Pros and cons of XTR

[Rayc]

If you find it hard to use trigger shifters, here are two other
options, I've provided solution for past customers.

Gripshift, no not everyones favorite but could be a compromise. Usually
the hands larger grip surface and strength makes for a lower shift
pressure.

Thumbshifters, costly but a great answer - use your whole hand or the
butt of your palm
who/how; ask your bike shop about Pauls Components for the shifter
mounts and use shimano bar end shifters. Malvern Bicycles Plus or
Shifterbikes? (The bonus could be 10spd)


Tamyka Bell wrote:

> I tried a bike with SRAM components and found that shifting
> was consistently good, except I had a bugger of a time
> trying to shift to bigger cogs because my thumbs were too
> small to push the lever far enough easily. Very frustrating
> - and it was meant to be a chick-specific setup!
>
> T

 

[Bleve]

Donga wrote:
> Tamyka Bell wrote:
>
> > I tried a bike with SRAM components and found that shifting
> > was consistently good, except I had a bugger of a time
> > trying to shift to bigger cogs because my thumbs were too
> > small to push the lever far enough easily. Very frustrating
> > - and it was meant to be a chick-specific setup!
>
> I agree. I have X9 shifters and halfway into the Epic I could barely
> shift to the big ring, my thumb muscles were so tired.


This is potentially a side effect of the SRAM 'we must be different,
but how?' groupsets. The X series shifters have a 1:1 ratio, while
Shimano shifters have a 2:1 ratio. So, you have to push harder
(roughly twice as hard) to change gears. They (SRAM) claim that this
makes for less shifting problems when bits get muddy. This claim is,
of course, open to ... debate.

 

[Dave Hughes]

On Mon, 09 Oct 2006 21:17:53 -0700, Bleve wrote:

> This is potentially a side effect of the SRAM 'we must be different,
> but how?' groupsets. The X series shifters have a 1:1 ratio, while
> Shimano shifters have a 2:1 ratio. So, you have to push harder
> (roughly twice as hard) to change gears. They (SRAM) claim that this
> makes for less shifting problems when bits get muddy. This claim is,
> of course, open to ... debate.

My experience is that the SRAM stuff just works, even when conditions have
gone to ****. Shimano is nicer when new, but not as tolerant of slop and
**** in bits it shouldn't be. So for racing offroad, particularly for
longer distances, SRAM gets the nod from me. I've also never had issues
with shifting pressure - in fact I'd have to say that the dual control
levers from Shimano are the hardest things I've used for changing the
front.

--
Dave Hughes | [email protected]
"My ambition, naturally, is to have a student quote my own words back
to me without attribution in a final paper. That's an office hour I'd
look forward to." -- Kieran Healy, on plagiarism

 

[Tamyka Bell]

Rayc wrote:
>
> If you find it hard to use trigger shifters, here are two other
> options, I've provided solution for past customers.
<snip>

I don't have problems with Shimano ones, only with the SRAM
ones.

Tam

 

[Friday]

Tamyka Bell wrote:
> Rayc wrote:
>
>>If you find it hard to use trigger shifters, here are two other
>>options, I've provided solution for past customers.
>
> <snip>
>
> I don't have problems with Shimano ones, only with the SRAM
> ones.
>
> Tam

I've ordered an XTR rear hub and I'll probably get XTR brakes and XT
derailluers.

Friday

 

[Bleve]

Dave Hughes wrote:
> On Mon, 09 Oct 2006 21:17:53 -0700, Bleve wrote:
>
> > This is potentially a side effect of the SRAM 'we must be different,
> > but how?' groupsets. The X series shifters have a 1:1 ratio, while
> > Shimano shifters have a 2:1 ratio. So, you have to push harder
> > (roughly twice as hard) to change gears. They (SRAM) claim that this
> > makes for less shifting problems when bits get muddy. This claim is,
> > of course, open to ... debate.
>
> My experience is that the SRAM stuff just works, even when conditions have
> gone to ****. Shimano is nicer when new, but not as tolerant of slop and
> **** in bits it shouldn't be. So for racing offroad, particularly for
> longer distances, SRAM gets the nod from me. I've also never had issues
> with shifting pressure - in fact I'd have to say that the dual control
> levers from Shimano are the hardest things I've used for changing the
> front.

Bearing in mind that my experience with these is non-existent in terms
of actually riding them, I'd have to agree that the combined
shift/brake levers as sold by Shimano on MTB's appear to be a bad idea.

Your experience re the shifting in mud etc has to be viewed in the
light of the possibility (I've never seen you, so this is a guess!)
that you're quite strong in the hands and don't notice the extra force
required to move the SRAM shifters. But, you cannot get something for
nothing, and the difference is real. Shimano made one choice re
leverage, SRAM made another.

 

[Tamyka Bell]

Bleve wrote:
>
> Dave Hughes wrote:
<snip>
> > longer distances, SRAM gets the nod from me. I've also never had issues
> > with shifting pressure - in fact I'd have to say that the dual control
> > levers from Shimano are the hardest things I've used for changing the
> > front.
<snip>
> Your experience re the shifting in mud etc has to be viewed in the
> light of the possibility (I've never seen you, so this is a guess!)
> that you're quite strong in the hands and don't notice the extra force
> required to move the SRAM shifters. But, you cannot get something for
> nothing, and the difference is real. Shimano made one choice re
> leverage, SRAM made another.

I will resist the urge to hazard a guess at the hand
strength training program

T

 

[Dave Hughes]

On Thu, 12 Oct 2006 11:50:32 +1000, Tamyka Bell wrote:

> I will resist the urge to hazard a guess at the hand
> strength training program

That microphone switch was very tough!

(oh, and being an ex-reformed-rockclimber does interesting things to hand
strength as well)

--
Dave Hughes | [email protected]
"Until we understand quantum gravity, we're not going to be
running Linux on a black hole" - Seth Lloyd

 

[Paulie-AU]

Front shifter for SRAM uses the same shifting ratio as shimano. Rear uses the 1:1 ratio.

I would hazard a guess that diffuculty shifting on the front is due to improper set up of front der, or streched cables. Personally I would run a shimano front der over a Sram unit.

 

[TimC]

On 2006-10-09, Bleve (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:
> Zebee Johnstone wrote:
>> I might ask City Bike to quote as they are easy to get to and have
>> treated me well before. (besides, anyone who has tubes in my bike's
>> sizes on the shelf is definitely on my good guys list!)
>
> You'd like the LBS I work at then, we have 'bent tyres, 'bent tubes,
> 'bent wheels ... even have 'bents on the floor to testride We lend
> out beards and long socks to go with them...

Bent wheels, eh?

One generally avoids riding down sets of stairs.

--
TimC
Skywalker> You are either with me, or you are my enemy.
Only a Sith deals in absolutes. -- Obi Wan Kenobi on George Bush Jnr

 

[Parbs]

TimC wrote:
>
> One generally avoids riding down sets of stairs.
>
Well duh! It's much more fun to jump them.

Parbs - seeker of stairs

 

[Dave Hughes]

On Sun, 15 Oct 2006 07:51:14 +0000, Parbs wrote:

> Parbs - seeker of stairs

Escalators are fun as well. Allegedly.

--
Dave Hughes | [email protected]
The trick to flying is to throw yourself at the ground and miss
- Douglas Adams