As title really.
Do they work with "standard" modern mechs? If so, how do they hold against the force of the mechs spring, without anyway of locking (like a modern mech does)?
Same goes for any unindexed mech I guess?
Ta, Duane.
As title really.
Do they work with "standard" modern mechs? If so, how do they hold against the force of the mechs spring, without anyway of locking (like a modern mech does)?
Same goes for any unindexed mech I guess?
Ta, Duane.
what the heck are 'suicide shifters'?
They're not suicide shifters
Mechs aren't indexed, shifters are (nowadays). It's a just friction from what I remember of old thumbies.
SO you mean downtube shifters?
They're a friction shifter, they rely on the friction of the mechanism in the shifter to hold it in gear.
Mech's are indexed anyway, only shifters are.
They have internal friction to hold the mech. That little D ring on the side turns to tweak the friction. Too much and the mech won't return, too little and it won't hold.
You're not very old, are you Duane?
those campag shifter were awesome......only bettered by suntour.
Of course you can also get indexed downtube shifters.
ohhhhhhh, down-tube shifters
that D-ring on the outside simply tightens up against the lever to provide enough friction against the spring of the derailleur whilst still allowing the lever to move, they were simpler times
The 'D' shaped clip on the outside controlls the friction in the shifter, you wind it in untill the friction ballances the spring in the mech.
Newer ones were indexed so the friction could be less as the 'clicks' held it against the mech spring, they usualy still had a switch to turn the indexing on and off as well as friction controll.
Only refered to a suicide shift on motorbikes IIRC though?
[edit] beaten to it.
Sorry, I meant unindexed shifters, not mechs.
Oh, didn't realise they weren't called suicide shifters on bicycles, thought they were.
And aracer, aye I guess, younger than you anyway, grandad
Too much and the mech won't return, too little and it won't hold.
Can still buy friction shifters for MTBs. Real simple to use. no maintenance, last forever.
![]()
http://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/m13b331s108p9236/SUNRACE_R90_SLR-R9_Thumbie_Shifter/RS_GB/25036
Cant remember where I read it but I think that D ring is used to tighten the shifter and provide friction so they don't return.
OK, cheers.
Basically, I want to fit a shifter to the seattube for a front mech, but don't have a cable stop, so thinking of bodging a friction shifter to the seattube...
The mechs used to have 2 springs as well, one on the mech like modern ones, and one on the bit where the cable pulled, so you could shift the whole cassette with the shifter, but the spring would just apply gentle tension to the mech only letting it shift up a gear when it engaged the teeth of the next one. Making it possile (in theory, if your brave) to shift down the entire cassette under full power.
Basically, I want to fit a shifter to the seattube for a front mech, but don't have a cable stop, so thinking of bodging a friction shifter to the seattube...
I did that, works fine as long as you can get the right size shifter for the seatube or seatpost (and never move the seat post up/down).
little known fact. Lance Armstrong used a downtube front mech shifter for all of his 7 tours wins. (not sure if he contuinued with it on his comeback) so yeah, they'll be compatible with newer mechs
I've got one of those old Campag shift levers lurking in a drawer in the garage somewhere. Lovely looking thing.
I still use downtube shifters on my Cross Check; ultra reliable and easy to set up.
Basically, I want to fit a shifter to the seattube for a front mech, but don't have a cable stop, so thinking of bodging a friction shifter to the seattube...
Why can't you move the seat up and down?
The mechs used to have 2 springs as well, one on the mech like modern ones, and one on the bit where the cable pulled
Not as standard they didn't - "modern" location of springs goes back a long way. You're referring to something a bit special there.
Will have to dig them out then, 80s shimano ones IIRC. You could pull the lever the whole way but it wouldnt shift untill you started pedaling.
little known fact. Lance Armstrong used a downtube front mech shifter for all of his 7 tours wins. (not sure if he contuinued with it on his comeback) so yeah, they'll be compatible with newer mechs
Why?
some of his lightweight climbing bikes had them to save weight. he didn't use them on all the bikes he used
guess it's lighter?
All you need to know about suicide shifters, plus lots of other fascinating facts.
APF
IIRC when indexed downtube shifters first came in, quite a few riders wouldn't use em as the distinctive click meant you couldn't do a stealth gear change.
little known fact. Lance Armstrong used a downtube front mech shifter for all of his 7 tours wins. (not sure if he contuinued with it on his comeback) so yeah, they'll be compatible with newer mechs
He used them because at the time there was no UCI minimum weight limit and they were lighter.
I love seeing the old boys in cross races with their downtube shifters.I have trouble riding and shifting the Ergos on my bars, and these old goats skip past me, one hand on the bars and one getting the shift just right..!
Getting a shift just right on non-indexed downtube shifters was really satisfying. I'd still never change back, mind..
You must log in to post.