wkndwarrior

When I used Sora shifters, I always looked at and relied on the shift displays on the hoods. The thick red needle (not sure what else to call it) showed which gears I was in, and I didn't have to look down at my drive train to check.

But the 105 shifters (and up) don't have this display and the red needle. Why?? I'm going to miss the displays on the hoods, and I will probably be constantly looking down at my drivetrain to see which gears I'm in.

RT

Let your legs tell you which gear is appropriate.

wkndwarrior

That was my thought and I can do that, but still...

hamster

105's used to be compatible with Shimano's proprietary Flight Deck cycle computer, which had the capability to display current gears. I'm not sure if those are still manufactured.

Dunbar

I have a gear indicator on my hybrid but don't find it very useful. I use cadence on my cycling computer and feel to select which gear to use. I know I'm in the lowest gear (without looking) when I hit the mechanical limiter on the shifter.

aztimm

I noticed the same thing when I moved from my Specialized TriCross (with Tiagra) to my Tarmac (with Ultegra). After a couple of rides I got used to it though.

FPSDavid

Yeah, as others have said, knowing your cadence is really helpful. Doesn't matter as much what gear you're in as long as you're spinning a good cadence.

desertdork

And if your legs don't give enough information, a quick glance down tells all.

wkndwarrior

Can you describe that a bit more? I ask because, on one of my test rides (on a Roubaix), I was already in the smaller chainring when I shifted the front down... and the chain dropped! Had to stop and put the chain back on. I couldn't tell if I hit the limiter on the shifter (how do you tell?). Maybe because the ultegra shifters were new to me or it needed an adjustment.

FPSDavid

I think what he's referring to is that you try to shift and you're already in the highest/lowest gear and it won't shift any futher.

wkndwarrior

Right, I understood that. In that test ride, when I press the shift lever, should it have limited range of motion so that I know it's at the last gear? When I tried that, I felt the "shift", but the chain dropped off the smaller chainring... maybe that shouldn't have happened and the FD needed an adjustment. I don't know, it's all pretty new to me.

aztimm

If you try to shift and there's no gears left to shift to, it shouldn't shift. At least it is that way with my Tarmac/Ultegra. If I'm already in my easiest gear (with either left or right), and I try to shift again, the shifter just won't even move. If I want a tougher gear (for a downhill) and I'm at the end there, it will still click but not do anything.

Drag

Yup. I've never had a gear indicator on any of my road bikes. Never missed it.

phil15241

I can see the indicators being nice to see if you're cross chaining or not.

FPSDavid

Yeah, I'd check the limit screws if you can drop your chain like that.

RollCNY

Your ears are a very good indicator of cross chaining.

wkndwarrior

That, too. But my new bike will have a compact double instead of a triple, so cross chaining might not be a big deal on a double. I'm not really bent out of shape over having no gear indicators on the hoods, it's just something that I will miss.

and1homer

Sometimes I almost break my brifter trying to find a lower gear that doesn't exist. It really is quite depressing.

tntyz

This is really disheartening, especially when you just know you have one more gear . . . and it's not there.

Ooompa Loompa

I've got Sora shifters and I almost never notice the red needle. Like others have said I shift based upon what my legs tell me. Every once in a while I'll forget to shift the front from 52 to 39 (on a triple with 52-39-30), but once I start cross chaining I hear it and with a quick glance down to my front cog I realize my mistake and downshift the FD.

RaleighSport

:/ like was said, let your legs tell you. I'd much rather shift by feel then some preprescribed formula

getaklug

They look cheesey

Mondo734

Unlike everyone else who has posted I think it would be useful to easily be able to see what gear your in like the sora and tiagra shifters do. Currently I ride SRAM Apex and and have been riding this for 3 months I still think it would be nice to have quick visual to know what gear I am in. Especially when going up hill and I am tired it is much easier to look at your shifter and see how many gears you have left than it is to look down at your drive train.

SkyDog75

My primary bike has Campy Ergos. No gear indicators. My second bike, the sneaker/commuter/errand/foul weather bike, has Sora. When I first got the bike, I noticed the gear indicators on the brifters, but I don't think I've ever looked at them while riding.

Rob13

Well get use to it..