On May 8, 4:31 pm, Ozark Bicycle
<
[email protected]> wrote:
> On May 8, 4:02 pm, "[email protected]"
>
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> <snipped for clarity>
>
> > those Kelly take off thumb
> > lever things
>
> Let's be clear, Russell. Kelly Take-offs allow one to mount dead-
> simple, ultra reliable down tube levers (or, just the business end of
> bar-end levers) in a location close to the brake hoods, a nice touch
> for those who want their shifters near their brakes, but don't want
> the limitations imposed by STI/Ergo/SRAM. Nothing to do with thumb
> shifters, AFAICT. Far from being a "complication", Take-offs allow one
> to switch from, say, Campy to Shimano RDs with the mere change of the
> RH lever (with the appropriate wheel, of course). Or, to switch
> between 7/8/9/10 speed rears with *either* the mere change of the RH
> lever *or* (when available, as in Shimano levers) a switch to friction
> mode. And, the appropriate change of rear cassette/freewheel.
>
> Sounds a lot simpler to me than worrying about getting the correct
> brifter or "converting" a brifter to the wanted configuration. Or
> rebuilding those brifters _when_ (not if) they fail. Or tossing the
> non-rebuildable ones.
What do you mean getting the correct brifter? I started with 9 speed
Ergo, Campagnolo rear derailleur, Campagnolo rear hub wheel,
Campagnolo 9 speed cassette. Pretty darn simple. They all work. No
getting the right this or that. Or an adaptor.
As for rebuildable Ergo, yes they are. When I crashed and broke the
shifter body, I was able to buy a new part and rebuild it. A friend
wants to change his 8 speed Ergo to 9 speed. Ordered the parts from
Mr. Chisholm's shop. Every now and then you have to do maintenance on
the Ergo by replacing the G springs. Every year I overhaul the hubs
on my bikes and regrease them. Used to annually overhaul my cup and
cone and ball bearing bottom bracket before these cartridge bearing
things became ubiquitous. I overhaul my headset each year too. I do
not own any cartridge bearing wheels but I hear they are prevalent now
days. And headsets have gone that way too. I suppose all of you new
bicyclists who bought bikes because of Lance don't realize maintenance
on bicycles used to be a common thing.
>
> <snip>
>
> > I use Campagnolo
> > on my bikes. Only Campagnolo. No adaptors needed. No
> > complications. It just works the way its supposed to work
>
> Campagnolo xx-speed only on a given bike. No simple options, no simple
> choices.
If I start with a Campagnolo 9 speed bike why would I want to change
it? I have 7 speed bar end shifters on a touring bike. Thought about
giong to 9 speed but as you say, no simple options. Have to buy a new
9 speed bar end shifter or 9 speed STI. Have to buy a new freehub
body to change my wheel from 7 speed to 9 speed. Have to redish my
rear wheel. Have to buy a new 9 speed cassette. Have to buy a new 9
speed chain. You speak as if changing the number of cogs on a bike is
simple! Have you ever done it? In the above scenario even if I
switched to friction only, all that would eliminate is buying the new
bar end shifter.