Really Stupid Question : STI Shifters
11-30-17, 07:15 PM
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Really Stupid Question : STI Shifters
This was my first year using "Brifters" and converted 2 bikes. My newest bike came with Shimano STI shifters.
Question: Why does the little shifter position indicator, move the opposite direction as the derailleurs move ? IN others words, when the chain is on the upper cog (low gear), the indicator is to the far right (indicating the small cog). (I'm discussing Claris 8 speed)
I find this confusing. And why didn't Shmano put numbers on these shifters ? Thanks for any explanations. KB
Question: Why does the little shifter position indicator, move the opposite direction as the derailleurs move ? IN others words, when the chain is on the upper cog (low gear), the indicator is to the far right (indicating the small cog). (I'm discussing Claris 8 speed)
I find this confusing. And why didn't Shmano put numbers on these shifters ? Thanks for any explanations. KB
11-30-17, 07:18 PM
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Not sure about claris, but my old tiagra bike the lowest gear is on the left. I would guess no numbers because they would be too small to read while you're riding safely.
11-30-17, 07:52 PM
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Thanks, My Claris, is the opposite, HIgh gear on the left, Low gear on the right. The indicator moves the opposite direction of the chain, as it moves across the cassette. KB
11-30-17, 08:35 PM
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Could this be because either the derailleur or the shifter is "high-normal" and the other component is "low-normal"?
See Sheldon Brown here (scroll down to "Low-normal vs High(Top)-normal"): Bicycle Rear Derailleurs from Harris Cyclery
Steve
See Sheldon Brown here (scroll down to "Low-normal vs High(Top)-normal"): Bicycle Rear Derailleurs from Harris Cyclery
Steve
12-01-17, 07:29 AM
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You could cover the indicator window with tape or fingernail polish. Most shifters don't have numbers.
12-01-17, 10:13 AM
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The "pointer" is attached to the shift (brake) lever/spool such that when you shift to a lower gear (wrapping cable onto the spool), you are moving the bottom of the brake (shift) lever to the left. The pointer, being attached to the lever, but viewed from above the pivot point, will swing to the right. Thus the movement of the pointer will be opposite the chain movement on the rear cogs.
Same thing for the front brifter/derailleur. Swing the shifter right, and the pointer moves left (or opposite the movement of the chain). Shimano could add tiny gear wheels inside the brifter so the pointer moves in the "correct" direction, but this would needlessly further complicate what is already a complicated component.
Same thing for the front brifter/derailleur. Swing the shifter right, and the pointer moves left (or opposite the movement of the chain). Shimano could add tiny gear wheels inside the brifter so the pointer moves in the "correct" direction, but this would needlessly further complicate what is already a complicated component.
12-01-17, 10:21 AM
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This was my first year using "Brifters" and converted 2 bikes. My newest bike came with Shimano STI shifters.
Question: Why does the little shifter position indicator, move the opposite direction as the derailleurs move ? IN others words, when the chain is on the upper cog (low gear), the indicator is to the far right (indicating the small cog). (I'm discussing Claris 8 speed)
I find this confusing. And why didn't Shmano put numbers on these shifters ? Thanks for any explanations. KB
Question: Why does the little shifter position indicator, move the opposite direction as the derailleurs move ? IN others words, when the chain is on the upper cog (low gear), the indicator is to the far right (indicating the small cog). (I'm discussing Claris 8 speed)
I find this confusing. And why didn't Shmano put numbers on these shifters ? Thanks for any explanations. KB
12-01-17, 10:58 AM
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Y'all need to ride in places with scenery that's better than the shift indicators on your bikes!
12-01-17, 11:23 AM
#10
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Could this be because either the derailleur or the shifter is "high-normal" and the other component is "low-normal"?
See Sheldon Brown here (scroll down to "Low-normal vs High(Top)-normal"): Bicycle Rear Derailleurs from Harris Cyclery
Steve
See Sheldon Brown here (scroll down to "Low-normal vs High(Top)-normal"): Bicycle Rear Derailleurs from Harris Cyclery
Steve
12-01-17, 11:24 AM
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12-01-17, 11:27 AM
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Another idea, with time to kill this winter, maybe I'll try and create a little decal with numbers, to place over the indicator window, before I just cover it. KB
12-01-17, 11:31 AM
#13
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Could this be because either the derailleur or the shifter is "high-normal" and the other component is "low-normal"?
See Sheldon Brown here (scroll down to "Low-normal vs High(Top)-normal"): Bicycle Rear Derailleurs from Harris Cyclery
Steve
See Sheldon Brown here (scroll down to "Low-normal vs High(Top)-normal"): Bicycle Rear Derailleurs from Harris Cyclery
Steve
12-01-17, 04:35 PM
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i stopped looking at my gear indicator along time ago i just use telepathy to send and echo location signal to my derailleur and compare it to the phase of the moon at high tide and it tells me exactly what gear im in , i also run a 30 ring cog so some where between 24 and 11 gear it causes a nitro boost and the fast and furious theme plays and i drop the world ...
12-01-17, 04:44 PM
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12-02-17, 07:18 PM
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Gear indicators serve only one purpose - to annoy and confuse people.
Ignore the thing. Sooner or later, you'll go to a higher level system which doesn't have the indicators, and you won't even notice. [/grouch]
Ignore the thing. Sooner or later, you'll go to a higher level system which doesn't have the indicators, and you won't even notice. [/grouch]
