Push-me, pull-me? gear change levers.

Terry Collins said:

Actually, I have no idea if that is the correct name, but I'm looking
for recommendations for the style of gear lever that you pull/push one
lever to go up an gear and push/pull another lever to go down a gear,

Shifter pod, and it sounds like you'll probably want low end Shimano to be
as painless as possible. I've NFI what the going rate is, but $80 for STI
levers (which have integrated shifters) sounds somewhere around the mark.

Before you go spending money, what's the rear wheel got - cluster or
cassette, and how many gears? It could be new wheel time if it's less than
7, possibly even 8 these days.

Quoted message said:

[1] That will be fun since her current frame is a Malvern Star LA84 and
doesn't seem to take any modern derailleurs.

Define modern. Have you got the style that has a plate that goes over the
axle, or that bolts on to a hanger beneath the dropout? If the latter, no
problem. If the former, you need to look in the cheap and nasty section of
the Shimano cattledog - Something like an RD-TX70 will even do 6 speed.

Maybe you should just raid a council clean up bike?

--
Dave Hughes | [email hidden]
The plural of 'anecdote' is not 'data' - seffala, /.

In aus.bicycle on Sat, 06 May 2006 00:46:18 +1000

Terry Collins said:

The full story is that swmbo can not get the hang of derauillier gear
levers, plus she has difficulty moving the lever. So it is time to
"upgrade" her bicycle to a set of these, matching cluster, probably a
new rear derailleur[1] and three chains to match. {:-).

Have you considered gripshift? I prefer the thumbshifters but have
got well enough used to gripshift, and she may find them simple to
use.

They were popular on low end bikes for ages, meaning an old set or
something in the spares bin might fit.

Zebee

Zebee Johnstone said:

Have you considered gripshift? I prefer the thumbshifters but have
got well enough used to gripshift, and she may find them simple to
use.

They were popular on low end bikes for ages, meaning an old set or
something in the spares bin might fit.

Actually, that was where I found this style of lever; shimano on a Huffy
{:-), so I went to a bicycle shop hidden away in a dark place[1] so I
would not be seen entering or leaving to ask if they were available for
other bicycles {:-)

Sadly, the only grip shifters I have are for a very badly worn Sturney
Archer three speed )(you know - slip, crunch, owwwwww {X-(.

And all the local bikeshops that I previously patronised have gone bust
and/or moved (i.e. through out all that old junk = bugger).

But, I will keep it in mind. I have seen them around and recovered them
from council; cleanups, but usually too badly busted to use.

[1] A LBS moved from a visible position to a highly obscure position at
the very back of a mall (30kms away), in a hidden level that requires a
long trudge through the mall[3] (no directory) and repeated asking of
security personel "where is this escalator that takes you down to LGD[2]"

[2] Large government department that they are next to.

[3] Why would a LBS go into a mall where there a three other shops
selling bicycle/activity clothing? Head scratcher.

Random Data said:

Shifter pod, and it sounds like you'll probably want low end Shimano to be
as painless as possible. I've NFI what the going rate is, but $80 for STI
levers (which have integrated shifters) sounds somewhere around the mark.

Thanks. Went to Phantomcycles and they had one on the front page last
night. $50 for a pair of shifters only, so $80 with brake lever combo
seems reasonable.

Quoted message said:

Before you go spending money, what's the rear wheel got - cluster or
cassette, and how many gears? It could be new wheel time if it's less than
7, possibly even 8 these days.

That is the other problem. Tried looking online, but not much there. So,
yes, am thinking of getting her a new wheelset

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

[1] That will be fun since her current frame is a Malvern Star LA84 and
doesn't seem to take any modern derailleurs.

Define modern. Have you got the style that has a plate that goes over the
axle,

Yep. Modern to me is drop out including hanger.
If this wasn't a nice frame, only used by an old[1] lady on sunday, I'd
just weld a hanger onto the frame, but as she now wants a step through,
I'll sell it off when she is finished with it.

- Something like an RD-TX70 will even do 6 speed.

Thank you for that. Model numbers make life so much easier.

Quoted message said:

Maybe you should just raid a council clean up bike?

Oh, I wish that they should be so good. By the time people around here
throw out old bicycles they are almost toast; specs of rubber from
tyres, spokes rusted through, etc. I am even dubious about re-useing
some of the frames.

Although I have recovered an old step through frame for her as she, as
requested. Personally, i'd prefer to buy a new mixte frame.

Must admit, I'm getting closer to saying, "let us go buy you a new bike"
{:-). It was the jib about how she "always gets second best" that did
it. Well, in that case, I want my TA cranks and chainrings back. Oh and
those brake levers are better than mine, and that ......

Unfortunately, she is dealing with a "bicycle mechanic" that is totally
unsympathetic to that line of argument and knows he is dealing with a
customer that just refuses to embrace technology of any form. If this
woman can change a car tyre, why can she not come to grips with
derauiller gears.[2]

[1] Young persons definition of old {:-)

[2] The total fall back position is to respoke some Sturney Archer 5
speed hubs from 28" to 27" wheel.

Yep, I'm rambling. Yesterday I found some Kenya Mocha Gold coffee BEANS
in the supermarket (WTF? haven't seen those in ages) so I purchased some
and found the old percolator. Yuummmmmmmmmmm, snifff, whole pot of
coffee and I'm fired and ready to goooooooooooo.

