Downtube Shifters
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: USA
Posts: 11
Bikes: Bianchi Brava 1986-1987
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Downtube Shifters
Are downtube shifters hard to use, just bought a bike that has them.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,892
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4791 Post(s)
Liked 3,918 Times
in
2,548 Posts
No. There is a learning curve but it is not difficult. You will find you can feel as well as hear when the chain shifts and when it is in good alignment with a cog. (There is far less housing and no mechanism inside the lever so the connection between the derailleur and your fingertips is quite direct.)
#4
I am potato.
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 3,107
Bikes: Only precision built, custom high performance elitist machines of the highest caliber. 🍆
Mentioned: 28 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1784 Post(s)
Liked 1,622 Times
in
928 Posts
Not hard at all, just takes a little practice.
__________________
I shouldn't have to "make myself more visible;" Drivers should just stop running people over.
Car dependency is a tax.
I shouldn't have to "make myself more visible;" Drivers should just stop running people over.
Car dependency is a tax.
#5
Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Arizona
Posts: 46
Bikes: Trek 460, Trek 1420, Schwin High Sierra
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times
in
11 Posts
Are they friction shifters or indexed? Indexed are easy to operate. Friction take a bit more practice and maybe a bit more planning ahead to avoid panic shifting.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Nor-Cal
Posts: 3,767
Bikes: lots
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1958 Post(s)
Liked 2,932 Times
in
1,489 Posts
Maybe go ride it and then you'll know.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: By theBeach and Palos Verdes, CA adjacent
Posts: 554
Bikes: One of each: Road, Hybrid, Trekking
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 137 Post(s)
Liked 115 Times
in
53 Posts
I like ‘em! More direct control of the shift. I feel a better connection with the bike. It’s the same reason I like driving stick shift sports cars.
#9
Senior Member
Aside from not being able to shift while riding out of the saddle, they're not really at much of a disadvantage compared with other shifter types on road bikes. For double-shifting (shifting front and rear simultaneously), they can actually be pretty nice, since you can actuate both shifters with one arm movement. Overall I do prefer bar-end and integrated shifters, but it's not like I never ride my bike with downtube friction levers.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Nevada County, California
Posts: 789
Bikes: Subject to change at any given moment but currently is...... Colnago Mapei, Colnago C40, Wilier Triestina Carbon, Wilier Triestina Ramato, Follis 472, Peugeot PX60, Razesa, Orbea Terra, Soma Pescadero and 1/2 owner of a Santana tandem.
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 331 Post(s)
Liked 782 Times
in
264 Posts
When compared to my three bikes with modern Campy Record, downtube shifters seem like a royal pain but when I simply enjoy my vintage bikes for what they are, I actually enjoy downtubes a great deal.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Paradise, TX
Posts: 2,087
Bikes: Soma Pescadero, Surly Pugsley, Salsa Fargo, Schwinn Klunker, Gravity SS 27.5, Monocog 29er
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 186 Post(s)
Liked 234 Times
in
166 Posts
Not hard to use. Finding them without looking down will take a few rides to get used to. I hook my thumb on the top tube so I'm not just stabbing at the air reaching for them.
Likes For c_m_shooter:
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
364 Posts
How tall are you? Assuming the bike is sized appropriately, the taller you are the farther you have to reach down for down tube shifters.
What's your riding style? If you are a top of the bar rider, shifting will require a greater amount of body movement.
What's your riding style? If you are a top of the bar rider, shifting will require a greater amount of body movement.
__________________
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
Likes For Retro Grouch:
#13
Senior Member
No complaints here. Easy to get the right gear; like was posted earlier, you can tell by feel and sound when you have it right. If not, just adjust.
#14
n00b
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,397
Bikes: Surly Karate Monkey, Twin Six Standard Rando
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 428 Post(s)
Liked 466 Times
in
273 Posts
DT shifters are fine until the Italians get you.
Last edited by mack_turtle; 01-14-21 at 01:38 PM.
Likes For mack_turtle:
#15
Senior Member
Note to self: Stay away from anyone on a Colnago!
#16
Zip tie Karen
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Posts: 7,004
Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1465 Post(s)
Liked 1,542 Times
in
806 Posts
I have ridden using downtube shifters since the early 1970s. As others have said, there was a time when friction shifting on the downtube was the most common type on better bicycles. Bar end shifters were also in use, even by professionals. We all learned to use them because we didn't know anything else. There were subtle differences between brands in how much you had to "overshoot" the downshift (toward the larger cog), and then back off the lever. I'm looking at you, Campagnolo, and to a lesser extent SunTour. This had to be done by ear and by feel.
Fast forward to the mid-to-late 1980s when indexed shifting emerged, and that made a marginal improvement in how rapidly one could move across the rear cogset. Then the shaped teeth on the Hyperglide style freewheel changed everything. The chain jumped and settled onto the correct cog very quickly with less fiddling, even using friction shifters.
I have three friction shifting bikes now: two on the downtube and one with bar ends. They're fine for what they are, and are enjoyable to ride.
But after saying all of this, I prefer STIs for their ease of use. This is especially true in cold weather with cumbersome gloves or mittens. Plus, with added hats, and layers on the head, it's tougher hear the mis-adjustment of slight errors in friction shifting. With indexed shifting, you don't worry about that as much, if at all.
