Mountain Bikes · Public discussion

New thumbies

Spademan O----L · 2003-09-04T09:54:33+00:00

Following the demise of my last spare set of preferred gripshift I have moved over to the technological masterpiece that is the thumbshifter. I had a stored set of XT's but unfortunately they do not fit with the brake levers I am using (Hope C2 sport) so I bought some of the forge units being sold at half-price recently. BTW forge had so much interest that they are continuing the MTB range and are not now closing.. First impressions are good. They were easy to set-up, and with a little filing of the forge shifter pods my hope levers fit fine. The rear shifters have quite a wide range from top to bottom gear, i.e. you have to move the lever almost 180 degrees. Not sure if this is a good thing or not. The front shifter is great, its easy to shift straight from the top to bottom ring and the small increments mean you can fine tune the mech position as much as you like. Overall I'd have to say I still prefer my old cut down gripshifts, but time will tell. Thats part of the beauty of thumbshifter though, they are so simple that they should keep running for ages, and if it all goes wrong out on the trail I can switch to friction mode.. Pictures of my bar set-up for the interested folks: Rider view: http://j-harris.net/bike/steve/forge%20thumbie%20behind.jpg front view: http://j-harris.net/bike/steve/forge%20thumbie%20front.jpg Shifter close-up: http://j-harris.net/bike/steve/forge%20thumbie%20closeup.jpg Oh and yep they do look a bit fragile stuck out there on top of the bars. I'll have to stack it at 30 mph coming down Snowdon to test there crash-worthiness*. Steve. *Thats my excuse sorted then

Started by Spademan O----L · 4 September 2003 · Last activity 11 September 2003 · 25 posts · 1,782 views

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01 / Original postNew thumbiesSpademan O----L · 4 Sep 2003 02 / This pagePosts 1–20Page 1 of 2 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #25Shaun Rimmer · 11 Sep 2003

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Original section: Mountain Bikes
Published: 4 September 2003
Last activity: 11 September 2003
Original author: Spademan O----L
Posts: 25
Discussion status: Public discussion
Total views: 1,782
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Original post
Spademan O----L
Archived post

4 September 2003, 09:54 UTC #1

Following the demise of my last spare set of preferred gripshift I have moved over to the
technological masterpiece that is the thumbshifter. I had a stored set of XT's but unfortunately
they do not fit with the brake levers I am using (Hope C2 sport) so I bought some of the forge units
being sold at half-price recently. BTW forge had so much interest that they are continuing the MTB
range and are not now closing..
First impressions are good. They were easy to set-up, and with a little filing of the forge shifter
pods my hope levers fit fine. The rear shifters have quite a wide range from top to bottom gear,
i.e. you have to move the lever almost 180 degrees. Not sure if this is a good thing or not. The
front shifter is great, its easy to shift straight from the top to bottom ring and the small
increments mean you can fine tune the mech position as much as you like.
Overall I'd have to say I still prefer my old cut down gripshifts, but time will tell. Thats part of
the beauty of thumbshifter though, they are so simple that they should keep running for ages, and if
it all goes wrong out on the trail I can switch to friction mode..
Pictures of my bar set-up for the interested folks:
Rider view: j-harris.netforge%20thumbie%20behind.jpg front view:
j-harris.netforge%20thumbie%20front.jpg Shifter close-up:
j-harris.netforge%20thumbie%20closeup.jpg
Oh and yep they do look a bit fragile stuck out there on top of the bars. I'll have to stack it at
30 mph coming down Snowdon to test there crash-worthiness*.
Steve.
*Thats my excuse sorted then

Report
Shaun Rimmer
Archived post

4 September 2003, 12:54 UTC #2

spademan o---[) * <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Following the demise of my last spare set of preferred gripshift I have moved over to the
technological masterpiece that is the thumbshifter. I

had
Quoted message said:
a stored set of XT's but unfortunately they do not fit with the brake

levers
Quoted message said:
I am using (Hope C2 sport) so I bought some of the forge units being sold

at
Quoted message said:
half-price recently. BTW forge had so much interest that they are

continuing
Quoted message said:
the MTB range and are not now closing..
There's FA wrong with rapidfire.
Quoted message said:
First impressions are good. They were easy to set-up, and with a little filing of the forge
shifter pods my hope levers fit fine. The rear

shifters
Quoted message said:
have quite a wide range from top to bottom gear, i.e. you have to move the lever almost 180
degrees. Not sure if this is a good thing or not. The

front
Quoted message said:
shifter is great, its easy to shift straight from the top to bottom ring

