Backup shifters
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Backup shifters
I am thinking of getting some friction shifters to back up my Shimano 8-speed RSX brake lever shifters. I am leaning towards bar end shifters rather than downtube shifters.
Will I need different cable ends? Can I simply pull the cable right off the levers and attach them to the bar end shifters? Do indexed bar end shifters have a "friction mode"? Am I paranoid?
Will I need different cable ends? Can I simply pull the cable right off the levers and attach them to the bar end shifters? Do indexed bar end shifters have a "friction mode"? Am I paranoid?
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If you have downtube bosses, then its much easier to keep an old friction DT lever as a backup. Converting from STi to bar-end needs longer gear cables, and re-jigging your outer cables. The spare is just to get you out of trouble, and a DT one can re-use the cable and takes no outer.
Bar end shifters do have a friction mode, and are great for touring, but too much hassle to use as backups.
Bar end shifters do have a friction mode, and are great for touring, but too much hassle to use as backups.
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Originally posted by MichaelW
If you have downtube bosses, then its much easier to keep an old friction DT lever as a backup. Converting from STi to bar-end needs longer gear cables, and re-jigging your outer cables. The spare is just to get you out of trouble, and a DT one can re-use the cable and takes no outer.
Bar end shifters do have a friction mode, and are great for touring, but too much hassle to use as backups.
If you have downtube bosses, then its much easier to keep an old friction DT lever as a backup. Converting from STi to bar-end needs longer gear cables, and re-jigging your outer cables. The spare is just to get you out of trouble, and a DT one can re-use the cable and takes no outer.
Bar end shifters do have a friction mode, and are great for touring, but too much hassle to use as backups.
In addition, I have found that down-tube shifters are just plain easier to rig and maintain than bar-end shifters. If you need to maintain or change the cables on bar-end shifters, you have to unwrap the handlebar tape and that is a hassle.
Also, SOMETIMES if the bike falls over or some other hazard gives a good wack to the bar-end shifter, it can pop out of the handlebar and be a real bugger to get back in properly.
If you are looking for something for back-up, use down-tube shifters.