Quoted message said:

Terry Collins said:

Thanks. Went to Phantomcycles and they had one on the front page last
night. $50 for a pair of shifters only, so $80 with brake lever combo
seems reasonable.

If she can accept mismatched components there's a good chance I've got
something along those lines in the shed. At one stage I had some old
Suntour 6 speed shifters, but ISTR they didn't actually work (one of the
reasons that bike is now SS). I might still have an Acera-ish 7 or 8sp
STI right hand lever. Beyond that I'd have to hunt through the grudge.

Let me know if you're interested, because the only trick is getting it to
you.

Quoted message said:

That is the other problem. Tried looking online, but not much there. So,
yes, am thinking of getting her a new wheelset

Hmm. I might have something with a dead rim but an OK hub as well.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

[1] That will be fun since her current frame is a Malvern Star LA84 and
doesn't seem to take any modern derailleurs.

And I've just realised there's a good chance that this has a narrower rear
spacing than modern bikes. You may need to widen it to take a modern
hub, or look at roadie gear. If it's 84 it's probably steel, so widening
is easy.

Quoted message said:

Thank you for that. Model numbers make life so much easier.

There's also the RD-TX30 which is a lower spec. These are really basic
Shimano, but should work OK.

To be honest, what you're describing as "20 years old quite nice" sounds
a lot like "2 months old and vaguely OK". You may actually be better off
buying a K-mart POS and stripping the components, then seeing if you can
do something useful with the frame. Not a particularly nice way to do
things, but it's the "whole bike < cost of groupset" argument.

--
Dave Hughes | [email hidden]
Researchers in Fairbanks Alaska announced last week that they have
discovered a superconductor which will operate at room temperature.

Random Data said:

Terry Collins said:

Thanks. Went to Phantomcycles and they had one on the front page last
night. $50 for a pair of shifters only, so $80 with brake lever combo
seems reasonable.

If she can accept mismatched components there's a good chance I've got
something along those lines in the shed.

It is okay. She has decided to look seriously at a new bicycle[1]. if we
can get the frame she wants (mixte style), that will solve another
problem that is on the list to solve. I wasn't too keen on spending much
effort on repainting a street find step through anyway (rust and
wouldn't solve the derauiller problem anyway[2].

[1] There were no jokes about coming in green (she means turquoise), so
I know it was serious. Shame it took her having a fall in shop to make
her think seriously about it. Don't ask me the connection there.

[2] Bing, that was another reason for wanting to buy an oxy set and rent
some cylinders - I can replace old dropouts on street finds, with new
drop outs.

At one stage I had some old

Quoted message said:

Suntour 6 speed shifters, but ISTR they didn't actually work (one of the
reasons that bike is now SS). I might still have an Acera-ish 7 or 8sp
STI right hand lever. Beyond that I'd have to hunt through the grudge.

Let me know if you're interested, because the only trick is getting it to
you.

Quoted message said:

That is the other problem. Tried looking online, but not much there. So,
yes, am thinking of getting her a new wheelset

Hmm. I might have something with a dead rim but an OK hub as well.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>[1] That will be fun since her current frame is a Malvern Star LA84 and
>doesn't seem to take any modern derailleurs.

And I've just realised there's a good chance that this has a narrower rear
spacing than modern bikes. You may need to widen it to take a modern
hub, or look at roadie gear. If it's 84 it's probably steel, so widening
is easy.

Quoted message said:

Thank you for that. Model numbers make life so much easier.

There's also the RD-TX30 which is a lower spec. These are really basic
Shimano, but should work OK.

To be honest, what you're describing as "20 years old quite nice" sounds
a lot like "2 months old and vaguely OK". You may actually be better off
buying a K-mart POS and stripping the components, then seeing if you can
do something useful with the frame. Not a particularly nice way to do
things, but it's the "whole bike < cost of groupset" argument.

Terry Collins said:

It is okay. She has decided to look seriously at a new bicycle[1]. if we
can get the frame she wants (mixte style), that will solve another
problem that is on the list to solve. I wasn't too keen on spending much
effort on repainting a street find step through anyway (rust and
wouldn't solve the derauiller problem anyway[2].

Terry,
Not sure if you are in Sydney but Rebel Sports at Bondi Junction has
stock of new 7 speed grip-shift shifters. I think the price is around
$50 for the left and right pair (but certainly no higher). They also
have a new 7 speed cluster.

I was looking at them only last week (just for idle interest) but I have
seen them there for many months.

If that is not convenient then Rebel Sport somewhere else might also
have them.

regards,
Darryl

darryl said:

Not sure if you are in Sydney but Rebel Sports at Bondi Junction has
stock of new 7 speed grip-shift shifters. I think the price is around
$50 for the left and right pair (but certainly no higher). They also
have a new 7 speed cluster.

Loverly tip. Thanks At that price, I will definitely wander in and have
a look. Have been wondering what to do an appreciation note I received
{:-).

Almost went yesterday while swmbo went back to Lincraft (Local RS is
just around the corner and up a bit in a local mall).

Terry Collins said:

Loverly tip. Thanks At that price, I will definitely wander in and have
a look. Have been wondering what to do an appreciation note I received
{:-).

Rebels range really varies from store to store. If you can get into town
easily enough the Broadway store used to be good for finding odd bike
bits. If you're going that far Bondi Junction isn't much further.

--
Dave Hughes | [email hidden]
Lithospheric flight paths typically result in extremely high drag
coefficients, often quite a bit in excess of design parameters.
- Rick Dickinson