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Stem shifter have been known to cause serious injury to sensitive areas in collisions - even worse were the top tube mounted shifters of early 5 and ten speeds and "stick shifts" on muscle bikes - which is why they were banned from the U.S. marketplace.
It's not a matter of going over the handlebars, but if you hit something and slide forward off the seat, you could be in for a pretty nasty injury. But since you can pretty easily change them out for down tube shifters, it shouldn't really deter you from a bike that you otherwise are interested in. |
Originally Posted by rhm
(Post 9953230)
Going over the bars is potentially a dangerous business; but if you're going fast enough to clear the bicycle entirely, the stem shifters won't be able to hurt you.
Deal breaker? No, not at all. I would regard them as a warning light, though. Stem shifters will in most cases indicate a bike at the lower end of the price scale, and the combination of stem shifters with cottered crank and steel rims would tend to confirm that diagnosis. So the thing to look for, if a bike has stem shifters, is contraindications, such as a forged cotterless crank, aluminum rims, leather saddle, etc. If you see a Reyonlds 531 sticker (for example), don't let the stem shifters slow you down. http://www.company7.com/bosendorfer/...531_151113.jpg |
Is it worse to nail stem shifters with your nads than just nailing the stem with your nads?
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Originally Posted by LesterOfPuppets
(Post 9953827)
Is it worse to nail stem shifters with your nads than just nailing the stem with your nads?
Maybe it's safe to ride a stem shifter bike at moderate speed, with jeans!:) |
I think stem shifters are more likely to shift out of the way than impale you. You'd have to impact the lever exactly vertically or on an off-vertical vector that pushes the stem against its stop for the lever not to want to shift instead of impale, I'd imagine.
In reality normal riding-down-the-road type riding results in crotch-to-stem accidents so infrequently, it's of next to no consequence what type of shifters you've got. Heck, even most BMXers stopped running stem pads years ago. If you stay in your little ring and smaller cogs, stem shifters can actually widen the impact zone and soften the blow of the stem: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...m_shifters.JPG |
Here is my take on aluminum versus steel frames:
There's not much difference, really. They can both be built to ride stiffly or compliantly. I don't buy the rumors that aluminum bikes are bone-jarring. Steel frames can be repaired or modified easily. Aluminum frames can be mass produced more cheaply, giving you a high quality product at a low price. So for a new bike, aluminum frames are a better value overall, especially if you're not concerned about modifying or repairing it. And most people are not, nor should they be. I collect old bikes and rarely buy new bikes. That's why nearly all of my bikes are steel. There are more old steel bikes than old aluminum bikes. If I were buying new bikes, I'd be buying aluminum. Reasons: 1. The selection is wider. 2. They ride fine. 3. I don't do modifications often, and I don't repair frames often. I do both, occasionally. 4. The value is better. So in comparing steel with aluminum, it's important to compare ages. For old bikes, steel is the better value. For new bikes, aluminum is the better value. A year ago, I bought my first new bike in 29 years. It's a cheapo, generic fixie/free from Nashbar. I paid $304 for the complete bike. It has an aluminum frame. The bike is truly nothing special at all. I just couldn't turn it down, at that price. And I'm very satisfied with it, ESPECIALLY the way it rides and handles. And of course, it's an aluminum frame. I have no experience with carbon fiber. I expect I'll be speaking about it the same way I speak about aluminum in the future. They'll work out the dangers eventually, and they'll bring down the production costs. Right now, it's just too expensive for me, whether or not it's safe. I hope this little analysis of mine is based on facts and not emotion and sentimentality. That was my goal. |
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