One real-world problem with them is the vulnerability of the section of
cable housing that exits the shifter. Especially when combined with
headset-washer front reflector brackets, these are frequently kinked badly
enough to need premature replacement of the cable and housing. Stem
shifters were good for repair business.
DF
----------
>From: "KCTOMMY" <KCTOMMY@email.msn.com>
>To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
>Subject: Re: {ClassicRend]Re: [Classicrendezvous] Atala and "Schwinn
Approved" plus commercial
>Date: Wed, Nov 29, 2000, 1:06 AM
>
>The levers were everywhere when I got started, and my first Raleigh Record
>had them. I was told that they were neither fish nor fowl when it came to
>shifting performance. If you were a racer, you wanted down tube shifters
>becase the less complicated levers and shorter cables saved weight (probably
>a whole 50 grams!) and gave faster shifting. If you were a tourista, you
>wanted barcons for the added stability of both hands on the outside of the
>drops when you shift, the better to control your 75 lb touring rig on bumpy
>climbs. Being a slave to fashion, I instantly used nothing but down tube
>shifters. I'm just now trying to get used to barcons agains.
>
>Tom Adams, in grey Kansas City
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Joseph Bender-Zanoni <jfbender@umich.edu>
>To: stephen fredette <sfredette@earthlink.net>;
><classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
>Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2000 5:20 PM
>Subject: Re: {ClassicRend]Re: [Classicrendezvous] Atala and "Schwinn
>Approved" plus commercial
>
>
>> There is also the issue that downtube shifters can be a long way down for
>a
>> really tall rider. My wife loves her stem shifters.
>>
>> Joe
>>
>> At 03:14 PM 11/30/00 -0500, stephen fredette wrote:
>> >there does seem to be a certain
>> >reflexive disdain for stem shifters
>> >from people who went through the seventies.
>> >it seems to be one of those shibboleths
>> >that are the touchpoints of seperating
>> >yourself out from the crowd of dilletantes,
>> >such as knowing campagnolo, 531,
>> >tubulars, etc.
>> >however i've always considered this view
>> >of stem shifters unfair. perhaps because
>> >i came to biking later on, i never viewed them
>> >with the perceived knowledge, around the old
>> >bike shop mentality.
>> >i still use them to this day, and i never
>> >ride the bar tops. also i don't have to
>> >change position to shift. there is a very
>> >natural circular motion from the drops to the
>> >shifter and back that is the essence of
>> >conserved motion.
>> >i've never come anywhere near hitting them
>> >with my knees while out of the saddle,
>> >and i'm unconvinced this is possible,
>> >since i don't think they are spaced further apart
>> >than downtube shifters.
>> >as far as injury, it never occured to me.
>> >i've been in several bad crashes, and my head
>> >hands and bones were far more of a concern.
>> >one thing i will say is that most stem shifters
>> >are an aesthetic nightmare, but the chromed schwinn
>> >set i find to be small masterpieces.
>> >one last point, when i got my first bike
>> >with downtube bosses this year, i was excited
>> >about finally using downtube shifters.
>> >unfortunately because of some perceptual problems
>> >from a stroke i had a couple of years ago,
>> >it became apparent that my left hand couldn't find
>> >the shifter (once the hand is out of my sight,
>> >it loses spacial orientation), so after a few months
>> >i switched back to stem shifters.
>> > Stephen Fredette
>> > Hull, Massachusetts