F
On Apr 17, 12:54 am, still just me <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:33:36 -0700 (PDT), Jay Beattie
>
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >I rode across the US on a bike with 5sp friction bar end shifters --
> >and I much prefer my modern STI. And after all these years, STI has
> >never crapped out in the middle of nowhere or anywhere. I have index
> >bar ends on my commuter and don't like them because I have gotten so
> >used to being able to shift while standing and climbing. If I were
> >outfitting a touring bike, there is no question that it would use STI/
> >Ergo -- and if I were neurotic about it failing, then I would pack a
> >two ounce DT shifter just in case. -- Jay Beattie.
>
> Real men like a little friction!
>
> That said, and noting that my bikes are all retro-grouch friction, if
> I was riding cross country I would likely choose something that I
> could find replacement parts for in the majority of modern shops.
My coast-to-coast a couple years ago was done with friction bar end
shifters. When touring, I seldom (if ever) feel a need for a "right
NOW!" shift while standing and climbing. It's a tour, not a race.
On that same trip, my daughter had STI. She had consistent, but
minor, trouble shifting to the largest rear cog. She ultimately
learned to always double-hit the shifter to make that shift. This may
have been because we were pushing the envelope on rear cog size.
(Sorry, I don't recall the tooth count or derailleur model right
now.) But I certainly prefer my setup to hers.
IME, index shifting is stable and reliable on "normal" bikes. Still,
I have no interest in carrying an assembly of unrepairable wristwatch
parts inside my brake levers. I think bar end index, with a friction
option, make the most sense. (I also think you don't need as many
gears as are currently fashionable.)
BTW, I find index to be less reliable on a folding bike. Whenever
it's unfolded, the cables seem to need to go through their "settling
in" routine for the first, oh, ten or fifteen miles at least. During
that time, I can't count on one click generating one shift. And the
more complex cable runs make index a bit less consistent even when the
bike has not been folded for a while.
- Frank Krygowski
> On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:33:36 -0700 (PDT), Jay Beattie
>
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >I rode across the US on a bike with 5sp friction bar end shifters --
> >and I much prefer my modern STI. And after all these years, STI has
> >never crapped out in the middle of nowhere or anywhere. I have index
> >bar ends on my commuter and don't like them because I have gotten so
> >used to being able to shift while standing and climbing. If I were
> >outfitting a touring bike, there is no question that it would use STI/
> >Ergo -- and if I were neurotic about it failing, then I would pack a
> >two ounce DT shifter just in case. -- Jay Beattie.
>
> Real men like a little friction!
>
> That said, and noting that my bikes are all retro-grouch friction, if
> I was riding cross country I would likely choose something that I
> could find replacement parts for in the majority of modern shops.
My coast-to-coast a couple years ago was done with friction bar end
shifters. When touring, I seldom (if ever) feel a need for a "right
NOW!" shift while standing and climbing. It's a tour, not a race.
On that same trip, my daughter had STI. She had consistent, but
minor, trouble shifting to the largest rear cog. She ultimately
learned to always double-hit the shifter to make that shift. This may
have been because we were pushing the envelope on rear cog size.
(Sorry, I don't recall the tooth count or derailleur model right
now.) But I certainly prefer my setup to hers.
IME, index shifting is stable and reliable on "normal" bikes. Still,
I have no interest in carrying an assembly of unrepairable wristwatch
parts inside my brake levers. I think bar end index, with a friction
option, make the most sense. (I also think you don't need as many
gears as are currently fashionable.)
BTW, I find index to be less reliable on a folding bike. Whenever
it's unfolded, the cables seem to need to go through their "settling
in" routine for the first, oh, ten or fifteen miles at least. During
that time, I can't count on one click generating one shift. And the
more complex cable runs make index a bit less consistent even when the
bike has not been folded for a while.
- Frank Krygowski
