"dmgatti" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> **** Durbin wrote:
> >
> > In another thread, Jobst Brandt postulated: "Fear of riding with only one hand on the bars got
> > us away from downtube shifters...."
> >
> > Is that why most folks went to STI or Ergo shifters? Safety was not a consideration in my
> > switch. I was just looking to be able to shift more quickly.
> >
> > I am wondering if other riders share Jobst's opinion on the reason that most riders switched to
> > STI or Ergo shifters.
> >
> > **** Durbin Tallahassee
>
> I had someone go into a long speech about how important STI ss for safety. They said that it's
> dangerous to ever have one hand off of the bars. And they argued that "you have to look down to
> shift" with downtube shifters. Hence, they thought that no bike should have downtube shifters for
> safety reasons. But when I mentioned that most bikes have a water bottle just below the downtube
> shifters and that involves looking down, taking one hand off of the bars, reaching down and
> tilting your head back to drink, they just looked at me with disgust and walked away.
>
> So I stuck with my downtube shifters!
Good Answer! (and decision). I wonder if anyone here remembers Suntour Command Shifters??? I had a
set on my old Roberts for 4 seasons.... I recall an ad from back then stating that some team manager
for a US team loved them because he could outfit an entire team for the price of one set of DA
Sti's...... Ah, the good old days. There seems to be a myth circulating around that Barcon's are
unsafe because you can accidently trigger them with your knees..... That may have contributed (a
little) to their falling out of favour. (except, why are they still spec'd on quite a few Touring
bikes???? seems like a miss-shift would be more of a concern to someone with 100lbs of gear split
60/40 on front and rear racks going down a lengthy grade.....than a racer with lightning fast
reflexes.... hmmm). OT: Does anyone here remember Proctor Townsend (or just Townsend) Frames???? Any
tales to tell? Take care All. Keith.
*------------------------------------------------* < > < "The knack lies in learning to throw
yourself > < -at the ground and miss" >
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