Compared to other types of gear shifters, downtube shifters come at a low price. In addition, they are easily obtainable in the second-hand market. The installation of these shifters requires little tech knowledge and a few tools.
If you are a diy person, installing the system can take you less than 30 minutes. Downtube shifters have a much crisper feel because they use minimal cable housing. When you pull on the lever, it immediately begins to move the cable. Consequently, it is hard to brake while shifting gears. Generally, downtube shifters use cables to shift between low and high gears on a bike. There are levers found on either side of the down tube of the bike frame.
The left lever shifts the front derailleur, which moves the chain to a smaller sprocket in the front. The right lever shifts the rear derailleur, which moves the chain to a larger sprocket in the back.
When the rider releases pressure on the shift lever, the internal spring returns the shift cable to its resting position. Have you got an old bike lying around the house? This DIY project will breathe new life into your old bike by replacing the handlebars with downtube shifters.
Installing downtube shifters is a reasonably easy process that you can complete in a few minutes. Once you have bought a new downtube shifting system, the next step is to mount the levers. If the old system is still in place, you need to remove it first.
Then mount the shifter on the downtube. If your bike has bosses, you can go for braze-on shifters. A basic bike toolset such as the Bike Repair Tool Kit would be of great help since it contains most of the tools you will ever need for your bicycle DIY tasks.
The next bit should be installing the cable housing. It is advisable to use the old housing to get the correct length required for your bike. When installing the cable, it is advisable to start from the shifters on the downtube towards the derailleurs.
In addition, ensure that the shifter levers are closed before installing the cable. Run the cable from the front between the top tube and the downtube to the rear. The next step is to run the cable through the cable guard under the bottom bracket for the rear-wheel cassette. The last step is connecting the cable to the derailleur. Once the cable has gone through the cable housing, it needs to go through the barrel adjuster.
Finally, you need to pull the cable tight, fasten it with the derailleur cable bolt, and trim the end, leaving an allowance of about one inch. Yes, some manufacturers have continued with the production of downtube shifters despite the advent of new systems. They are still a staple on many bikes to this day. Downtube shifters were the first type of gear shifters for derailleur bikes, and they remained popular through the 90s. Shimano and Sram continue to produce this classic gear changer, though the market is very saturated with different shifters.
I finally got sick of it. I now use friction DT shifters,and everything works fine. I find 3x fronts to be difficult with DT shifters, but it's probably psychology. They have just the right shape to the lever Lesser mentioned keys to smooth friction shifting are using narrower modern chains: on a speed cluster, an 8 speed chain will find the gear more cleanly. Also modern SIS era derailleurs with self-centering "certeron" guide pulleys help reduce the need to fine tune the shifter.
I've been slowly finding retrofriction DT shifters for my bikes and they are just the best. Old Simplex or Campy C-record Dopplers. They can't be beat. Yes, you're stuck in the Paleozoic era. In fact, you've conveniently left out that onall touring bikes, all cables are routed externally, regardless of whatever you'll use downtube or STI shifters.
In the later case, you simply thread the cable though the STI lever, through the cable housing, and through the cable stop on the downtube. Downtube shifters are the best thing ever, especially indexed ones, they're just way better than sti, where you can upshift only one gear hilarious for me.
Ok campagnolo can upshift more but still don't give freedom of downtube shifters. Now they came up with electronic but they still don't give freedom of downtube shifters I won't mention immense complication and need for programming and of course cost. With downtube shifters I can shift front and rear with one hand, I never look what I gear I'm on because I feel where the shifter is, also gear changes are quicker even quicker than electronic they're just instant because well my hand is faster than electric motor.
Not to mention I can shift without holding handlebar at all but that's just showing off. I fail to understand why doesn't everybody still use them, they're simple and brilliant, and they're very easy to use as they don't take any thinking which is up and which is down sti can be most confusing, like "SRAM" where up is left and down is also left….
Also they're very light it's just tiny piece of metal vs huge mechanism with ratchets and springs. They're also not dangerous at all, like some say, I never had any problem, what's worst that can happen is that you break your nail if you really try and put your finger into the wheel, but you can do that and easier with sti's as the shifter button is right behind the lever. I'm 75 years old and still use friction shifters. If someone thinks their body is getting to old for downtube shifting Gevenalle has put the friction shifter on the brake lever.
I haven't tried these, but I'm thinking about it. Another option is stem shifters. I know they get a bad rap but that's because they should be used on upright city type handlebars not drop bars. A set of Simplex stem shifters on a city bar bike would work just fine.
I still use suntour dt friction shifters on my road bike, which I bought new and have ridden ever since. I have upgraded most other components but still love the original shifters. Something I haven't seen anyone mention yet in this thread is reliability. Not even the time the rear thru-axle broke--I just reset the limit svrews and rode home.
Down-tube friction shifters are bullet-proof. Even broken cables can be salvaged, jerry-rigged, and used to ride home. When my brifter cable broke right at the beginning joint with the steel head, I had to jam the derailer so it would stay fixed in one gear and limp home.
For long-distance, remote riding, give me downtube friction shifters any day. If you've ridden with them you do not even notice you are shifting. You just do it-directly to the correct gear you need--no shuffling thru all the other gears. Just no comparison with indexed shifters, which are so prone to breakage.
I've been running them on all my bikes since the early nineties and they absolutely never break or even wear out. No school like the old school! Post a Comment. One bike with the asymmetrical friction setup: 1 on DT and 1 bar end. My favorite bike has no shifters Another nostalgia piece, great stuff.
Totally agree on the C Record Groupset. I recently restored a Reynolds and ran it with the Delta brakes for a while. They look superb and work OK, only thing is the lack of adjustment. Have to disagree on Shimano of the era even being mentioned in the same sentence though. In my view, the only Japanese componentry that was appropriate for a top end bike at the time was Suntour Superbe Pro, that was beautiful stuff!
Still running a 25 year old Suntour hub on my training bike! I ran Superbe Pro as well, and it was truly gorgeous stuff. The series Dura Ace, to my reasoning, though, is just a little to angular but still pretty — certainly better than their new stuff. Guys, While I respect and love the bikes of the past, they are the past…. If you can get your hands on a super record, the performance is much better. I enjoy not needing to take my hands off the handlebars — and to be able to focus on the ride or the race ….
I had the pleasure of riding with Rob this past Saturday, and let me tell you, he is straight from the Milford Academy. Neither seen, nor heard a reference to Arrested Development. While you could hear my shifts from a mile away, I dont recall once during our 60km tryst through Duchess county an audible peep out of his bike.
Whether I was behind him or sidebyside, if I wasnt watching him intently, the whole process was over before it even started. There is certainly a heap of romance finished with grace I will now associate with Campy Record and dtube shifters. Currently own three outstanding bikes all with down-tube shifters. I do with my down-tube shifters what my friends with STI do not. I shift both front and rear derailleurs with one hand on both levers!
Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Skip to content. Toggle navigation. Aug 25 Mar 26 by frank. Post navigation Previous Previous post:.
Next Next post:. Shifting Sands Nov 7 Oh, and I fucking love thumbshifters. Accepting donations now. Pingback: Engine Mounting Studs. Nearly fell off laughing. After that I never saw the need to try Campag. But, like everything good in life, it takes work to keep them in proper working order. I still have my bike with Campa C-Record. Without the Delta brakes though. Pistolfromwarragul Totally agree on the C Record Groupset. I enjoy not needing to take my hands off the handlebars — and to be able to focus on the ride or the race … Happy riding..!
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