Do you really enjoy riding with downtube shifters?

[BRad704]

I got this 1991 Trek 2100 Pro and have only gotten to ride it once so far. While I love the nostalgic look of the DT shifters and lack of extra cables up front, it wasn't a very fun ride. Mechanically everything works perfectly, so it's not a problem with groupset quality. (Full Shimano 1055, FWIW). I just didn't like moving my hands off the bars to shift.

The neoclassical crankset thread has me thinking again about a newer groupset.



And I put on my nice road wheels just to see how they looked.



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[jtakeda]

Good quality indexed DT shifters are a joy to ride.

I used 10 sp indexed downtubes and loved it. Except on super steep dirt roads, wasn’t as convenient and required some strategy but it’s still fun!

[AngryScientist]

Yes i do.

all of my main rigs now use friction shifting, either bar end of DT.

Works for me.

[donevwil]

I'm waiting for the first person over 6' tall and 50 years old who says they truly enjoy riding with DT shifters (more so than brake/shift levers or bar ends).

[Jeckel30]

I like both. I have old frames with downtube shifters and an old frame with current 105. I think go with whatever gets you out on the bike more.

I check this thread every few days for inspiriation. https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/212733/

[fiamme red]

Yes, I do. All my road bikes except my Merckx have downtube shifters -- the Merckx has Campagnolo 10-speed Ergo. I probably shift somewhat less often on the bikes with downtube shifters, but they aren't less enjoyable to ride.

[Blue Jays]

My 1980s vintage Italian bicycles have Campagnolo Nuovo Record / Super Record drivetrains with downtube shifters. I love those bicycles.

[OldCrank]

I put a pair of Suntour bar-end shifters on many hundreds of moons ago.
Haven't felt the need for DT shifting (on my friction shift rides) since.

Pinky control FTW!

[fiamme red]

One nice thing about downtube shifters is that you can shift both front and rear with either hand. If I'm holding food in my right hand, I can use my left hand to shift the rear derailleur.

[palincss]

I didn't like them at all back in 1972 and now almost 50 years later I like them even less. My first shift with a bar-end shifter was an epiphany, love at first shift and "pry my cold dead fingers." I feel the same way today.

[jamesdak]

Well, I'm over 50 and truly love using DT shifters, both indexed and friction.

I also use totally modern setups on other bikes.

I don't get the despair of using DT shifters.

The friction setup on my Opus III is so wonderful to use and just the experience itself is a reward each time I ride it.

[OldCrank]

Not a despair thing James, and I hope I haven't offended any down tubers.
They work fine, and faster and more precisely of course.
I'm just lazy.

[zap]

It's been ages since I rode a bike with dt shifters......probably 13-15 years ago when I upgraded our tandem to Record 10. I could shift into a higher gears (5 to 6 to 7th cog) while out of the saddle using my knee.

Would I build a bike today with dt shifters? I don't think so. Maybe when I turn 80.....but that's when I said I would take up golf.

[superbowlpats]

I dont miss them. brake/shift combo levers are one of the greatest advancements in cycling imho. I spend 99.9% of my rides on the hoods, last thing i want to do is reach down to shift, especially on a steep out of the saddle climb. But DT shifters do look nice tho, especially the Campy ones.

[jemdet]

It makes for a different kind of ride. I love downtube shifting for mechanical simplicity and compatibility, but being able to shift while out of the saddle is big for hilly rides.