I'll try this in the Touring Forum first because a lot of us are still using 9 speed drivetrains, and some may also use MicroShift shifters and mirrors

I am having trouble finding any 9 speed Shimano 4503 shifters. We have six touring bikes in our family set up with those shifters, and I am looking for something to replace them as they wear out or are damaged.

My questions are:

• Does the MicroShift R9 have the same/similar device molded into the front of the shifter to hold the rubber hood cover to the the front of the shifter?
• If it does will it hold a mirror like the Shimao shifters?

Front side of Shimano 4503 Shifter.



We all have the same mirrors

Have you thought about switching to wrist mirrors? I recently bought one to try, very cheap, and it is great!

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006402031709.html

I'm sorry I can't answer your question about the mirror, but my very close touring buddy ran into this same predicament a few years back when his Ultegra 9 speed brifter went belly up and he replaced them with the 9 speed Microshift shifters and never looked back. He really likes them and they now have a lot of touring miles on them without issues.

Thanks guys, I appreciate your experience and posts

Wow... incredible.

hi Doug, I hope you can find out about that specific part like on the Tiagras. We had some Microshift 9 spd shifters on a small road bike I sold a few years back, but I have no recollection about that part.
My cross bike similar to your volpe has the old 9 spd tiagra shifters, and frankly, if they break, I would simple to to ten speed shifters. Microshift or something, but just because I know my 9 spd bikes rear hubs can easily take 10 spd cassettes, but not 11 spd, so it would be an easy switch to 10.

Ive even thought of converting my Troll to ten speed also, but just never get around to doing it.
I like the idea of even with the same cassette range, having slightly closer ratio shifts.
I think I would like to try a 11 spd double sometime for a touring adventure bike setup, with a 40/26 or thereabouts, but am still really happy with the versatility of our triples.
Oh, and going to ten spd I think would be fairly confident that our 9 speed era cranksets and chainrings would work fine with 10 spd chains (but would have to really confirm that)

another late reply Doug--one thing I didn't think to mention is that given how you know and like the feel of the shimano shifters, the currently available Sora 9 spd shifters have a very similar feel when you shift (plus the paddles) whereas the Microshift ones I remember have a slightly more clunky feel to the shifts, as well as unless I am mistaken, a second button to shift up that is in a slightly diff position to the shimano paddles (or is it a thumb button, like the old Sora 8 speeds and Campy shifters, sorry I forget?)

major price difference I imagine though

Thanks David, I'll take a look at them. Fortunately we don't need them yet even though my shifters were getting pretty sketchy. I remember you using a spray lubricant on your shifters, and tried it. They seem to be working fine now

Good, I'm glad the spray thing helped. Just remember to respray again later in the season. It's so easy and not messy to do, makes it easy to redo.

me again, I forgot to mention how the shape of sti shifters can be quite different, so some can be more comfortable feeling on the hands than others.
The tektro shifters on my Genevale shifters are not as comfortable in the hoods as my old tiagra. The shape of them just isn't as good, is more angular in spots, and riding my tiagra 9 spd shifters this week (don't ride this bike much anymore) I immediately noticed the difference.

something to think about anyway, to at least try some hands on experiences with shifters beforehand if possible.
Riding my Troll with the Tektros is okay, so not the end of the world, but the difference is there.