Brifters vs. Downtube shifters
04-02-14, 01:33 PM
#576
pan y agua
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I had fun a couple days ago. My girlfriend and I were riding our $300 road bikes at a snail's pace. A bike racer whipped by us. I caught up to him and challenged him to a race to the small hill about a kilometer away. He confidently agreed. He increased his speed to lead-out speed. I sat on his wheel. At the last moment, I whipped by him and beat him to the top of the hill by several bike lengths. His excuse was that he just rode 100 miles.
He was riding an expensive road bike with carbon wheels. He is a lean 20-something bike racer, probably cat 2. I was riding a heavy $300 aluminum mail order bike with downtube shifters, toe clips, toe straps, $10 sneakers from Walmart, and baggy sweatpants. I am a 188-pound 44-year-old who has not raced since 1991. I beat him despite the fact that my chain skipped because I need a new chain and cassette. It is very enjoyable to ride faster than guys who have expensive bikes.
To be honest, I did have to stop after the sprint to rest because I felt like my lungs collapsed.
He was riding an expensive road bike with carbon wheels. He is a lean 20-something bike racer, probably cat 2. I was riding a heavy $300 aluminum mail order bike with downtube shifters, toe clips, toe straps, $10 sneakers from Walmart, and baggy sweatpants. I am a 188-pound 44-year-old who has not raced since 1991. I beat him despite the fact that my chain skipped because I need a new chain and cassette. It is very enjoyable to ride faster than guys who have expensive bikes.
To be honest, I did have to stop after the sprint to rest because I felt like my lungs collapsed.
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You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
04-02-14, 01:58 PM
#577
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04-02-14, 02:06 PM
#578
Portland Fred
I wait with baited breath for tales of exploits against riders in PT, senior citizens, and kids on expensive bikes.....
04-02-14, 02:13 PM
#579
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Lol. You are saying that an overweight 44-year-old recreational rider like myself with a $300 aluminum bike with downtube shifters had a huge advantage over a serious 20-something bike racer with carbon wheels? I'll take that as a compliment.
Last edited by joe932; 04-02-14 at 02:18 PM.
04-02-14, 02:17 PM
#580
pan y agua
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Also, how do you know someone's racing category by looking at them?
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
04-02-14, 02:21 PM
#581
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04-02-14, 02:27 PM
#582
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I came from the day before brifters and when brifters were introduced I have never looked back or preferred DT shifters.
04-02-14, 02:30 PM
#583
pan y agua
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You don't see how your comment comes off as silly and pretentious.
First rule of holes would seem to apply here: When you find yourself in one quit digging.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
04-02-14, 02:43 PM
#585
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My story is true. If you choose not to believe it, fine. The fact that my story is apparently so hard to believe increases my sense of accomplishment and makes me feel still somewhat young.
It's as if I announced that I cured cancer or something. It was simply a fun story I wanted to share that was relevant to this thread because it involved downtube shifters. I did not expect the hostile reaction to it.
It's as if I announced that I cured cancer or something. It was simply a fun story I wanted to share that was relevant to this thread because it involved downtube shifters. I did not expect the hostile reaction to it.
Last edited by joe932; 04-02-14 at 02:47 PM.
04-02-14, 02:50 PM
#586
Senior Member
My story is true. If you choose not to believe it, fine. The fact that my story is apparently so hard to believe increases my sense of accomplishment and makes me feel still somewhat young.
It's as if I announced that I cured cancer or something. It was simply a fun story I wanted to share that was relevant to this thread because it involved downtube shifters. I did not expect the hostile reaction to it.
It's as if I announced that I cured cancer or something. It was simply a fun story I wanted to share that was relevant to this thread because it involved downtube shifters. I did not expect the hostile reaction to it.
Hardcore Roadies are sensitive lot. Why do you think they need constant positive reinforcement on all the expensive digital crabon parts they buy?
Tennessee.... LOL.
04-02-14, 02:58 PM
#587
pan y agua
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Originally Posted by R600Durace
We both approached to the foot of the climb and I was determined not to change gear. I have my power output set to 400w. roughly 19 mph. I glanced back at him and to initiate the challenge. He took the bait. He was slowly closing in to my wheel. I stood up and dropped down to my 13th gear and just blasted it up at 19 mph. Unless he has been racing, there is no way he could match my speed.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
04-02-14, 02:59 PM
#588
Friendship is Magic
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04-02-14, 03:00 PM
#589
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My story is true. If you choose not to believe it, fine. The fact that my story is apparently so hard to believe increases my sense of accomplishment and makes me feel still somewhat young.
It's as if I announced that I cured cancer or something. It was simply a fun story I wanted to share that was relevant to this thread because it involved downtube shifters. I did not expect the hostile reaction to it.
It's as if I announced that I cured cancer or something. It was simply a fun story I wanted to share that was relevant to this thread because it involved downtube shifters. I did not expect the hostile reaction to it.
04-02-14, 03:01 PM
#590
Mostly Harmless
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04-02-14, 03:04 PM
#591
pan y agua
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Search R600Durace.
There are several paths from here, blow it off and move forward, continue to flame out, or fade away. Option one is probably best for all concerned, Option two would be way more fun for the rest of us, and Option three would be dissapointing.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
04-02-14, 03:05 PM
#592
Still can't climb
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please stop using the term brifter.
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coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
04-02-14, 03:07 PM
#594
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04-02-14, 03:07 PM
#595
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04-02-14, 03:09 PM
#596
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04-02-14, 03:10 PM
#597
pan y agua
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Again I go back to the first rule of holes, when you're in one, quit digging.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
04-02-14, 03:11 PM
#598
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04-02-14, 03:16 PM
#600
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merlin, I loved your work in Top Gun.