and
Quoted message said:
the small increments mean you can fine tune the mech position as much as

you
Quoted message said:
like.
Overall I'd have to say I still prefer my old cut down gripshifts, but

time
Quoted message said:
will tell. Thats part of the beauty of thumbshifter though, they are so simple that they should
keep running for ages, and if it all goes wrong

out
Quoted message said:
on the trail I can switch to friction mode..
Well, I'm glad they work.
Quoted message said:
Pictures of my bar set-up for the interested folks:
Rider view: j-harris.netforge%20thumbie%20behind.jpg front view:
j-harris.netforge%20thumbie%20front.jpg Shifter close-up:
j-harris.netforge%20thumbie%20closeup.jpg
Oooooo ugly!
Quoted message said:
Oh and yep they do look a bit fragile stuck out there on top of the bars. I'll have to stack it at
30 mph coming down Snowdon to test there crash-worthiness*.
Whatch that foot, y'hear?
Quoted message said:
Steve.
*Thats my excuse sorted then
Heheheheh - tryin' ta be smart eh? ',;~}~
Shaun aRe need no ezcuzez - 'crash at will'.

Report
Michael Dart
Archived post

4 September 2003, 13:12 UTC #3

"spademan o---[) *" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Following the demise of my last spare set of preferred gripshift I have moved over to the
technological masterpiece that is the thumbshifter. I

had
Quoted message said:
a stored set of XT's but unfortunately they do not fit with the brake

levers
Quoted message said:
I am using (Hope C2 sport) so I bought some of the forge units being sold

at
Quoted message said:
half-price recently. BTW forge had so much interest that they are

continuing
Quoted message said:
the MTB range and are not now closing..
They actually go quite well with the weird brake levers. Gives it kind of an industrial-tech look of
the Matrix or Max-Headroom.
Mike

Report
Spademan O----L
Archived post

4 September 2003, 16:12 UTC #4

"Shaun Rimmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:

spademan o---[) * <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Following the demise of my last spare set of preferred gripshift I have moved over to the
technological masterpiece that is the thumbshifter.
There's FA wrong with rapidfire.
Well thats your opinion, I never liked them. Too complicated, too much getting in the way, not
enough positive action. I like to be able to feel the shift....
Quoted message said:
Well, I'm glad they work.
They do. And still will in 10 years time I imagine whilst your rapidfire are languishing at the
bottom of a spares box.
Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:
Pictures of my bar set-up for the interested folks:
Rider view: j-harris.netforge%20thumbie%20behind.jpg front view:
j-harris.netforge%20thumbie%20front.jpg Shifter close-up:
j-harris.netforge%20thumbie%20closeup.jpg
Oooooo ugly!
Valid point.
Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:
Oh and yep they do look a bit fragile stuck out there on top of the

bars.
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
I'll have to stack it at 30 mph coming down Snowdon to test there crash-worthiness*.
Whatch that foot, y'hear?
That would be the least of my worries...
Steve.

Report
Bob M
Archived post

4 September 2003, 16:12 UTC #5

spademan o---) * said:

"Shaun Rimmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:

spademan o---[) * <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Following the demise of my last spare set of preferred gripshift I

have
Quoted message said:
moved over to the technological masterpiece that is the thumbshifter.
There's FA wrong with rapidfire.
Well thats your opinion, I never liked them. Too complicated, too much getting in the way, not
enough positive action. I like to be able to feel the shift....
Quoted message said:
Well, I'm glad they work.
They do. And still will in 10 years time I imagine whilst your rapidfire are languishing at the
bottom of a spares box.
Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:
Pictures of my bar set-up for the interested folks:
Rider view: j-j-

harris.net/bike/steve/forge%20thumbie%20behind.jpg
Quoted message said:
front view: j-harris.netforge%20thumbie%20front.jpg Shifter close-up:
j-harris.netforge%20thumbie%20closeup.jpg
Oooooo ugly!
Valid point.
Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:
Oh and yep they do look a bit fragile stuck out there on top of the

bars.
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
I'll have to stack it at 30 mph coming down Snowdon to test there crash-worthiness*.
Whatch that foot, y'hear?
That would be the least of my worries...
Steve.
Where did you get those, and do they work with 8 speeds? I always thought that thumbshifters
were the best system -- light and easy to use. I've been using grip shift, but I'd take
thumbshifters any day.
--
Bob M in CT Remove 'x.' to reply

Report
Spademan O----L
Archived post

4 September 2003, 16:30 UTC #6

"Bob M" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
On Thu, 4 Sep 2003 16:43:40 +0100, spademan o---[) * <[email hidden]> wrote:
Where did you get those, and do they work with 8 speeds? I always thought that thumbshifters were
the best system -- light and easy to use. I've been using grip shift, but I'd take thumbshifters
any day.
From a small UK company Forge MTB
forge-mtb.comshifters.asp
Yep those are 8 speed jobbies, you can get 9 speed too. Forge manufacture the mounts, shimano supply
the shifters.
Steve.

