I know that stem shifters are generally considered to be undesirable, but Id like you hear from you guys about them. I've only had problems in that they get in the way, and Im afraid of getting dome'd by them when Im tucking. I am considering shifting to bar end shifters on this bike when Im building it back up but Im not sure. opinions?

For me, moving my hands from the drops or hoods to the top of the stem to shift is a very unnatural motion, requires me to move a lot more, and I sometimes even find it hard to hold my line while doing it. Reaching down to the bar ends or down tube to shift feels much more natural. YMMV and this could very much be a matter of what I'm used to.

If you've never used them, I highly recommend picking up a set of barends and giving them a shot.

Oh I dunno something about coming off the seat in a hurry and having "the Boys" gored by the shifters might have something to do with it.


I thinkyour on the right line of thinking with bar ends if the bike lacks down tube shifter bosses.

^ ha yeah well dome'd was intended for head and "head"

I've used stem shifters for about 4 years and I much prefer them to downtube shifters, much easier to reach but just a simple and reliable. Before that I had barend shifters but I went from drop bars to bullhorns with barend brakes so I had to find an alternate. Stem shifters have one advantage - it's very easy to shift when your hands are on the tops without moving your hands at all. If I had drop bars now I would use integrated brake/shifters. The barends work well but you have still have to reach down to shift a lot of the time.

As far as the supposed danger of stem shifters, I think it's like the lawyer lips on modern forks. Someone got sued so no one will take the risk. I have somehow mysteriously avoided racking myself on the stem of any bike I have ridden in the last 40 years so I don't spend a lot of time worrying about that particular risk.

When looking at the typical road bar stem, I think if the boys are going to be damaged by a stem shifter, they are just a centimeter from damage from the stem itself. I think the issue of danger with stem shifters is mostly psychological.

I think they are actually pretty fun on the right bike, along with well adjusted suicide levers. IMO, The biggest problem is their reputation, the bicycling equivalent of leisure suits, they're seen as a tasteless relic of the 70's sold on mid/lower level bikes to hopelessly lumpen bourgeois masses who didn't know any better.

Some of the old stem shifters are pretty cool Suntour ratcheting power shifters, nicely made items.

Suntour Ratchet are pretty cool...Depending...Just sort of out of style. For a commuter I don't see any issues. The only thing to do would be to ditch the dope suicide levers if you are fitted with them. Those levers are just so clunky.

On the right bike (my Schwinn Continental and Varsity) cool, on the the wrong bike (my Bianchi or Volare) bad. Depends on your desire for cruising on a restored gaspipe Schwinn they are what they are. I like bar ends better than downtube or stem mount

Bar ends are awesome.. I love mine..

how do those ratchet shifters work? I just got a pair out of a dumpster and haven't put them on a bike yet.

Use what is comfy for YOU. See if you can try others' bikes with other setups (bar-end, brifters, wharever....). Don't worry what others think is undesirable/desirable. It's YOUR ride goldurnit!!

Its a Bianchi sooo it just doesnt look right having stem shifters. Im building the bike into a tourer so I thought the bar ends would really fit the look well.

Here is my Bianchi with the bar ends

The tall SunTour ratchet "Power" shifters were usually paired with a tall SR stem that is good for raising your drop bars up to saddle height, so hang on to the stem if you ditch the shifters. edit: (it will look similar to the Nitto stem on that beautiful Bianchi in the post above)

Gorgeous - the moustache bars w/celeste wrap are uber cool.

Its really not as old as a true classic/vintage but its late 80's or early 90's I think. Bigbossman would know I bought the frame from him.

I actually had to ditch the stem because the wedge nut was lost in shipping (dumbass shipper) and that angle of quill is not made anymore so i had to change the whole stem.

BTW stringbreaker Beautiful bike and I like the celeste colored room too.

Thanks it wasn't done on purpose its just the paint I picked out and when we got home I told my wife I couldn't believe I had picked that particular color. When she asked me what color I wanted while we were at the hardware shop I told her something in a green or blue and Oh well there it is. That is my music/bike room. I've since put the floor down and it looks like steel diamond plate its pretty cool. Nearly soundproof with lots of insulation in the floor and walls and ceiling. Its in the basement so I raised the floor with framing by 2 inches and laid in styrofoam panels in between.

The bars on that Bianchi have too much drop to be Moustache bars. What are they?

One of the bedrooms in my house is that color. I should get a Bianchi for it!

They look like midges

That's what I'm thinking.

to me, it's hard to get good leverage with my thumbs when i use stem shifters...it's harder to shift, and the motion involves a lot more movement and in more of a cramped-up position than with downtube shifters.

They are Gary bars by Origin 8 at least I think thats what they are the logos are covered by my headlight mount and the computer. The work pretty well but aren't as stiff as I would prefer. For my use they are fine.