The Anti-Brifter Club
01-31-15, 04:10 PM
#101
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The cheapest set of brifters that I have seen would cost more than the purchase price of any any bicycle that I own.
So I don't do that. I do think that having the shifter readily available is great, but barcons work for me.
So I don't do that. I do think that having the shifter readily available is great, but barcons work for me.
01-31-15, 04:21 PM
#102
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I want you all to know I am with you in spirit. Although I currently have 2 brifter bikes, I never rode one of them last year and the other only saw use once or twice. If I knew which, if any, Campagnolo (or maybe Sachs) shifter would give me good DT indexing w/ 9spd, I may consider replacing them.
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
01-31-15, 04:55 PM
#103
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Campagnolo Veloce 10-speed ergo brighter with Campy cables from Ribble in the UK: a bit over $80 on sale this weekend!
01-31-15, 05:33 PM
#104
Senior Member
I just realized that not only do I not own a bike with brifters, but I also don't have a bike with a freehub/cassette. All my derailleur bikes still have freewheels! Maybe I should start a 'Freewheels Forever' club.... 
01-31-15, 06:13 PM
#105
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No worries; just some good-natured ribbing. I am not such a snob to think that everyone should ride the same bikes with the same component groups on them. My cartilage problem is in the ankles; hence no more jogging for me.
01-31-15, 07:06 PM
#106
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Two of my five functional bikes have thumb shifters, the other three have bar end shifters. I have two frames on deck waiting to be built out and they will get bar end shifters as well. I tried brifters once recently and could not get jiggy with shifting with a brake lever. Just did not feel right.
01-31-15, 09:07 PM
#107
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Like Big Mig said, push big gears, all the time. (or was that good drugs?)
01-31-15, 10:26 PM
#108
Gouge Away
I proudly own many bikes with "brifters" and will sit over here in the corner by myself. I will say, however, that I was recently riding one of these bikes after a couple of rides on my older bike and I "air shifted" by reaching for the down tube. Are you happy now?
01-31-15, 10:35 PM
#109
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I'm in! I have, um... 15? 17? (possibly more) bikes and have never owned a brifter. I've ridden three brifterized bikes owned by other people and none of them worked exactly right. Could be they just hadn't been dialed in yet?
However, I'm not prejudiced against them on principle. In my past and future travels to the exotic shores of Briftastan, STIosia, Ergoland and Briftervania, among others, I am always willing to go with whatever the welcoming, big-hearted locals embrace, as long as they are providing plenty of liquor.
However, I'm not prejudiced against them on principle. In my past and future travels to the exotic shores of Briftastan, STIosia, Ergoland and Briftervania, among others, I am always willing to go with whatever the welcoming, big-hearted locals embrace, as long as they are providing plenty of liquor.
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● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
Last edited by Lascauxcaveman; 01-31-15 at 10:40 PM.
01-31-15, 10:57 PM
#110
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Question to the members -- are you drawn to the older technology because you grew up with it and have always loved it, or is it an aesthetic connection, or something else?
Yes
Only one complete bike but I would NEVER give up my Campy DT shifters.
My story is that I needed a road bike in the weeks leading up to my first Ragbrai (2009) and was completely ignorant about road bikes. I found a nice '91 Bianchi Eros on Craigslist in the nick of time and bought it, not having experienced downtube shifters or toe clip pedals before. As an example of my ignorance about bikes, I only realized a couple of years later that it had "lugs." 
Dear Lord, that's like dating women for most of your life and just now discovering they have BOObs.
Last edited by wineslob; 01-31-15 at 11:07 PM.
01-31-15, 11:02 PM
#111
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I only have 2 bikes: one with downtube shift levers and one with "grip shifters." Can I join?
02-01-15, 05:32 AM
#112
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Got one set of Shimano RX brifters. Left side doesn't work at all. Both need rebuilding.
I have no plans to mount them to any of the bikes in the basement, since bar-end shifters (with friction mode available on the fly) are what work for me. Yes, even on the mountain and utility bikes.
I'm not going to bust chops on anyone who likes brifters, though.
I have no plans to mount them to any of the bikes in the basement, since bar-end shifters (with friction mode available on the fly) are what work for me. Yes, even on the mountain and utility bikes.
I'm not going to bust chops on anyone who likes brifters, though.
02-01-15, 05:38 AM
#113
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-After all, it's the spirit that counts, like @Bianchigirll said.
That being said, I'd sooner see a mushroom cloud rise up over my house than see a brifter inside it!
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02-01-15, 05:47 AM
#114
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The coach kicked me out of little league and my den mother kicked me out of cub scouts. Never phased me.
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02-01-15, 09:07 AM
#115
Senior Member
The Anti-Brifter Club is seeking new members! Do you currently own a bike with brifters--STIs, Ergos and such? If yes...sorry. You are not welcome. Does the 1' reach from the drops to the down tube seem a trivial distance? Do you appreciate the beauty of an unencumbered brake lever? Do you have to take your hands off the hoods to shift? Yes, yes, yes? Good. You are not alone. Come ride with us.
The Rules:
1. In order to be eligible to join the Anti-Brifter Club (hereafter "ABC"), you must not currently own a bike equipped with brifters, a.k.a. integrated shift levers, including but not limited to Campagnolo Ergo, STI, SRAM Double Tap, Kelley Take-Off Shifters, etc. Ownership of a bike equipped with bar-end shifters does not constitute ineligibility.
2. ABC Members agree to use best efforts to not be excessively haughty, derisive to the point of being antagonistic, unduly insulting, or blatantly condescending toward those wayward C&V brethren who are willing to besmirch their bikes with offensive gadgetry.
3. Current ABC members who subsequently purchase a brifter-equipped bike must report in this thread to announce their ineligibility and immediate termination of membership, to be followed by great public shame and wringing of hands.
