Tricks for no-handed shifting of DT shifters

Phil said:

So I've begun trying to shift up for sprints on my road bike by using my
thigh/knee to whack the right downtube shifter while holding on the bars.

Shift with your teeth.

--Blair
"Kids, don't try this at home."

"Phil, Squid-in-Training" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

So I've begun trying to shift up for sprints on my road bike by using my
thigh/knee to whack the right downtube shifter while holding on the bars.

Does anyone have any tips on making it more effective/easier? I'm guessing
that it's like trials and BMX-type stuff... practice makes perfect... but
you guys always seem to have tricks up your sleeves...

Why, exactly, would you want to perfect this 'skill'? Are you just
curious about how it works and are trying it on a lark, or are you
actually racing w/ DT shifters and NEED this skill to be competitive?

If it's the latter, you'd be better served to just shift up before
starting your sprint, and train to sprint in a bigger gear. As I was
told waaay back when by a very successful masters racer, about the
time of the advent of STI, 'if you need STI to make sure you're in the
right gear at all times, your powerband is too narrow'.

Not that I necessarily agree with that, but he had a point.

Quoted message said:

Why, exactly, would you want to perfect this 'skill'? Are you just
curious about how it works and are trying it on a lark, or are you
actually racing w/ DT shifters and NEED this skill to be competitive?

Ehh... I only do the training rides with my team. I don't ride
competitively, but at the ends of our training rides, we normally do a 500m
sprint or something when we pass a certain sign on the road.

Quoted message said:

If it's the latter, you'd be better served to just shift up before
starting your sprint, and train to sprint in a bigger gear. As I was
told waaay back when by a very successful masters racer, about the
time of the advent of STI, 'if you need STI to make sure you're in the
right gear at all times, your powerband is too narrow'.

I usually do just shift up a couple, but I was just wondering if I could eke
out the last 2 or so gears before pushing it real hard. I've been getting
better at it... your advice is appreciated though.

Quoted message said:

Not that I necessarily agree with that, but he had a point.

True. Given that I don't race road, it's no biggie.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

"Phil, Squid-in-Training" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Why, exactly, would you want to perfect this 'skill'? Are you just
curious about how it works and are trying it on a lark, or are you
actually racing w/ DT shifters and NEED this skill to be competitive?

Ehh... I only do the training rides with my team. I don't ride
competitively, but at the ends of our training rides, we normally do a 500m
sprint or something when we pass a certain sign on the road.

Quoted message said:

If it's the latter, you'd be better served to just shift up before
starting your sprint, and train to sprint in a bigger gear. As I was
told waaay back when by a very successful masters racer, about the
time of the advent of STI, 'if you need STI to make sure you're in the
right gear at all times, your powerband is too narrow'.

I usually do just shift up a couple, but I was just wondering if I could eke
out the last 2 or so gears before pushing it real hard. I've been getting
better at it... your advice is appreciated though.

Quoted message said:

Not that I necessarily agree with that, but he had a point.

True. Given that I don't race road, it's no biggie.

My hunch is that if you're in a position to shift up a couple more
gears at the end of your sprint, then you're probably not in a big
enough gear at the beginning. If you can sprint the full 500m, try
winding it up at the beginning, sit down and spin it out for the
duration. If you need an extra gear toward the end, it shouldn't be
too tough if you're seated.

FWIW, the guy I referenced earlier was one of the best sprinters I've
ever seen, and he almost always finished his sprints in the saddle,
spinning like a mad man.