In Praise of Down Tube Shifters - Show Your DT Ride
03-07-11, 11:19 PM
#1
"Chooch"
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Location: Prairieville, Louisiana
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In Praise of Down Tube Shifters - Show Your DT Ride
There are all sorts of threads on BF praising the advantages of upgrading your classic to brifters or switching to bar ends, but what about keeping the simple and efficient downtube shifters which were the favorite of countless pro cyclists for decades? Here's my DT ride - please share yours!
03-07-11, 11:27 PM
#2
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Think I had some Shimano Arabesque on the Cooper here... have since switched to Zeus shifters to match the new Zeus centre pull brakes I added.
03-07-11, 11:30 PM
#3
Senior Member
I like this one a great deal!
03-07-11, 11:52 PM
#4
Mostly Mischief
Hmm, let's see.. do I have any left? Oh yeah, this one:
03-08-11, 12:35 AM
#7
Dolce far niente
Yeah.... I have one of those. Even ride it once in a while:
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"Love is not the dying moan of a distant violin, it’s the triumphant twang of a bedspring."
S. J. Perelman
03-08-11, 01:40 AM
#8
Spin Forest! Spin!
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I like the simplicity of DT shifters, and the reach was never an issue, nor shifting.
Have two sets of Suntour Symmetrics, original and later style.
Here's a set of those Modolo Kronos weight wienie shifters...
Have two sets of Suntour Symmetrics, original and later style.
Here's a set of those Modolo Kronos weight wienie shifters...
03-08-11, 01:42 AM
#9
Senior Member
How about one of each?
These are my preferred bikes.
Circa 1988 Pinarello Catena Lusso - DT
1995 Specialized Allez Sport - brifters
As you can see by my sig there is no shortage of bikes at my house (some where around 25 bikes), but I picked this up to flip on Friday ('75 Raleigh Super Course MK II) but it may have found a home here. Looking at all the road bikes I own, only 3 have brifters.
These are my preferred bikes.
Circa 1988 Pinarello Catena Lusso - DT
1995 Specialized Allez Sport - brifters
As you can see by my sig there is no shortage of bikes at my house (some where around 25 bikes), but I picked this up to flip on Friday ('75 Raleigh Super Course MK II) but it may have found a home here. Looking at all the road bikes I own, only 3 have brifters.
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I'm happy to say that I own more Steel then Carbon. My Stable! ---> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmVZBep7
I'm happy to say that I own more Steel then Carbon. My Stable! ---> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmVZBep7
03-08-11, 02:33 AM
#11
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Bikes: 1986 Alan Record Carbonio, 1985 Vitus Plus Carbone 7, 1984 Peugeot PSV, 1972 Line Seeker, 1986(est.) Medici Aerodynamic (Project), 1985(est.) Peugeot PY10FC
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Brifters??!! Never!!!
My stash of retrofriction DT sifters for more C&V bikes to come in the future:
Chombi
My stash of retrofriction DT sifters for more C&V bikes to come in the future:
Chombi
Last edited by Chombi; 03-08-11 at 10:58 AM.
03-08-11, 03:21 AM
#12
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Of all the features, on a vintage road bicycle, the last thing I would praise, is the down tube shifter. In fact, it is the ONE thing I hate about vintage road bicycles. Brifters, now there is something worthy of shifting my attention to.
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"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
03-08-11, 04:33 AM
#13
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 11,128
Bikes: 1986 Alan Record Carbonio, 1985 Vitus Plus Carbone 7, 1984 Peugeot PSV, 1972 Line Seeker, 1986(est.) Medici Aerodynamic (Project), 1985(est.) Peugeot PY10FC
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I think DT friction non-indexed shifters carry a sort of sophistication to it and reminds me of when I play my violin, an instrument that do not have frets on the fingerboard, like some other stringed instruments..........It's all feel and finesse and if you are used to it, comes naturally without even thinking of it....just like playing a violin.....
Chombi
Chombi
03-08-11, 05:44 AM
#15
Death fork? Naaaah!!
Top
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You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
03-08-11, 06:27 AM
#19
aka: Dr. Cannondale
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Hard at work in the Secret Underground Laboratory...
Hard at work in the Secret Underground Laboratory...
03-08-11, 08:14 AM
#20
Velocommuter Commando
This is mine 47cm '88 Specialized Sirrus.
03-08-11, 08:30 AM
#22
car dodger
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1989 Schwinn Paramount OS
1980 Mclean/Silk Hope Sport Touring
1983 Bianchi pista
1976 Fuji Feather track
1979 raleigh track
"I've consulted my sources and I'm pretty sure your derailleur does not exist"
1989 Schwinn Paramount OS
1980 Mclean/Silk Hope Sport Touring
1983 Bianchi pista
1976 Fuji Feather track
1979 raleigh track
"I've consulted my sources and I'm pretty sure your derailleur does not exist"
03-08-11, 08:38 AM
#23
over the hill
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Not as impressive as already posted-I prefer DT over the BC and 'made it so'
[couldn't save the bar tape/temp for rideing]
