Shifting with downtube shifters
- Grog
- Posts: 488
- Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2007 9:35 pm
Re: Shifting with downtube shifters
Postby Grog » Thu Aug 16, 2012 8:55 pm
Any comments on downtube shifters vs headstem shifters?
- bychosis
- Posts: 7250
- Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:10 pm
- Location: Lake Macquarie
Re: Shifting with downtube shifters
Postby bychosis » Thu Aug 16, 2012 9:18 pm
Maybe I should put the bell on the down tube?
I seem to be getting the hang of shifting too. I don't shift anywhere near as often as on the MTB where the trigger is at your fingertips, but it's not hard. I've found it is easier to overshift a little then move back than it is to 'creep up' on the next gear.
-
- Posts: 5131
- Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:41 pm
Re: Shifting with downtube shifters
Postby rkelsen » Thu Aug 16, 2012 10:14 pm
Headstem shifters were usually installed on the low end "racers" of the 70s and 80s. Their best use is to indicate which bikes you should leave on the hard rubbish pile.Grog wrote:Now to really confuse the situation....
Any comments on downtube shifters vs headstem shifters?
- bigfriendlyvegan
- Posts: 3977
- Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2008 2:18 pm
- Location: Denistone, NSW
- Contact:
Re: Shifting with downtube shifters
Postby bigfriendlyvegan » Thu Aug 16, 2012 10:56 pm
+1 - and suicide levers. They're junk tags.rkelsen wrote:Headstem shifters were usually installed on the low end "racers" of the 70s and 80s. Their best use is to indicate which bikes you should leave on the hard rubbish pile.Grog wrote:Now to really confuse the situation....
Any comments on downtube shifters vs headstem shifters?
- WyvernRH
- Posts: 3179
- Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:41 pm
- Location: Newcastle NSW
Re: Shifting with downtube shifters
Postby WyvernRH » Fri Aug 17, 2012 8:38 am
Well, Yes/No on that one. The limitation you mention is a limitation on all indexed gear systems not just downtube levers. Also, providing you stick to one brand you can generally use any number of sprockets up to at least 8 speed as the spacing stays the same. Assuming you are not trying to mix an 8spd block with a lever that only has 5 indexes of course . But if you have a 8spd indexed Shimano lever it will work with 5->8 speed Shimano spaced sprockets, Shimano spacing is virtually industry standard these days since SunTour and Campag gave up using their own spacing on sprockets.Big_Red wrote:I'd have thought that indexing on DT shifters would be limiting as you are constrained to only using a freewheel or cassette with the sprockets a particular distance from each other. I'm considering getting a new wheelset for my old Paconi, which will result in a replacement of the suntour 6sp freewheel with a shimano 9 speed (casette) and relish the fact that it'll be just a swap of the wheels to achieve as the trimming between the gears is all manual.
You can run into problems with non-index systems as well when upgrading. Sometimes an older 5-speed lever just doesn't have the cable wrap needed to pull a particular type of rear derailleur across the 9 sprockets. Early Campag (and copies thereof like Gian Robert) are a good example of this.
Still, I have to agree that friction does give you the most versatility across the whole range of sprocket spacings and actuation ratios in rear derailleurs that various manufacturers have used over the last few decades.
Cheers
Richard
-
- Posts: 5131
- Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:41 pm
Re: Shifting with downtube shifters
Postby rkelsen » Fri Aug 17, 2012 9:36 am
Incidentally, I ran an A400 7 speed d/t shifter with an 8 speed cassette for a while. After the 6th click (at about 90 degrees) it goes into friction mode and you can keep turning it for another 90 degrees. The spacing of the cassettes is the same, and the 8th "click" into low gear was actually against the derailleur limit screw.
I still have it, but it has been supplanted by a Centaur Ergopower brifter.
- WyvernRH
- Posts: 3179
- Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:41 pm
- Location: Newcastle NSW
Re: Shifting with downtube shifters
Postby WyvernRH » Fri Aug 17, 2012 12:42 pm
That's interesting to know. Thanks for the info!rkelsen wrote:Incidentally, I ran an A400 7 speed d/t shifter with an 8 speed cassette for a while. After the 6th click (at about 90 degrees) it goes into friction mode and you can keep turning it for another 90 degrees. The spacing of the cassettes is the same, and the 8th "click" into low gear was actually against the derailleur limit screw.
Cheers
Richard
- frailer5
- Posts: 978
- Joined: Mon Dec 26, 2011 9:25 am
- Location: Sydney
Re: Shifting with downtube shifters
Postby frailer5 » Fri Aug 17, 2012 12:43 pm
Interesting. I missed some of the transition stuff back then. More familiar with really old stuff, like me. What's the go with these, when I finally get the pedals in an get on the road? Don't have a pic right now on the RHS shift lever, but pretty sure it has a half-round flip-out tension ring as well. What are the adjustment procedures on them; with that slotted cap?rkelsen wrote:You can also turn off the indexing on many of the Shimano downtube shifters.
OK, this one shows it...
Ricardo Elite, '87 Keith Davis/Pegasus, '92 Team Miyata Ti.