Report
John David Powe
Archived post

4 September 2003, 16:54 UTC #7

spademan o---) * said:
Oh and yep they do look a bit fragile stuck out there on top of the bars. I'll have to stack it at
30 mph coming down Snowdon to test there crash-worthiness*.
I have my thumbshifters flipped below the bar and swap them left to right. They will fair better in
a crash and are closer to the resting position of your thumb. I don't like the idea of moving my
thumb above the bar. Also, it's almost like rapid fire in that position only you have to deal with a
wider range of movement.

Report
James Messick
Archived post

5 September 2003, 03:31 UTC #8

"Bob M" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
spademan o---) * said:

"Shaun Rimmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:

spademan o---[) * <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
> Following the demise of my last spare set of preferred gripshift I
have
> moved over to the technological masterpiece that is the thumbshifter.
There's FA wrong with rapidfire.
Well thats your opinion, I never liked them. Too complicated, too much getting in the way, not
enough positive action. I like to be able to

feel
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
the shift....
Quoted message said:
Well, I'm glad they work.
They do. And still will in 10 years time I imagine whilst your rapidfire are languishing at the
bottom of a spares box.
Quoted message said:

> Pictures of my bar set-up for the interested folks:
>
> Rider view: j-j-
harris.net/bike/steve/forge%20thumbie%20behind.jpg
> front view:

j-harris.netforge%20thumbie%20front.jpg
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
> Shifter close-up: j-harris.netforge%20thumbie%20closeup.jpg
Oooooo ugly!
Valid point.
Quoted message said:

> Oh and yep they do look a bit fragile stuck out there on top of the

bars.
Quoted message said:
> I'll have to stack it at 30 mph coming down Snowdon to test there crash-worthiness*.
Whatch that foot, y'hear?
That would be the least of my worries...
Steve.
Where did you get those, and do they work with 8 speeds? I always thought that thumbshifters were
the best system -- light and easy to use. I've been using grip shift, but I'd take thumbshifters
any day.
--
Bob M in CT
To each his own. I really like gripshift. Only rode thumbies once, on a borrowed bike. Latest
bike has rapid-fire and I really like those too. I'd choose them over gripshift, but could live
with either.

Report
Gazoo
Archived post

5 September 2003, 03:54 UTC #9

The pics brought a tear to my eye..............
those were the days.................
Gazoo
--
"spademan o---[) *" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Following the demise of my last spare set of preferred gripshift I have moved over to the
technological masterpiece that is the thumbshifter. I

had
Quoted message said:
a stored set of XT's but unfortunately they do not fit with the brake

levers
Quoted message said:
I am using (Hope C2 sport) so I bought some of the forge units being sold

at
Quoted message said:
half-price recently. BTW forge had so much interest that they are

continuing
Quoted message said:
the MTB range and are not now closing..
First impressions are good. They were easy to set-up, and with a little filing of the forge
shifter pods my hope levers fit fine. The rear

shifters
Quoted message said:
have quite a wide range from top to bottom gear, i.e. you have to move the lever almost 180
degrees. Not sure if this is a good thing or not. The

front
Quoted message said:
shifter is great, its easy to shift straight from the top to bottom ring

and
Quoted message said:
the small increments mean you can fine tune the mech position as much as

you
Quoted message said:
like.
Overall I'd have to say I still prefer my old cut down gripshifts, but

time
Quoted message said:
will tell. Thats part of the beauty of thumbshifter though, they are so simple that they should
keep running for ages, and if it all goes wrong

out
Quoted message said:
on the trail I can switch to friction mode..
Pictures of my bar set-up for the interested folks:
Rider view: j-harris.netforge%20thumbie%20behind.jpg front view:
j-harris.netforge%20thumbie%20front.jpg Shifter close-up:
j-harris.netforge%20thumbie%20closeup.jpg
Oh and yep they do look a bit fragile stuck out there on top of the bars. I'll have to stack it at
30 mph coming down Snowdon to test there crash-worthiness*.
Steve.
*Thats my excuse sorted then

Report
Spademan O----L
Archived post

5 September 2003, 08:54 UTC #10

"John David Powers" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
spademan o---) * said:
Oh and yep they do look a bit fragile stuck out there on top of the

bars.
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
I'll have to stack it at 30 mph coming down Snowdon to test there crash-worthiness*.
I have my thumbshifters flipped below the bar and swap them left to right. They will fair better
in a crash and are closer to the resting position of your thumb. I don't like the idea of moving
my thumb above the bar. Also, it's almost like rapid fire in that position only you have to deal
with a wider range of movement.
Hmm I've seen that done but I was not sure how easy it is to shift back down
i.e. move the lever towards you? I should probably try it out. Cheers, Steve.

