Should your C&V "Beater" or "Pub Bike" have stem shifters???
04-14-23, 12:40 PM
#51
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Some 1970's Schwinns combined the fine UniShift levers on Schwinn's forward-offset, headset-mounted bracket for a great combination.
The Unishift levers were shorter than the levers normally used on their unique bracket, combining to give exceptional knee clearance.
But the standard Twin-Stick setup gave good shifting in it's own right, due to the generous leverage and comfortable lever shape.
Ignoring how much that it would weigh gave the Twin-Stick design team the freedom to make a truly great shift lever setup.
The Unishift levers were shorter than the levers normally used on their unique bracket, combining to give exceptional knee clearance.
But the standard Twin-Stick setup gave good shifting in it's own right, due to the generous leverage and comfortable lever shape.
Ignoring how much that it would weigh gave the Twin-Stick design team the freedom to make a truly great shift lever setup.
04-14-23, 12:43 PM
#52
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No where did bike-snobbery rear its ugly head more than bicycle racing.
At one of my USCF-sanctioned races as a teen, a competitor showed up at the starting line with stem shifters.
I overheard a few quietly scoff and say we would blast off at the gun.
The word got passed around to those in-the-know. We even participated in the paceline.
That dude got spit out the back within a mile. We never saw him at another race.
So, yeah, make sure to install the stem shifters.
At one of my USCF-sanctioned races as a teen, a competitor showed up at the starting line with stem shifters.
I overheard a few quietly scoff and say we would blast off at the gun.
The word got passed around to those in-the-know. We even participated in the paceline.
That dude got spit out the back within a mile. We never saw him at another race.
So, yeah, make sure to install the stem shifters.
04-14-23, 01:07 PM
#53
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No where did bike-snobbery rear its ugly head more than bicycle racing.
At one of my USCF-sanctioned races as a teen, a competitor showed up at the starting line with stem shifters.
I overheard a few quietly scoff and say we would blast off at the gun.
The word got passed around to those in-the-know. We even participated in the paceline.
That dude got spit out the back within a mile. We never saw him at another race.
So, yeah, make sure to install the stem shifters.
At one of my USCF-sanctioned races as a teen, a competitor showed up at the starting line with stem shifters.
I overheard a few quietly scoff and say we would blast off at the gun.
The word got passed around to those in-the-know. We even participated in the paceline.
That dude got spit out the back within a mile. We never saw him at another race.
So, yeah, make sure to install the stem shifters.
But once a rider has shown that they can/will take a few pulls, the equipment they happen to be riding starts to fade from significance.
Wearing flappy, vision-obstructing clothing on the other hand...
04-14-23, 01:19 PM
#54
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I remember that vibe, which I interpreted at the time to mean that racers didn't like having any inexperienced, possibly-unsafe riders in their midst.
But once a rider has shown that they can/will take a few pulls, the equipment they happen to be riding starts to fade from significance.
Wearing flappy, vision-obstructing clothing on the other hand...
But once a rider has shown that they can/will take a few pulls, the equipment they happen to be riding starts to fade from significance.
Wearing flappy, vision-obstructing clothing on the other hand...
It reminds me of a dorky-looking rider wearing a hockey helmet. We all rode the standard worthless hairnet versions.
That dude rode strong enough to stay with the junior peloton until the end, while I got shelled off at mile 45 of the 50-miler.
He earned my respect, while doling out the humiliation. lol
04-15-23, 05:39 PM
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I'm glad to see at least a partial acceptance of stem shifters here after all these years. I can now admit that I actually like them. My Favorite bike is equipped.
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