Help re: shifters for a newbie?

arbeyukay said:

I'm about to buy my first proper road bike (doing my first triathlon this year).

I'm on a budget and it seems that most bikes in my price range, come with Shimano gears / shifters. However, at the cheaper end of the cheap end 🙂 it seems the shifters switch up with a flick of the brake lever, but down with a thumb switch (The Shimano 3400 for example)
Now, I'm 6' tall, but my thumbs just aren't long enough to reach them without changing position.

Is it me, or is this a dumb design?

Any suggestion for a good entry level bike welcome 🙂

Poor design in that you can't shift those Sora shifters/thumb button from the drops. Look for a closeout with at least Tiagra shifters(2 lever shifting)..

Thanks Peter,

Anyone know of any entry level bikes, where the Tiagra comes as standard?
(I'd rather not pay for shifters then replace them with better ones)

Just so you know, all Campagnolo shifters use a thumb switch. Nothing wrong with that technology. Here's a comparative link for your reference:

How to Choose Bicycle Shifters | eHow.com

I'll leave it to Alfeng to suggest you ditch the Soras and substitute Campy shifters.

OldGoat said:

Just so you know, all Campagnolo shifters use a thumb switch. Nothing wrong with that technology. Here's a comparative link for your reference:

How to Choose Bicycle Shifters | eHow.com

I'll leave it to Alfeng to suggest you ditch the Soras and substitute Campy shifters.

Really?
The 'Campagnolo Veloce Ergopower Gear Shifters 10 Speed' don't look like it. Am I missing something?

(thanks for the link - will read)

arbeyukay said:

Really?
The 'Campagnolo Veloce Ergopower Gear Shifters 10 Speed' don't look like it. Am I missing something?

(thanks for the link - will read)

Enlarge the photo, then look closely at the left shifter (the one on the left in photo, which for some reason has then switched left/right).

OldGoat said:

Enlarge the photo, then look closely at the left shifter (the one on the left in photo, which for some reason has then switched left/right).

ahh, i see. so one is a thumb switch, one is next to the brake lever.
It's slowly becoming clearer.

So, any suggestions on entry level bikes which come with the logically designed ones as standard?

arbeyukay said:

ahh, i see. so one is a thumb switch, one is next to the brake lever.
It's slowly becoming clearer.

So, any suggestions on entry level bikes which come with the logically designed ones as standard?

Time for you to hit the internet. Nearly all of the major manufacturers and retailers have websites that show their bikes. If the specifications are not on the first page, look for a tab that says "Specs" and click on it, then check out what it says under shifters. Look for the brand Shimano, and the model, from worst to best, Tiagra, 105, Ultegra, Dura Ace. If it says Sora, you don't want it because it has the thumb button. One of the easiest sites to look at with affordable bikes is www.bikesdirect.com.

arbeyukay said:

I'm about to buy my first proper road bike (doing my first triathlon this year).

I'm on a budget and it seems that most bikes in my price range, come with Shimano gears / shifters. However, at the cheaper end of the cheap end 🙂 it seems the shifters switch up with a flick of the brake lever, but down with a thumb switch (The Shimano 3400 for example)
Now, I'm 6' tall, but my thumbs just aren't long enough to reach them without changing position.

Is it me, or is this a dumb design?

Any suggestion for a good entry level bike welcome 🙂

Well, I would indeed normally suggest you ditch the 8-speed Shimano shifters and buy a pair of 10-speed Campagnolo shifters, but in this case you would be better off getting a frame with an appropriate length top tube + some TT/Tri handlebars & some bar end shifters + appropriate brake levers.

As far as needing to change your hand positions, since I've never used/(touched!) a SORA shifter, I can only suppose that when the rider cannot use both "shift levers" from a given hand position on the handlebars (i.e., with the hands either on the hoods or in the forward 'bend' of the drops) that the brake levers have not been optimally located on the bend of the handlebar. Yes, I would presume that the levers were NOT properly located when they left either the factory or LBS.

IMO, the implementation of the shift paddle behind the brake lever & thumb lever on the inside of the Campagnolo shifters is a superior design.

I'd go for the Campagnolo Shifters too personally. Seems to be the consensus around with the guys and I have used them in the past and can recommend them.

Nige

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by OldGoat [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

Just so you know, all Campagnolo shifters use a thumb switch. Nothing wrong with that technology. Here's a comparative link for your reference:

How to Choose Bicycle Shifters | eHow.com

I'll leave it to Alfeng to suggest you ditch the Soras and substitute Campy shifters.

The guy said he's on a budget and you bring up Campag? LOL

Why is it that in the US, Campagnolo gets limp wristedly shortened to Campy? I sometimes wonder about that...

Another option for the OP would be to ditch the Sora 8-speed shifters and go the bar-end route. Shimano SL-BS64 Ultegra 8-speed bar-ends are on sale for $59.48 at amazon.com with free shipping.

http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-SL-BS64-Ultegra-Shifter-8-Speed/dp/B000F5EFOC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297637082&sr=8-1

My son's left hand doesn't work very well (he has CP), and so front shifts are difficult for him. I just recently installed a left-side bar end (purchased at the above link) onto his right-side drop. This allows him to do all shifts, both front and rear, with his right hand.

Look into entry level Felt bikes like the F95. I believe they have started speccing their bikes with Microshift. you will get Shimano Tiagra/105 level product at one 3rd the price.