convert to sti shifter

yum said:

I have an old 12 speed road bike. It has friction type down tube shifters.
I replaced orignal freewheel with a MegaRange.
Now I wonder whether it makes sense to upgrade shifters to STI.
The only problem with the current shifters is at a steep uphill.
It is very difficult to downshift while climbing a steep hill.
I cannot move my hands from handlebar.
What is involved to do this conversion? Do I need to replace
derailures as well ?

If your only concern is reaching for the downtube shifters, your simplest
and least expensive option is converting to bar end shift levers and using
the friction mode.

If you want to go sti, you could go to a 7-speed freewheel and 7-speed sti
levers. You would need a new rear der (any modern shimano der). See:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/shifters.html#brifters

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/upgrade.html

Or go to 8 or 9 speed:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/k7.html#up7

Art Harris

Arthur Harris said:

yum said:

I replaced orignal freewheel with a MegaRange.

Quoted message said:

If you want to go sti, you could go to a 7-speed freewheel and 7-speed sti
levers. You would need a new rear der (any modern shimano der).

BTW, if you're going to use a MegaRange freewheel, you'd be better off with
a Shimano MTB der like Deore LX.

Art Harris

yum-<< I have an old 12 speed road bike. It has friction type down tube
shifters.
I replaced orignal freewheel with a MegaRange.
Now I wonder whether it makes sense to upgrade shifters to STI.
The only problem with the current shifters is at a steep uphill.
It is very difficult to downshift while climbing a steep hill.
I cannot move my hands from handlebar.
What is involved to do this conversion? Do I need to replace
derailures as well ? >><BR><BR>

I answer-
STI shifters(7sor 8s) and maybe rear and front der, depends on what you have
now.

However I learned that when approaching a hill, I was taught to be in the gear
at the bottom that you knew would take you over the top.

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

"yum" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have an old 12 speed road bike. It has friction type down tube shifters.
I replaced orignal freewheel with a MegaRange.
Now I wonder whether it makes sense to upgrade shifters to STI.
The only problem with the current shifters is at a steep uphill.
It is very difficult to downshift while climbing a steep hill.
I cannot move my hands from handlebar.

When you ride enough, you get used to shifting one-handed, or no-handed
(holding a takeout box and a drink) up steep hills at 5 mph. Or shift
early.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

Hi all, Thank you for good suggestions.
I am surprised to see STI shifter costs that much. It is more than my bike
is worth.
I was inclined to go for a bar end shifter that Art suggested, but then I
cam across this
http://www.kellybike.com/takeoffs.html
This seems to be an ideal solution. I don't need to move my hands from
brake hood.
Price is reasonable and I can easily see the shift position.
Now, I wonder why this is not popular. Any drawbacks ?
I like friction [censored] better than index type.
Does anybody have any experience with this device ? Thanks.

yum said:

Hi all, Thank you for good suggestions.
I am surprised to see STI shifter costs that much. It is more than my bike
is worth.
I was inclined to go for a bar end shifter that Art suggested, but then I
cam across this
http://www.kellybike.com/takeoffs.html
This seems to be an ideal solution. I don't need to move my hands from
brake hood.
Price is reasonable and I can easily see the shift position.
Now, I wonder why this is not popular. Any drawbacks ?
I like friction [censored] better than index type.
Does anybody have any experience with this device ? Thanks.

Yeah, I had two sets installed.Found them to be awkward and of no real value.Gave them away. Much prefer barends or downtube.Some peoeple love em.

yum said:

Hi all, Thank you for good suggestions.
I am surprised to see STI shifter costs that much. It is more than my bike
is worth.
I was inclined to go for a bar end shifter that Art suggested, but then I
cam across this
http://www.kellybike.com/takeoffs.html
This seems to be an ideal solution. I don't need to move my hands from
brake hood.
Price is reasonable and I can easily see the shift position.
Now, I wonder why this is not popular. Any drawbacks ?
I like friction [censored] better than index type.
Does anybody have any experience with this device ? Thanks.

Hi, it should work. Here is a better link:
http://www.kellybike.com/2nd_xtra_takeoff.html

Have you ever rode a bike with index shifting? I think once you have,
you will prefer it, at least for the rear derailleur. The precision of
it is really nice.

Anyway, the Takeoffs should be a good reasonably priced solution.

Life is Good!
Jeff

yum said:

Hi all, Thank you for good suggestions.
I am surprised to see STI shifter costs that much. It is more than
my bike is worth.
I was inclined to go for a bar end shifter that Art suggested, but
then I cam across this
http://www.kellybike.com/takeoffs.html
This seems to be an ideal solution. I don't need to move my hands
from brake hood.
Price is reasonable and I can easily see the shift position.
Now, I wonder why this is not popular. Any drawbacks ?
I like friction [censored] better than index type.
Does anybody have any experience with this device ? Thanks.

I hear those work well. However, being able to shift under load has more to do
with the freewheel -- you want a Hyperglide-type one with shaped teeth.

Bar end shifters work great too. I'd be inclined to use those. They'll work in
either index or friction mode, or "ratchet" mode like Suntour. IMO this is what
works best with gear of that vintage.

Matt O.

In article <[email hidden]>, yum says...

Quoted message said:

Hi all, Thank you for good suggestions.
I am surprised to see STI shifter costs that much. It is more than my bike
is worth.
I was inclined to go for a bar end shifter that Art suggested, but then I
cam across this
http://www.kellybike.com/takeoffs.html
This seems to be an ideal solution. I don't need to move my hands from
brake hood.
Price is reasonable and I can easily see the shift position.
Now, I wonder why this is not popular. Any drawbacks ?
I like friction [censored] better than index type.
Does anybody have any experience with this device ? Thanks.

I have them on one bike. They work well but I do not have experience with bar
end or sti for comparison. The rear (right) can easily be shifted with my thumb
but I often have to grab the front (left) between my thumb and finger because it
requires more movement to shift than I can manage with my thumb alone.

The rely on the clamping pressure of the brake levers to fix them in place. It
takes a bit of trial and error to get them properly located.

Ed said:

I have them on one bike. They work well but I do not have experience
with bar end or sti for comparison. The rear (right) can easily be
shifted with my thumb but I often have to grab the front (left)
between my thumb and finger because it requires more movement to
shift than I can manage with my thumb alone.

This was the main issue with the old Suntour Command shifters -- they were
fairly stiff, and difficult to operate precisely. Leverage is the issue.

Matt O.