gearbasher

I converted all my bikes to Campy ergos over the years. I haven't used downtube shifters in 10 years or maybe more. Well, I converted my main winter bike back to downtube shifters (the subject of this thread: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...mendation.html). Anyhow, it finally got cold enough for me to take the bike out for the first time.
To tell the truth, I was a little nervous throwing the first shift in heavy traffic. But after that, it just came natural. I guess it's like riding a bike. It did take me about 15 miles to get my "finesse" back. It also seems like I was shifting less and spinning more with the downtube shifters. That's a good thing in my book. I'm considering converting all my bikes back.

BTW: I only give myself partial credit, because they are indexed downtube shifters.
Just thought I'd share the experience. Thanks for listening.

gugie 

I think that's pretty common. When getting ready for my first Eroica I was worried about toe clips and straps and downtube shifters, but having done most of my lifetime mileage in my youth using that "obsolete" technology, it was pretty easy to get back into it.

Unless I'm doing a vintage only bike ride, I use SPD's, sometimes even just platform pedals. Most of my bikes have the shifters up around the handlebars, weather bar ends, brifters, or my new personal favorite, brake lever mounted Genevale style shifters.

bikingshearer 

For some of us who are tall and have acquired significant avoirdupois, Down tube shifters, friction or indexed, as a loooong way down for a decreasingly flexible back to handle.

cegerer

I've still got one bike in the stable with downtube shifters (a 1987 Alpineer with full 7400 Dura Ace gruppo). Indexed of course and it shifts beautifully! But as much as I love vintage race bikes, give me brifters for everyday riding

edit: I guess I actually have a 2nd downtube shifter bike - a 1983/84 Bob Jackson frame that will be built up with period-correct Campagnolo Record in the coming months.

Classtime 

Plus, round tubed bikes look better without all those cables and big fat levers.

seagrade 

You’ll be subconsciously trimming the front changer as you shift the rear and double shifting both all with the one hand again in no time…

Alternating between Ergopower and down tube friction shifters reminds me how much more thought had to be given to timing shifts in the good/bad old days and how much more often I shift with Ergopower now because I can.

zandoval 

About 10 years ago I decided to start ridding the back roads and needed a ChroMo indestructo frame so I set up a FUJI with 27 1-3/4 tires and went for it. It was my regular ride but was way to big for me. It was so tall I had to jump off of it when coming to a halt... Ha. I even had difficulty reaching the down tube shifters! No longer having room for Stem Shifters on the stem I silver soldered boses to the top tube and ran the cables from there. It worked just fine. After two years I got a ChroMo UNIVEGA frame and switched everything over.

I have had a few guys bring over their Indexed Brifters and Indexed Shifters and some times it has been a real chore ta get um working smoothly and accurately. Not so with straight friction shifters.

I know that we should smoothly transition through our gears back and forth. I think Brifters when set up properly do this well. But still, sometimes I just flick both levers on my down tube Left down and Right up and MASH AWAY WITH A SMILE...

repechage

My biggest adjustment was moving from Bar end controls to downtube shifters.
that was 50 years ago.
the rear mech just felt vague.
no so with those downtube levers.

I sold them off the next year, accumulated a set or two, I think one Suntour, one set Campagnolo. Perhaps with “index” housing the vagueness will decrease.

considering putting a set on my son’s bike as he likes to keep both hands on the bars.
his first road bike had a version of stem shifters- had a V dual paddle lever which he liked. But will also have to figure out index…
7 speed Shimano “tricolor”
he is of the index generation.
at least never turns down a ride with Dad.

DiabloScott

I converted my winter bike to DT shifters because the rain and gunk and cold kept clogging up the brifters. Not much that can go wrong with levers and a short bare cable.

I find it takes me longer to transition back to brifters in the spring (I keep reaching down out of habit).

79pmooney

After crashes too. I've never damaged DT shifters in a crash. In fact, I am not sure I have ever damaged a DT shifter, period. In my shop days, we took in bikes with damaged brake levers fairly often. Long, long before brifters. I've known virtually forever that the brake lever is not an especially secure place to put a delicate, expensive and critical piece of equipment.

My transitions are between DT and fix gear. I've reached down and searched that bare tube more than a few times.

gearbasher

I was amazed that I only tried to use the (non-existing) ergos once during my first ride. That was late into the ride when I was slowing for a stop light.

Aardwolf

My previous decent bike was a 1982 Holdsworth Avanti I bought new in 1983, a 'friend' broke the frame 10 years later.
2 years back on Ebay another 1982 Holdsworth Avanti being sold 3 miles away
And now a 1961 Holdsworth Cyclone.

So I've managed to avoid anything other than DT friction shifting, can't say I'm feeling any loss.
I suppose I should try the alternatives at some point - oooh maybe I need another bike.

