3alarmer 

...that's what she said.

roadandmountain

I was underwhelmed when trying sti's when they were first introduced. The extra weight was immediately noticeable: the steering felt a bit more ponderous compared to my dt shifter bike. The oversized hoods looked unsightly. I didn't like bending the brake/shift lever inward.

Theoretically, being able to shift and brake simultaneously, and being able to do so without taking one's hands off the handlebar seemed ideal, but the execution just seemed very awkward. I tried it again on the 2010 models and STI seemed quite a bit nicer.

I think I'd prefer to be able to shift without moving the brake levers. Will take a look at sram and campy. Well, probably not campy since they're not spec'ed on a lot of bikes in the under $1500 range.

I'm sure by 2014 sti is quite nice. I find it a bit strange that there is still no consensus on how to make 'ergonomically correct' brake and shift levers after all this time.

v70cat

The issue is that it is not enough old school.

rebel1916

Everyone is different. So what is preferable to me may be subpar to you. Campy is the best of the bunch though.

LesterOfPuppets

6-speed seems pretty old-school to me.





But I'll be danged, they made it all the way to 8-speed!

Drakonchik

One of my Suntour Command Shifter salads! When it comes to shifting I like to vary my diet.

v70cat

I had a suntour briffters on a rental and they were hard to use.

Drakonchik

This configuration makes it easy, though possibly not for folks with small hands.

Right side is 8-speed indexed, running a slightly modified Shimano 8 speed cassette.

Left side is a rear 6 speed Command Shifter that operates the front derailleur. Results in the easiest triple ring shifting I've ever enjoyed. Personally I operate 9 different shifting systems on the 10 different bikes under my roof.

I don't operate any downtube shifters, though I have done so in the past. Personally, I am of the opinion that if I were meant to operate downtube shifters efficiently, physiologically speaking I would need to have little appendages growing out of my kneecaps.

roadandmountain

Aren't they using thumb shifters though? Isn't this essentially the same design of the non-STI sora design which was decried as not ergonomically correct?

Personally, I thought sora with thumb shifters was pretty darn slick. It worked very well as far as I could tell.

However, it seems like there is a double standard for campy parts vs. shimano parts. It seems like the campy acolytes are campy acolytes for it's own sake: praising everything campy does and decrying every shimano. Their loyalty is not based on rational or technical criteria, but is due to the simple fact that campy is campy. It's quite weird.

I would suggest that debates over component groups is often not rational at all: "oooh, campy is italian and exotic and shiny" vs. "ugh, shimano is japanese and utilitarian and has no 'soul.'" WTF? People actually apparently believe this!

Never mind that campy will screw you if you ever have a warranty issue, and will only repair instead of replace, and that this repair may take weeks or months, whereas shimano and sram usually send out a no questions asked replacement within a couple of days. Oh no, that's because campy is small and emphasizes quality control. It's insanity.

It's insanity.

rebel1916

It is superficially similar to Sora in external design. But it works more better. And anyone without freakishly small hands can shift from the drops without moving their hands. Although, I had a bike with 2300 and I could shift from the drops with about 1 inch of hand movement. It was substantially simpler than moving one's hand to DT shifters, for example.

In regards to your opinions on Campy, I'm just gonna say that they are ignorant and uninformed. It is your right as an American to hold opinions about matters you know nothing about, but it don't make you sound smart or anything.

Homebrew01

If you say so.

3alarmer 

...still wet behind the ears.

v70cat

What is the point of running 6 or 8 speed cassette? To prove that old still works?

Old is fine but it not as good. It might be fun to ride the old bike sometimes; I do but I like to ride my best and want the best equipment.

v70cat

That is really the point down tube might work but is not the best!

Long Tom

And so it begins (again)....

datlas 

I have a steel road bike running Dura Ace 6 speed freewheel in back and DT shifters. Honestly the shifting is perfect and although I like my 10 speed ultegra too, the older setups have their place.

LesterOfPuppets

Sometimes newer is better sometimes not. I like 1999 RSX 7-speed shifters way better than 2009 8-speed Sora, for instance.

v70cat

Sora is not the best or even second best

We are not living in 1999 or 2009, Di2 or even 105 is much better.

jdowdy411

It will never die....

v70cat

I know you don't race AKA ride a bike 10+/- miles a month; down tubes are all you need.

Motolegs

You have created a monster!


Getting closer to taking the plunge on the Mirage?

v70cat

Save your money and purchase a Cad 10 105.

ricebowl

Unless you like shifting way too much all you need is the rivendell stick shifter

LesterOfPuppets

Maybe 105 Di2 in a year or two! Whoopeee!

I loved my 6-speed 105, yes I did!

I hated the 9-speed chain that snapped on me, so I run 8-speed chain on my 9-speed Ultegra rig now.

Older is better bro

Motolegs

Already bought the Motobecane. Darn nifty ride too.

OP is a poor college student, likely laughing at the turns this thread has taken, over his savory steaming bowl of spicy ramen noodles. He can't afford a Cannondale.