What type of shifters do people like to run

[manual63]

What type of shifters do people like to run?

I used to love the old top mount thumb shifters. I don't know why they went away. I could just rip through the gears and I had the nice Deore indexed ones on my Kona in the mid 90's. Now I have to opt with the Shimano Trigger type. I did not like grip shift since they seem awkward to shift with and they were on my grips, which I use for holding onto my bike and I move my hands a lot.

Is there any company out there who makes nice thumb shifters for 8 or 9 speed?

[gopherhockey]

03' XTR.. nuff' said.. ;)

[KleinCrazy]

None!

[funky-funky-chicken]

Up until last year I continued to be a retro-kinda guy still riding a stockpile of 7 speed stuff because I could not give up the old XT top mounted thumb shifters.

I built up a bike last year with XTR trigger shifter thingys that I don't care much for. That bike is hanging in the basement now that I recently built a new bike that uses a Rohloff Speedhub.

The Rohloff is really cool, but it comes with a rotational style shifter and I wish that there were a different option.

I am in the process of having a new road bike done up... it will be downtube friction shifters.

There is a company in Europe that is making a mount for $himano's bar end shifters so that they can be used as 9 speed compatible thumb shifters on a mountain bike. I think that I will have to order me some and give 'em a try. Here is the link:
Forge-MTB (http://www.forge-mtb.com/shifters.asp?cat=FORGEMTB&catalog=FORGEMTBF)

[SPR]

I've grown accustomed to my Grip Shifts despite a few nuiances.
They are easy to maintain having few parts.
I rode my wife's bike last week with thumb shifters and had a hard time figuring out how to shift. :laugh:
My road bike has Campy integrated shifting which I like but I would be skeptical about this feature on the new Shimano XTR while riding off road. For anyone who is using this was it hard to get used to and do you experience any undesirable shifting while braking?

[Kingbozo]

John,

Do you have the integrated brake lever/shifters? If so, what is your take?

[socrates]

Originally posted by Kingbozo
John,

Do you have the integrated brake lever/shifters? If so, what is your take?

I do...I love it....just seems kinda natural (at least for me) and easy to use

[gopherhockey]

Originally posted by Kingbozo
John,

Do you have the integrated brake lever/shifters? If so, what is your take?

First lap at Lebanon I didn't like em'

By the second lap I was ready to remove the "cheater" thumb shifter.

Now... I love it so much I'd put them on my singlespeed if it had gears ;)

It is amazing, but it becomes on of those things you just don't think about - almost like their ad shows...

[Kingbozo]

It definitely seems to be an interesting concept. I look forward to giving them a test, but I'm running Hayes brakes so I don't see them in my future.

[manual63]

Originally posted by Kingbozo
John,

Do you have the integrated brake lever/shifters? If so, what is your take?

Uh, on a mountain bike???? I know road bikes have brake lever shifters. Am I clueless for asking what you are talking about?

[gopherhockey]

Originally posted by manual63
Uh, on a mountain bike???? I know road bikes have brake lever shifters. Am I clueless for asking what you are talking about?

You gotta start reading the mtb mags dude.. ;)


http://www.shimanoxtr.com

Skip past all the multimedia crap and eventually you can see the dual control XTR levers. (pick the non-broadband to get to the details... )

[zerpy]

Sorry that this is going off topic, but what good MTB mags are there out there? I was at B&N one day and all I saw was a couple of cycling mags that were pretty dedicated to road cycling. They might have had more but everything was pretty jumbled up and I didn't take a lot of time to sort through.

thanks
jas

[Kingbozo]

"Mountain Bike Action" is OK, but they have been getting a bit preachy lately. For example: they decided to no longer use the term "freeride" and have replaced it with "double diamond" (gag) I do like the level of detail in their reviews.

"Bike" has really good photography but can be read in about 10 minutes.

"Mountain Bike" is no longer available on newstands, just as a supliment to "Bicycling". I wasn't too happy about that.

[manual63]

Okay, Shimano has some web interface issues to deal with, but I get the idea.

So, next time I see you John, I am gonna steal your bike, but I will return it when I am done.

Hey, if I steal John's bike, I get to try out dual suspension and funky shifters in one shot......:)

[SickBoy]

FYI the old Shimano Deore thumbies work on 8 speed. They have an extra click on them. I sold the one pair I had to Hurl Everstone a few years back. For like $15, I think. And I lost his check so I guess I basically gave them away.

[jaybird]

I agree with John, the new integrated shifters is something to get used to. The concept is simple, once you get it in your head - push for harder gearing, click for easier gearing. Plus, Shimano has indicated that the rapid rise rear derailleur is on it way through the rest of their line up. :p

[SPR]

Originally posted by Kingbozo
"Mountain Bike Action" is OK, but they have been getting a bit preachy lately

A few years ago I read how they refused to run VooDoo Bike ads because they believed they held satanic references and this violated their 'moral standards'.
After hearing this I lost trust in what they wrote about and quit reading their mag.