Erzulis Boat 

I love DT friction. 90% of the time, I am using modern integrated stuff, but there is something very satisfying about reaching down, and with a delicate control moving the lever. The DT levers are all different, and some feel "better" than others. I really enjoy the tactile sensation of the little "bumps" and the symmetrical lever of classic Campagnolo. The C Record stuff doesn't feel as nice for example.

Dura-ace indexed DT shifters are downright cheating, the pinnacle of that location/method.

BradH

I've got STIs, bar ends, and DT shifters. I like the simplicity of DT shifters, from both a riding and installation/setup point of view.

I'm indifferent to indexing of the rear derailleur, but I prefer friction up front.

nlerner

I switched to DT shifters on my main commuter earlier this year, going from Campy ergos and a 10/8 Shimergo drivetrain to 8-speed friction. It actually started when I converted the brake levers to MAFAC non-aero and then figured I’d stick with something simple. I really like the feel of the drivetrain now though I likely don’t shift as often as I did before.

base2 

This thread needs pictures.
IMG_1390 by Richard Mozzarella, on Flickr

Brifters may by the best way to buy into the walled garden of system incompatibility in the name of quick shifts. But, DT Shifters are a sure-fire way to subtract a pound or so off a bike.

I've decided I like the Ene Ciclo 11-speed Downtube shifters from Velo Orange enough that I am considering another Weight-Weenie steel disc project.

SurferRosa

I rode this Falcon today. It's setup with Suntour 3200 friction shifters, a 1990 Record (8-speed) rd, and a new Sunrace 7-speed freewheel. The shifts are longer than with my SR or Victory rear mechs, but they're smooth and super quiet. The fact they require no overshifting like the older Campy stuff helps. Really happy with the Suntour shifter paired with the Triomphe fd too.

79pmooney

Better than the best friction IMO is the SunTour Power Ratchet as long as you have 8 cogs or fewer. And an identical shifter with finer teeth for narrower cog spacing would be the cat's meow for newer cassettes. I've seen that Rivendale apparently has such a shifter. I might even have to see about getting one and creating (probably with the help of a machinist) a top mounted version similar to the SunTour Symmetric shifters. I love the shifters on top of the DT. I wanted them back in '77 when I was riding the long rides of a dedicated distance racer. Hated hitting the left shifter with my knee and climbing walls in the 42-13. And one-hand shifts and fine-tunes are so easy.

My ti custom has a "braze-on" for the top mounted Superbe shifter. With Campy 9-speed and Mirage RD, very, very nice! But that Rivendale, set up like-wise would be better for my right hand with its old thumb injury. Pulling back against both the RD spring and the friction hurts, especially in cool weather. My Pro Miyata has the Symmetric. By design, the FD spring assists the rear downshift. My thumb likes! Only drawback to the Symmetric on that bike - the front tire is too close! I jam a finger almost every ride. Well, I did until I made a finger guard and installed it. Works. Rode the week of Cycle Oregon and touched the front tire once, just barely. No jam.

smd4

I’ve never used integrated shifters and don’t plan to. Dura Ace 7700 down tube shifters are perfect as-is in both form and function.

jon c. 

I took a break from riding for near 30 years. When I started again I tried bikes with brifters and they were fine. But when I got on a vintage ride with DT shifters it felt like the right way to do it. I understand brifters are objectively better, but the feel of DT shifting can't be matched.

zandoval 

BRAVO! Ya made my day...

Jimbo1983

I would like to know more about this bike. Looks very nice!

SurferRosa

In August, an acquaintance stripped the Shimano Santé from this late '80s 531C Falcon and sold me the frameset for $25. It's a little small, and I didn't need it, so of course I immediately bought a bunch of Campy stuff off eBay, plus new rims and built some wheels.

Since this is a dt shifting thread ... I found two packaged sets of those shiny '80s Suntour shifters in a bin at the LBS. Unfortunately, neither was complete, but together, they're perfect. Stylistically, they're very similar to Triomphe/Victory shifters, so they fit right in.

Jimbo1983

Well it looks great and sounds like you had a lot of fun getting it running

El Chaba

I like to show up at the local “fast” ride with one vintage bike or another from time to time. You can just feel the confusion seeping out of the heads of guys half my age who think they are fast when and old guy on a bike with a total of twelve gears, downtube levers, friction, 32 spoke box section rims, steel frame, rim brakes ( often centerpull) shows up and gives them hell…especially after “ the industry” has convinced them that they can’t complete such a ride without disc brakes, at least 22 gears, integrated electronic shifting, tubeless tires, aero wheels, carbon everything, and more electronic ***** on the handlebars than was used in the first mission to the moon.