4. Any ABC member found in possession of a brifter-equipped bike, shall have his/her membership immediately revoked.
5. All disputes pertaining to membership eligibility shall be decided by a majority vote open to all ABC members. The decision shall be based on replies received within 48 hours of a motion by an ABC member to dispute said eligibility.
6. Rules subject to change.
7. Membership is free. Benefits are priceless.
8. To gain membership in the Anti-Brifter Club, simply reply in this thread and claim to your eligibility. Introductions and descriptions of your bike collection encouraged.
The Rules:
1. In order to be eligible to join the Anti-Brifter Club (hereafter "ABC"), you must not currently own a bike equipped with brifters, a.k.a. integrated shift levers, including but not limited to Campagnolo Ergo, STI, SRAM Double Tap, Kelley Take-Off Shifters, etc. Ownership of a bike equipped with bar-end shifters does not constitute ineligibility.
2. ABC Members agree to use best efforts to not be excessively haughty, derisive to the point of being antagonistic, unduly insulting, or blatantly condescending toward those wayward C&V brethren who are willing to besmirch their bikes with offensive gadgetry.
3. Current ABC members who subsequently purchase a brifter-equipped bike must report in this thread to announce their ineligibility and immediate termination of membership, to be followed by great public shame and wringing of hands.
4. Any ABC member found in possession of a brifter-equipped bike, shall have his/her membership immediately revoked.
5. All disputes pertaining to membership eligibility shall be decided by a majority vote open to all ABC members. The decision shall be based on replies received within 48 hours of a motion by an ABC member to dispute said eligibility.
6. Rules subject to change.
7. Membership is free. Benefits are priceless.
8. To gain membership in the Anti-Brifter Club, simply reply in this thread and claim to your eligibility. Introductions and descriptions of your bike collection encouraged.
However they're a bit too tough. For instance, my first ever road bike purchase was a Cannondale Carbon Synapse bike. Now it mostly collects dust.
Hypothetically-- let's say all of my other bikes were brifter free, and I was just left with the dust-collecting plastic bike. Would a picture showing the lonely bike sitting in the corner of my basement, collecting dust, be sufficient grounds for membership?
You see, plastic bikes have no resale value because people are afraid of whether or not its been crashed. So instead of selling, I hold onto it for some reason.
:-P
02-01-15, 12:57 PM
#116
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My stuff's too cheap: Three with downtube shifters, one with barcons, and the MTBSO has grip shifts.
02-01-15, 01:16 PM
#117
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Let's start a toeclips only club, next. 
02-01-15, 05:09 PM
#118
Senior Member
I almost went to brifters once, but realized that shifting both derailers with one hand on the downtube was just too damn cool to give up. I have heard that index shifting is starting to come on now! I don't believe in it, but I've heard rumors.
Marc
Marc
02-01-15, 06:35 PM
#119
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To have an appreciation of old bikes is to be Romantic, to have a fear of new ones is to be a Luddite.
I'm all for saying a ride is friction shifters only or other stipulation, or even to have a club for members of such bikes where they can only be ridden on club spins, but it's going to the extreme to exclude people for dabbling in other interests outside of said club or organised ride.
Indexing, Brifters, and Compact cranks with ever expanding granny cog, all allow beginners to get a foothold in cycling and this can only be a good thing. It's certainly how I got started, not sure I'd have persisted beyond the first few rides if I had to learn how to keep the bike upright, while trying to contend with friction shifters and ride a 42/23 on the hills.
So modern developments have allowed more and more people into cycling, some of those, like me - will get curious about old bikes later on and help contribute to the vintage cycling culture and keep the bikes from gathering dust. So an appreciation for the past is an admirable thing, just don't get stuck in it - or you'll end up like the guy in the next generation back who you think is stuck in the past.
As for the comments about indexing not working, someone who can't turn a cable adjuster properly to set up their gears properly is no different than someone who can't trim a friction shift - they are both minor skills to be learned through practice and a beginners bad experience shouldn't write off either as a hopeless cause.
I'm all for saying a ride is friction shifters only or other stipulation, or even to have a club for members of such bikes where they can only be ridden on club spins, but it's going to the extreme to exclude people for dabbling in other interests outside of said club or organised ride.
Indexing, Brifters, and Compact cranks with ever expanding granny cog, all allow beginners to get a foothold in cycling and this can only be a good thing. It's certainly how I got started, not sure I'd have persisted beyond the first few rides if I had to learn how to keep the bike upright, while trying to contend with friction shifters and ride a 42/23 on the hills.
So modern developments have allowed more and more people into cycling, some of those, like me - will get curious about old bikes later on and help contribute to the vintage cycling culture and keep the bikes from gathering dust. So an appreciation for the past is an admirable thing, just don't get stuck in it - or you'll end up like the guy in the next generation back who you think is stuck in the past.
As for the comments about indexing not working, someone who can't turn a cable adjuster properly to set up their gears properly is no different than someone who can't trim a friction shift - they are both minor skills to be learned through practice and a beginners bad experience shouldn't write off either as a hopeless cause.
02-01-15, 07:02 PM
#120
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I wouldn't run brifters If you gave me a top notch set for free!
Then again I'm not a fan of carbon either,.. I like my bikes with components that aren't ticking time bombs that will eventually explode and shatter....but that's just me.
Who knows, perhaps one day I'll own both carbon and brifters,..but for now I can't forsee a reason.
Last edited by RiseAlways; 02-01-15 at 07:07 PM.
02-01-15, 07:06 PM
#121
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02-01-15, 07:18 PM
#122
What??? Only 2 wheels?
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02-01-15, 07:26 PM
#124
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02-01-15, 07:32 PM
#125
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