets in the way but at 6ft 3in tall and over 300lbs, I pretty much gave up on road bikes except for a few upright conversions I still ride.
Because they are, well, tall, I had no pity for them whatsoever. It’s a resentment thing.