-
- Posts: 5131
- Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:41 pm
Re: Shifting with downtube shifters
Postby rkelsen » Fri Aug 17, 2012 1:35 pm
The LH downtube shifter in your photo isn't indexed. Most of them weren't. Some may have been, but I've never seen an indexed LH d/t shifter.frailer5 wrote:Interesting. I missed some of the transition stuff back then. More familiar with really old stuff, like me. What's the go with these, when I finally get the pedals in an get on the road? Don't have a pic right now on the RHS shift lever, but pretty sure it has a half-round flip-out tension ring as well.rkelsen wrote:You can also turn off the indexing on many of the Shimano downtube shifters.
The ring on the RH one isn't for tension. It's a 'switch' that allows you choose between indexing or friction.
- koen
- Posts: 691
- Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2011 9:29 pm
Re: Shifting with downtube shifters
Postby koen » Fri Aug 17, 2012 1:45 pm
- frailer5
- Posts: 978
- Joined: Mon Dec 26, 2011 9:25 am
- Location: Sydney
Re: Shifting with downtube shifters
Postby frailer5 » Fri Aug 17, 2012 3:35 pm
.... while you're there.... That refers to spacers in the shifter spindle mech?koen wrote:All early indexing allowed a switch to friction except maybe some really cheapo shifters. I ran/raced with these right into the 2000s and usually with more gears than the clicks as someone mentioned. It is easy to get 7speed indexing off 6 speed shifters using the rear mech limit as the last "click". The middle few spacers need to be 6 speed width though. Some late eighties Suntour rear mechs I couldn't get to cover 8 or 9 speeds ...not enough movement in the mech.
Ricardo Elite, '87 Keith Davis/Pegasus, '92 Team Miyata Ti.
- munga
- Posts: 7023
- Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2008 3:17 pm
- Location: wowe
- Contact:
- verbs and nouns
- Posts: 72
- Joined: Fri Jan 14, 2011 10:30 am
Re: Shifting with downtube shifters
Postby verbs and nouns » Fri Aug 17, 2012 6:43 pm
Andy MASH SF wrote:You ride a (brakeless) track bike on the city street because it’s stupid and reckless–and by default: bad-ass.
- munga
- Posts: 7023
- Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2008 3:17 pm
- Location: wowe
- Contact:
Re: Shifting with downtube shifters
Postby munga » Fri Aug 17, 2012 7:47 pm
- Mulger bill
- Super Mod
- Posts: 29060
- Joined: Sun Sep 24, 2006 2:41 pm
- Location: Sunbury Vic
Re: Shifting with downtube shifters
Postby Mulger bill » Fri Aug 17, 2012 9:16 pm
munga wrote:so it was two-speed with five transitioning ramps
London Boy 29/12/2011
-
- Posts: 807
- Joined: Sat Dec 19, 2009 3:38 pm
- Location: Perth, Western Australia
Re: Shifting with downtube shifters
Postby Stuey » Fri Aug 17, 2012 11:53 pm
- frailer5
- Posts: 978
- Joined: Mon Dec 26, 2011 9:25 am
- Location: Sydney
Re: Shifting with downtube shifters
Postby frailer5 » Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:55 pm
Got it, thanks Stuey. Would have taken a while to suss that out. Couldn't see any 'SIS'/'Fric' markings (though I may in full daylight ) but twisting through roughly 90º gives the appropriate feel in the lever. Thanks!Stuey wrote:Frailer, you'll see that little red arrow on the RH shifter points to either 'SIS' or 'Fric.' for indexed or not.
Ricardo Elite, '87 Keith Davis/Pegasus, '92 Team Miyata Ti.
- General Australian Cycling Topics
- Info / announcements
- Buying a bike / parts
- General Cycling Discussion
- The Bike Shed
- Cycling Health
- Cycling Safety and Advocacy
- Women's Cycling
- Bike & Gear Reviews
- Cycling Trade
- Stolen Bikes
- Bicycle FAQs
- Serious Biking
- Audax / Randonneuring
- Retro biking
- Commuting
- MTB
- Recumbents
- Fixed Gear/ Single Speed
- Track
- Electric Bicycles
- Cyclocross and Gravel Grinding
- Dragsters / Lowriders / Cruisers
- Children's Bikes
- Cargo Bikes and Utility Cycling
- Road Racing
- Road Biking
- Training
- Time Trial
- Triathlon
- International and National Tours and Events
- Cycle Touring
- Touring Australia
- Touring Overseas
- Touring Bikes and Equipment
- Australia
- Western Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- ACT
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Country & Regional
- The Market Place
- Member to Member Bike and Gear Sales
- Want to Buy, Group Buy, Swap
- My Bikes or Gear Elsewhere
- Cycling Brands
- Cannondale
- Garmin
- Giant
- Shimano
- Trek
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users
- All times are UTC+11:00
- Top
- Delete cookies
About the Australian Cycling Forums
The Australian Cycling Forums is a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.
Bicycles Network Australia
Forum Information
Connect with BNA
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.