Report
Shaun Rimmer
Archived post

5 September 2003, 10:31 UTC #11

spademan o---[) * <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:

"Shaun Rimmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:

spademan o---[) * <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Following the demise of my last spare set of preferred gripshift I

have
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
moved over to the technological masterpiece that is the thumbshifter.
There's FA wrong with rapidfire.
Well thats your opinion, I never liked them. Too complicated,
?!?!?!?!?
Quoted message said:
too much getting in the way,
?!?!?!?!?
Quoted message said:
not enough positive action.
?!?!?!?!?!?
Quoted message said:
I like to be able to feel the shift....
Heheheh - now that's just daft!
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Well, I'm glad they work.
They do. And still will in 10 years time I imagine whilst your rapidfire

are
Quoted message said:
languishing at the bottom of a spares box.
Maybe, but at the price I paid for these basic (but perfectly functional) Deore units, doesn't
bother me if they are (still working like new after over 2 years of heavy use and abuse).
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Pictures of my bar set-up for the interested folks:
Rider view:

j-harris.netforge%20thumbie%20behind.jpg
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
front view: j-harris.netforge%20thumbie%20front.jpg Shifter close-up:
j-harris.netforge%20thumbie%20closeup.jpg
Oooooo ugly!
Valid point.
Heheheheh - yeah, plus I like being a [censored] >',;~}~
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Oh and yep they do look a bit fragile stuck out there on top of the

bars.
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
I'll have to stack it at 30 mph coming down Snowdon to test there crash-worthiness*.
Whatch that foot, y'hear?
That would be the least of my worries...
Nah - I reckon yer noggin could take a knock or two ',;~}~
Cheers Steve!
Shaun aRe

Report
John David Powe
Archived post

5 September 2003, 16:30 UTC #12

spademan o---) * said:

"John David Powers" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
Quoted message said:
I have my thumbshifters flipped below the bar and swap them left to right. They will fair better
in a crash and are closer to the resting position of your thumb. I don't like the idea of moving
my thumb above the bar. Also, it's almost like rapid fire in that position only you have to deal
with a wider range of movement.
Hmm I've seen that done but I was not sure how easy it is to shift back down
i.e. move the lever towards you? I should probably try it out. Cheers, Steve.
Just pull the lever in with your index finger. If you swap the rear shifter to the left side of the
bar, pulling in with your index finger upshifts. Pushing away downshifts.

Report
G.T.
Archived post

5 September 2003, 20:54 UTC #13

spademan o---) * said:
"Bob M" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
On Thu, 4 Sep 2003 16:43:40 +0100, spademan o---[) * <[email hidden]> wrote:
Where did you get those, and do they work with 8 speeds? I always thought that thumbshifters were
the best system -- light and easy to use. I've been using grip shift, but I'd take thumbshifters
any day.
From a small UK company Forge MTB
forge-mtb.comshifters.asp
Yep those are 8 speed jobbies, you can get 9 speed too. Forge manufacture the mounts, shimano
supply the shifters.
Thank you Forge MTB! And thank you, Steve, for pointing these out!
Greg
--
"Destroy your safe and happy lives before it is too late, the battles we fought were long and hard,
just not to be consumed by rock n' roll..." - The Mekons

Report
Sorni
Archived post

5 September 2003, 20:54 UTC #14

"G.T." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
spademan o---[) * wrote:
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
From a small UK company Forge MTB
forge-mtb.comshifters.asp
Yep those are 8 speed jobbies, you can get 9 speed too. Forge

manufacture
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
the mounts, shimano supply the shifters.
Thank you Forge MTB! And thank you, Steve, for pointing these out!
Retrogrouch.

