Thinking of getting me some gears to make a bit more versatile
It's got woodchippers with normal ie non sti brake levers
...so what's the best way to gear up- bar end shifter or down tube or sti
Any help greatly appreciated
Adding a down tube shifter will be the cheapest, but might not be the most practical, depending on what sort of riding you do.
I think it was only very early CCs, if any, that accepted DT shifters. They're not to everyone's taste, either - certainly not mine, but I ride big frames where the down tube is a fair stretch.
A bar end shifter's the cheaper option over STI. They're splendid things, too, provided you can live with the disruption that the cable causes you your bars (whether it's under the tape or over it).
Retroshift is another option, but a bit of a silly one.
Another vote for bar end shifters (also known as barcon shifters) here - simpler, cheaper and easier to maintain than STIs, and perfectly fine to ride with, but not as ergonomically easy to use as STIs. I'm currently running a JTEK with a Nexus hub on a cross bike, and it's just fine. I've run Dura Ace barcons in the past.
Retroshifts look pretty good in my book - half tempted to give them a shot, as I have the right downtube shifters to hand....
Nothing wrong with bar end shifters, am in the middle of fitting some shimano ones I've had a while on my Kaffenback. Not tried them but down tube ones are meant to be awkward. Been considering Microshift stis too.
Of course you could wander over to the CTC forum and look at the thread about using Kelly take offs and home brewed versions. Basically a downtube lever by your thumb.
I actually happen to have a kelly take off and lever kicking about. I prefered it alot to a bar end as you can shift from the hood. I only ride mountain bikes now so it's spare.
[url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-cyclocross-gear-shifter-kelly-take-off-1 ]http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-cyclocross-gear-shifter-kelly-take-off-1[/url]
It's got an 8 speed lever on just now but will take any other downtube lever.
Thanks guys- not sure how the Kelly jobbie would go with a - any experience?
as Justin would have as said on 'the Friday night project' - bad times!
bar end shifters on my cross check commuter. went from singlespeed too in similar scenario (run 3 x 9 although never use the granny). easy to plug in just take your tape off and retape it up after with plenty of electrical tape in the bend of the bars 🙂