[yetirider]

Dirt Rag is another MB mag that tends to have good stuff in it... I haven't had much luck finding it around here other than B&N in Eden Prairie...

[zerpy]

Cool, thanks for the info...

jas

[Trevize1138]

Saaaaaaaaaay ...

I bet WE could start up a mountain bike mag and quit our day jobs!

$)

[martini]

:D If I use gears at all, its thumbies all the way bro'! I use the Suntour XC-Pro 8 speeds that intermix perfectly with shimano's 8 speed. I've got two sets(not for sale, sorry), plus a set of Campy(yep Campy!:crazy2: ) thumbshifters that will also work with Shimano 8 speed. I refuse to go 9 as I don't think there's a need for a ninth gear. Shad, if you find a pair, snap 'em up! You'll be back to forever happy shifting. Eventually I want to find more Campy off road parts and biuld up a retro style bike.

DIRT RAG DIRT RAG DIRT RAG!

Sorry for shouting, but DR is the only magazine that really matters any longer(to me at least). They've got truely insightful commentary, are true geeks about more than just bikes, they truely love life, and it really comes through in the magazine. It certainly doesn't hurt that they're really down to earth folks who are engaging to talk to when they show up at events.

Bike is second, a far second and getting further back. Nothing against the freeride thing, but every freakin issue covers some aspect of it. Try something else! Mike Ferrintino's writing is the ONLY thing keeping BIKE afloat I think.

MBA=Mountain Bike Acne/fiction/hype/fashion before function. Uhg.

Mountain bike= RIP another hype driven mag there

Mountain Biking= utter crap

The Brit mags have good things going for them though. They ain't local:cheesy: but they're still cool to read. The best of the bunch though is Singletrack (http://www.singletrackworld.com/index.php?menu=1)({--linked!). What BIKE used to be before it was sold repeatedly.

[KleinCrazy]

A friendly hint to all you retro parts users.

Check out The SIbley Bike Depot in St. Paul for a HUGE selection fo retro bikes and noxes and boxes of parts. I even found a bike with a 1" tooth spacing chain?!?!?

If you need directions let me know.

Plus all the proceeds go to a nonprofit and if you become a member you get acess to the whole shop to work in.

[mtnbykr]

none....

i have been riding a singlespeed for seems like ages and my geared litespeed just sits there acting like a clothes rack :D

i do ride a geared roadbike but i have a ss on-one w/ 35c knobbys that i ride to work.

k

[TrailPatrol]

Sounds like a post about a 68 'Cuda.

I prefer SRAM Grip Shifters. I have 7.0 on the Trek, and the Smith will have 9.0 on it ;) My wife prefers Rapid-Fire Deore. I got used to Grip Shifts when we got the first bikes in Anoka Co. I have stuck with it ever since. I know it's just me, but I get confused by thumb shifters. With SRAM, up is up and down is down. :cheesy:

Magazines: Adventure Cyclist rules, dudes. (I don't believe I just used both of those words, and in one sentence, no less.) No fluff. Great, solid writing about bikes, touring and places to ride long rides. Columns on nutrition, gear and mechanics. The annual "Buyer's Guide" issue is appropriately titled "What Works...and what doesn't" and then they really do tell it like it is. They usually have the current issue at Bikemasters in St. Louis Park.

I also get Bicycling as a benefit of my IPMBA membership and my sister gave me BIKE for Christmas. I can take or leave both.

Ride safe,
:banana:
Hans

[Kingbozo]

Mountain bike= RIP another hype driven mag there

They did hype some stuff, but keep in mind they lost some major advertising revenue because they wouldn't give bad products good reviews. Rock Shox pulled their adds because MBs reviewers gave the SID a bad review. In the face of the threat, they stuck to their guns and printed their problems with the fork a second time.

Plus I really like Zap's and Dan Koepell's writing.

Now back to the subject-I can't stand Grip Shift, but I have no problem admiting they work well-just not for me. Too much shifting when I didn't want to shift. User error? Probably, but it NEVER happens with Rapid Fire. Apples and Oranges really. Try different stuff and go with what you like.

[CinderCone18]

i'm a fan of rapid fire. they seem to work the most efficent for me. but i have heard people say the same thing about grip shifters. but i guess it is what ever floats your boat. you'll ride the best and feel more comfortable with what you like.

[GearDaddy]

OK, I'll offer another 2 cent opinion on this one ...

I've used both Grip-Shift and Rapid-Fire extensively, and I'd actually have to give a slight knod to the newer Grip-Shift - really!

I am currently running XT Rapid-Fire on my main bike (because that's what it came with), which shifts very smooth in good conditions. But even with higher quality cables I still find myself cussing out the shifters when things get muddy and mucky and the shifters stop responding well. Also, even though you can kind of "throw" the up-shift lever to switch multiple gears, it's not very precise in hitting just the gear that you want, and you can't switch multiple gears on the down-shift at all.