Report
Pete Jones
Archived post

5 September 2003, 20:54 UTC #15

On Fri, 05 Sep 2003 20:27:48 GMT, "G.T." <[email hidden]> blathered:
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
forge-mtb.comshifters.asp Yep those are 8 speed
jobbies, you can get 9 speed too. Forge manufacture the mounts, shimano supply the shifters.
Thank you Forge MTB! And thank you, Steve, for pointing these out!
Pay attention at the back, lad - I've been promoting these since I bought them at the beginning of
April, both 8 & 9 speed versions on two different bikes.
A spooky similarity to Spademan's setup, I'll think you'll agree:
btinternet.comforge thumb.jpg
Pete
----
btinternet.com~peteajones

Report
G.T.
Archived post

6 September 2003, 04:12 UTC #16

Pete Jones said:
On Fri, 05 Sep 2003 20:27:48 GMT, "G.T." <[email hidden]> blathered:
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
forge-mtb.comshifters.asp Yep those are 8 speed
jobbies, you can get 9 speed too. Forge manufacture the mounts, shimano supply the shifters.
Thank you Forge MTB! And thank you, Steve, for pointing these out!
Pay attention at the back, lad - I've been promoting these since I bought them at the beginning of
April, both 8 & 9 speed versions on two different bikes.
April? You need to pay attention at the back, boyeee. I e-mailed these dudes 18 months ago when I
heard they were testing prototypes. Didn't hear anything for awhile and forgot about them. So
criticize me for my lack of follow-up rather than my inattentiveness.
Cheers, Greg
--
"Destroy your safe and happy lives before it is too late, the battles we fought were long and hard,
just not to be consumed by rock n' roll..." - The Mekons

Report
Spademan O----L
Archived post

8 September 2003, 08:54 UTC #17

"Pete Jones" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
On Fri, 05 Sep 2003 20:27:48 GMT, "G.T." <[email hidden]>
Quoted message said:
A spooky similarity to Spademan's setup, I'll think you'll agree:
btinternet.comforge thumb.jpg
Pete
Holy cr*p are you stalking me? From what I can see in the photo: grips - lock ons Yep got those
Brake levers Hope Hydraulic Yep Closed 2 syatem Yep with the Pro lever Yep Forge thumbies Yep Easton
Bar Yep Hope headset Yep
Aaarrgh. Now I know you don't have the frame as the current one is the only one in the world...
Steve.

Report
Pete Jones
Archived post

8 September 2003, 11:12 UTC #18

On Mon, 8 Sep 2003 09:00:28 +0100, "spademan o---[\) *" <[email hidden]>
blathered:
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
A spooky similarity to Spademan's setup, I'll think you'll agree:
btinternet.comforge thumb.jpg
Quoted message said:
Holy cr*p are you stalking me? From what I can see in the photo: grips - lock ons Yep got those
Brake levers Hope Hydraulic Yep Closed 2 syatem Yep with the Pro lever Yep Forge thumbies Yep
Easton Bar Yep Hope headset Yep
You missed out the stem: btinternet.comklein stem.jpg
Gotta go, sun's out.
Pete
----
btinternet.com~peteajones

Report
Pete Jones
Archived post

8 September 2003, 14:30 UTC #19

On Mon, 8 Sep 2003 09:00:28 +0100, "spademan o---[\) *" <[email hidden]>
blathered:
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
A spooky similarity to Spademan's setup, I'll think you'll agree:
btinternet.comforge thumb.jpg
From what I can see in the photo: grips - lock ons Yep got those Brake levers Hope Hydraulic Yep
Closed 2 syatem Yep with the Pro lever Yep Forge thumbies Yep Easton Bar Yep Hope headset Yep Holy
cr*p are you stalking me?
Wrong question, really - of course, what you should be asking is: why doesn't everybody ELSE have
that setup?
Pete
----
btinternet.com~peteajones

Report
Spademan O----L
Archived post

8 September 2003, 14:54 UTC #20

"Pete Jones" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
On Mon, 8 Sep 2003 09:00:28 +0100, "spademan o---[\) *" <[email hidden]>
blathered:
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
A spooky similarity to Spademan's setup, I'll think you'll agree:
btinternet.comforge thumb.jpg
From what I can see in the photo: grips - lock ons Yep got those Brake levers Hope Hydraulic Yep
Closed 2 syatem Yep with the Pro lever Yep Forge thumbies Yep Easton Bar Yep Hope headset Yep
Holy cr*p are you stalking me?
Wrong question, really - of course, what you should be asking is: why doesn't everybody ELSE have
that setup?
Pete
I dunno, best I can figure it is you must be my doppelganger - my sympathies, its hard to deal with
all the female attention from the amazing good looks not to mention the jeolousy from the amazing
intelligence, wit and bike-handling skills. Sometimes its only my modesty that keeps me going.
Steve.

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