[CR]Taking hands off the bars

(Example: Framebuilding:Brazing Technique)

From: <BobHoveyGa@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 13:58:43 EDT
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Taking hands off the bars

AdventureCORPS News writes:
> In 25 years of riding with dt shifters, I have never crashed because of the location of my shifters.

Chris:

I haven't crashed either... for me maybe it's just luck, but from the rest of your post it is pretty obvious that you are a very knowledegable and careful rider. I'm assuming that a conscientious person such as yourself would tend to develope the skills needed to ride safely with any equipment, regardless of its limitations.

Still, I don't see how one can compare the act of removing a hand from the bar, perhaps lowering a shoulder, grasping the lever, shifting, and moving back to the bar with the simple act of moving a single finger (assuming you are on top of the brake hoods, the easiest location to shift from).

Similarly, many of us have never had a single accident with their automobiles while tuning or adjusting the volume on their radios... yet I think few would argue that the new steering wheel mounted tuning and volume controls seen in some cars are safer and more convenient than reaching for the radio in its usual dashboard location. Or that flipping a turn signal lever is safer and more convenient than lowering the window and sticking your hand out as was once universal practice among motorists.

Bob Hovey
Columbus, GA