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down tube shifters cause me to move my right knee funny

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down tube shifters cause me to move my right knee funny

Old 04-30-10, 04:14 PM
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rumrunn6
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down tube shifters cause me to move my right knee funny

i mostly use the right lever. and I noticed that when i do I move my right knee funny to make room for my hand and arm to reach the lever. I suspect this may cause some knee discomfort.

can anyone elaborate on downtube shifter gestalt?
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Old 04-30-10, 04:18 PM
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quit being a retro grouch and get integrated shifters like the rest of us or take it over to C&V
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Old 04-30-10, 04:22 PM
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Whoa... I actually thought I had seen a post from a time traveler, but just another strange BF post.
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Old 04-30-10, 04:29 PM
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put right foot down, shift, resume pedaling. or get integrated shifters.
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Old 04-30-10, 04:56 PM
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Sure, the knee bows out slightly for one pedal revolution. I've never had any sort of discomfort as a result. If your knee cannot handle a slight deviation why applying very light power during a shift, I imagine hills, sprinting, and hard acceleration are out of the realm of the possible for your knee.
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Old 04-30-10, 05:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Ygduf
put right foot down, shift, resume pedaling. or get integrated shifters.
Agree with this, wonder how the OP can use the shifters while pedaling and w/o having to move the leg/knee out of the way
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Old 04-30-10, 05:39 PM
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Originally Posted by ultraman6970
Agree with this, wonder how the OP can use the shifters while pedaling and w/o having to move the leg/knee out of the way
and I've never even used DT shifters. How's that for problem solving on the fly. BAM!
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Old 04-30-10, 06:54 PM
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I have DT shifters on my commuter. You could try shifting with your left hand or not moving your knee. Also your hand only has to be there for a brief moment. It's pretty natural for me to just reach down off the bars and shift real quick. I also shift a lot and never notice anything about it.
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Old 04-30-10, 07:02 PM
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Originally Posted by AngryScientist
quit being a retro grouch and get integrated shifters like the rest of us or take it over to C&V
Ignorance is bliss, I guess.
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Old 05-01-10, 01:51 AM
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Originally Posted by ptle
I have DT shifters on my commuter. You could try shifting with your left hand or not moving your knee. Also your hand only has to be there for a brief moment. It's pretty natural for me to just reach down off the bars and shift real quick. I also shift a lot and never notice anything about it.
That's what I do. It's easier to cross over without moving your knees when done with the left for some reason.
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Old 05-01-10, 02:14 AM
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if the DT shifter makes you knee feel funny, then how exactly do you manage the water bottles?

as already noted, it's a temporary motion. Bad fit is more likely to cause knee pain, because you're in that position for prolonged periods.
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Old 05-01-10, 02:22 AM
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I ride DT shifters, and I'd have to make a conscious effort to analyse what I do with my knee and arm when shifting. The only odd feeling I've had to deal with is when I banged up my right thumb pretty good and had to shift with my left hand for a couple weeks.
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Old 05-01-10, 10:38 AM
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Here are three bikes I purchased with downtube shifters. Hint Hint Hint



Once you go to STI or Ergo, you won't go back. Downtube shifters actually feel weird to me now.
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Old 05-01-10, 10:44 AM
  #14  
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Originally Posted by roccobike
Once you go to STI or Ergo, you won't go back.
nah, I'm scouting CL so I can ride with DT shifters again
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Old 05-01-10, 11:26 AM
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i don't see how bowing out your knee for what probably averages out to 1 revolution every 1000 revolutions by the end of a ride can cause knee discomfort.
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Old 05-01-10, 11:35 AM
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You've just unintentionally given the 'pro-STI anti-dt shifters' crowd more arsenal to use against retrogrouches. Way to go!!!

BTW, I much prefer the ease and comfort of integrated shifting, not to mention the increased gear steps that usually accompany it. Yes, I know there are 10-speed DT shifters as well. But still.

On the other hand, I finally got myself a set of Simplex retrofriction shifters for a decent price. Now I just need a bike to test them on.
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Old 05-01-10, 12:36 PM
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You guys have more than one gear?

......and it's not FIXED????
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Old 05-01-10, 01:14 PM
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Originally Posted by roccobike
Here are three bikes I purchased with downtube shifters. Hint Hint Hint
The hint is that Bianchi would look 10 times better without alla dat cable housing coursing all over the front end of it.
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