banerjek

This Sunday while I was on a ride, I got a voicemail from a neighbor offering to sell an old bike (1985 Motobecane Grand Record). He was moving out later that day, and I couldn't reach him via phone or text, so I asked my ex wife if she'd get the bike for me. Fortunately, she would.

I'd seen the bike before and knew what it was, though I probably should have paid more attention to size -- I wouldn't have minded another couple cm of top tube, though it's close enough that I was able to adjust it to a decent riding position.

Last night, I took it on its first real ride to run it through its paces. I haven't ridden DT or rat traps since the mid 80's, and the first thing that jumped out at me was that the shifting was awesome. On 9 speed friction, those gears were just snapping into place. Accelerating was a blast, especially on downhills because I was able to skip gears way faster than I can on my Rival or Ultegra setups. I was almost ready to convert my other bikes to DT, but downshifting when standing and shifting under load doesn't work so well. But still a great experience. The rat traps weren't bad either. I figured they wouldn't hold tight enough. But my normal pedals (frogs) don't have the greatest retention either so that worked out better than expected.

This bike is more upright than my normal rigs, so the aero and handling penalties were holding me back on the descents as were the low grip gatorskins on the wheels. Still, decent overall and definitely up to the job I have in mind for it which is basically a tooling around bike that I can lock to a rack when I go out at night.

Ironically, I'd been toying with getting Di2 for my race bike. But having actually ridden Di2, a variety of mechanical systems, and then comparing it to good 'ol friction DT, I sometimes forget how much money and technology it takes to make small gains.

Slackerprince

Pics?

S

bikemig 

Definitely didn't happen without pics.

I started riding my '93 Bridgestone RB-1 which I have set up with downtube shifters. I had forgotten how much fun they are as well. The main difference is that with downtube shifters you need to anticipate the shifting a bit earlier than with STIs or bar end shifters.

Rat traps aren't bad. I use bmx style pedals on my commuters; makes life easier when riding wearing street shoes.

banerjek

Obligatory garage door photos taken before bike was adjusted. Being able to wear street shoes on a bike is weird but it's nice to not have to lug extra footwear. Haven't done that in a long time.

I'm still getting used to DT again -- several times during my ride, my hands tried to use the levers to shift.

TrojanHorse

Ah, the joys of never having to stop to fiddle with the cable stop on your RD.

Dan333SP

But that's what the barrel adjuster on the downtube is for

kbarch

Lovely bike!

banerjek

Ironically, I originally bought it just because I was going to swap the wheels with the trashed ones on my commuter. But the bike is nice enough that it doesn't deserve that. In fact, my commuter deserves better wheels too. Riding crap wheels is not worth the price break.

roccobike

Very nice ride, great thread. I've got a Nishiki Medalist that I'm bringing back from neglect with Suntour Superbe friction shifters. It's a fun ride. But I'll pass on the rat traps.

OldsCOOL

My 3 main bikes have DT shifters. The Cannondale has 7sp indexed. All 3 have the clips and straps attached to Superbe and Campy pedals. Wouldnt want them any other way. Good foot retention and shifting is just a thought away.

Stucky

I've been missing downtube shifters..... Now that I've sold my Venge, my next bike will be a non-modernized old-schooler! I don't shift while standing/under load, so there's no downside to do0wntubes for me! There' no substitute for the directness and control you have with DTs.

79pmooney

I tried going with index shifting on one bike a few years ago. What a limited system! The shifter of that particular system could only deal with 7 cogs or fewer in a specific spacing. Then I (re)discovered Digital Technology (DT) shifting, where the shifters were interactive incorporating feedback. The same shifters could easily handle any number of cogs, spacing and tooth profiles. Pretty ingenious! Also state of the art weight and not far off from the very best aerodynamically. The ones I've used incorporated "Crash Guard", an equally ingenious invisible shield that protects the shifters in all manner of crashes. (That Crash Guard feature appears not to be patented and comes with every make and model DT shifter I have ever seen.)

I still have the index system on the bike I put it on but every bike I have had since has used the new "DT" shifters with SunTour, Sachs, Shimano and SunRace 7 speed freewheels and Campy 9 speed cassettes. I have never tried 8-speed but I hear that works too. In time, I will probably try 10 or 11 speed and report back if it can handle that. Interactive digital feedback technology works! And the power requirements are so low, the batteries last forever.

Ben