The Grip-Shift is more precise as far switching multiple gears, and I always found it easier to "fudge" the gear shift by slightly over-rotating when things get sticky. The inadvertant shift thing was always a non-issue for me as well. The older Grip-Shift had some problems with the ratio of turn relative to a shift and it became difficult to operate if you were getting too much friction in the cables. Also, the front derailleur control downright sucked. But the newer Grip-Shift has solved all of those problems.

Hmmm. The new XTR integrated brake-shift lever sounds interesting. It seems as if it would be the worst of Grip-Shift and Rapid-Fire though, e.g a) inadvertant shifts would easily happen because you often have your hands poised on the brake lever when riding a technical trail, and b) it would have the same sticky response in muddy situations as Rapid-Fire shifters. But, I'd have to actually try it to see, of course.

And you singlespeed guys, that's great and all that you have no gears. But, I have ridden many a trail where a singlespeed is pretty much out of the question. So, what's the point? :kiss:

[jaybird]

The new XTR integrated brake-shift lever sounds interesting. It seems as if it would be the worst of Grip-Shift and Rapid-Fire though, e.g a) inadvertant shifts would easily happen because you often have your hands poised on the brake lever when riding a technical trail, and b) it would have the same sticky response in muddy situations as Rapid-Fire shifters.

I've been riding the new XTR for almost 3 months now and have come around to loving the differences. Initially I was also wary of the potential for inadvertant shifting too, but that has not been the case. The biggest challenge has been adjusting to the new shifting concept on the rear derailleur. The new XTR has a rapid rise derailleur, while a typical Rapid-Fire has the tension pulling the derailleur down. So the concept of what to 'push' and what to 'click' is reversed.

So far the issues you mentioned in the mud with a typical Rapid-Fire shifting have been taken care of. With the tension pulling the gear upward I have had no problems so far with the typical gear slippage in muddy conditions.

BTW - Shimano has released some prelim info on the 2004 XT group and it is pulling the XTR integrated shifting to that group too.

[socrates]

Dupe Post

[socrates]

Originally posted by GearDaddy
Hmmm. The new XTR integrated brake-shift lever sounds interesting. It seems as if it would be the worst of Grip-Shift and Rapid-Fire though, e.g a) inadvertant shifts would easily happen because you often have your hands poised on the brake lever when riding a technical trail, and b) it would have the same sticky response in muddy situations as Rapid-Fire shifters. But, I'd have to actually try it to see, of course.


The XTR did take alittle getting use to and when riding my old bike using the rapid fires now also take some getting use to....personally I love the XTR because it's all right there and easy to use, but then I felt basically the same way about rapid fires (but I do prefer XTR)...I've only used grip shifts a few times...not enough to get use too...but I can see me changing gears too often without meaning too

[funky-funky-chicken]

Originally posted by GearDaddy
And you singlespeed guys, that's great and all that you have no gears. But, I have ridden many a trail where a singlespeed is pretty much out of the question. So, what's the point? :kiss:

Those of us who ride singlespeed have two gears, thank you. One in back and one in front making a single speed. We can ride fast, we can ride slow.:p

[socrates]

Originally posted by jaybird
So the concept of what to 'push' and what to 'click' is reversed.


Great point..I had totally forgotten about that but now that you mention it that that was the hardest thing to keep straight (and it really wasn't that hard...but I did shift the wrong way once or twice at first)

[gopherhockey]

Originally posted by socrates
Great point..I had totally forgotten about that but now that you mention it that that was the hardest thing to keep straight (and it really wasn't that hard...but I did shift the wrong way once or twice at first)

The funny thing about it is that I can sit here and almost can't remember which way is which... it just *happens* when I'm riding. Guess it goes to show how the mind can work with some of these things... as corny as some of the XTR ads seem to be, there is a lot of truth to them I think.

I do remember clicking the wrong way once or twice as well though - right about the time I was also getting used to the rapid-rise feature. NOT a good thing to have happen when climbing... wrong way shift, skip 5 gears... break knees.

[Trevize1138]

Originally posted by GearDaddy
And you singlespeed guys, that's great and all that you have no gears. But, I have ridden many a trail where a singlespeed is pretty much out of the question. So, what's the point? :kiss:

No! Dan, stop! Don't go there!

DAN!

NOOOOOOOO!!! :shocked:

[socrates]

Originally posted by gopherhockey
The funny thing about it is that I can sit here and almost can't remember which way is which... it just *happens* when I'm riding. Guess it goes to show how the mind can work with some of these things... as corny as some of the XTR ads seem to be, there is a lot of truth to them I think.


John...I never said I could remember which was which either :)
but yes...it only took about twice trying to go up a decent size hill while shifting the wrong way before the mind started to remember which was which (but now that we're talking about it here I'm sure I'll start paying more attention when riding and screw up again...kinda like those rocks you want to avoid...once you notice them the homing device is already locked on and it's too late)