Fast forward to the mid-to-late 1980s when indexed shifting emerged, and that made a marginal improvement in how rapidly one could move across the rear cogset. Then the shaped teeth on the Hyperglide style freewheel changed everything. The chain jumped and settled onto the correct cog very quickly with less fiddling, even using friction shifters.
I have three friction shifting bikes now: two on the downtube and one with bar ends. They're fine for what they are, and are enjoyable to ride.
But after saying all of this, I prefer STIs for their ease of use. This is especially true in cold weather with cumbersome gloves or mittens. Plus, with added hats, and layers on the head, it's tougher hear the mis-adjustment of slight errors in friction shifting. With indexed shifting, you don't worry about that as much, if at all.
#17
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,924
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3352 Post(s)
Liked 1,056 Times
in
635 Posts
Not hard at all. And there are advantages, such as very little housing to wear, so shifting adjustment are few and far between. And it makes the bike much cleaner without all the cable housing flapping around.
They were around in the late 80s, and to my mind with down tube shifters, and lugged frames, it was a zenith in bikes.
They were around in the late 80s, and to my mind with down tube shifters, and lugged frames, it was a zenith in bikes.
#18
Full Member
I am 6'4" and do not find it to be an issue. The taller you are, the longer your arms are to reach the shifters.
Last edited by bikeaddiction1; 01-28-21 at 02:52 PM.
Likes For bikeaddiction1:
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 5,801
Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1943 Post(s)
Liked 2,164 Times
in
1,323 Posts
I still use downtube shifters, but went to index from friction in 2015. I have used STI’s and they are better, but downtube can be fun. They work well with a triple crank and massive gear changes can be down quickly.
I changed to index for those times when transitioning from downhill to a quick out of the saddle uphill and hitting the downshift perfectly. As I’ve gotten older I need more of a downshift and I wanted the shift to be there.
What I find interesting about downtube shifters is the right or left hand shift technique. I learned to use my right hand for the right shifter and left for the left. But there are those that use their right for both and reach across.
John
I changed to index for those times when transitioning from downhill to a quick out of the saddle uphill and hitting the downshift perfectly. As I’ve gotten older I need more of a downshift and I wanted the shift to be there.
What I find interesting about downtube shifters is the right or left hand shift technique. I learned to use my right hand for the right shifter and left for the left. But there are those that use their right for both and reach across.
John
#20
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,467
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4335 Post(s)
Liked 3,958 Times
in
2,646 Posts
Downtube shifters aren't difficult they just require some getting used to and a little riding skill but the shifters themselves are the best for usability. If you do find that you want to move your shifting up towards the bars which is not a bad thing these will help: https://www.gevenalle.com/product/audax/
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 6,319
Bikes: 2012 Salsa Casseroll, 2009 Kona Blast
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1031 Post(s)
Liked 208 Times
in
146 Posts
I grew up with downtube shifters, or worse, those friction shifters on the stem. Fast forward to the mid 90s, and I bought my first bike with indexed shifting. Then fast forward to the mid 2000s, and I kind of felt the desire to go back to downtube shifters, so I bought myself a mid 80s Schwinn LeTour Luxe. I tried to love it. Really. But after 2 seasons of riding that bike, I went back to my 90s era Bianchi hybrid, and eventually, a modern bike with brifters. I won't ever go back to downtube shifters.
Likes For MRT2:
#22
Full Member
I really like modern indexed shifting at your fingertips where you don't have to let go of the bars in a technical situation in order to shift. That being said, downtube shifters work very well, cost a whole lot less, need almost no maintenance, and never leave you unable to shift because they just don't break down.
Likes For bikeaddiction1:
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Brighton, Michigan
Posts: 661
Bikes: Optima Baron LR, '14 Nishiki Maricopa,'87 Trek 330 Elance, '89 Miyata 1400, '85 Peugeot PGN10, '04 Fuji Ace, '06 Giant Rincon, '95 Giant Allegre, '83 Trek 620, '86 Schwinn High Sierra
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 224 Post(s)
Liked 162 Times
in
106 Posts
Not hard at all. It's also nice to line up the RD perfectly with older DT shifters. You cannot fine tune a shift up/down with STI's like you can with DTs.
The only bad part is making sure you shift to the gear you need before a hill. Shifting gears with DTs on an uphill climb isn't the best.
The only bad part is making sure you shift to the gear you need before a hill. Shifting gears with DTs on an uphill climb isn't the best.
#24
BMX Connoisseur
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Canada
Posts: 774
Bikes: 1988 Kuwahara Newport, 1983 Nishiki, 1984 Diamond Back Viper, 1991 Dyno Compe
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 399 Post(s)
Liked 108 Times
in
69 Posts
I found friction shifting kinda nice on long distance rides. If for some reason the derailleur is a slight bit out of adjustment or the cables stretched on you or what ever. You can still shift without annoying clicking/chain rub etc.
#25
Full Member
It is just as hard on your drive train when shifting under load with modern indexed shifters. The derailleur doesn't know what type of shifter you are using. You just don't feel it in your fingers as as much as you shift with modern indexed shifters.