Re: Most significant advance in bike technology for speed?

cyclintom <cyclintom@yahoo.com> wrote:

On Mon Jan 27 11:03:35 2025 Zen Cycle  wrote:

On 1/24/2025 10:00 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:

On 1/24/2025 5:10 PM, Zen Cycle wrote:

 
I'd like to point out that integrated brake/shifter designs also
enhanced safety, eliminating the need to move the hands from a
position of control on the bars (Even bar-end shifters required moving
your hand to a position with less control).

 
Yes, I suppose in a furious pack sprint that could be an issue.

 
It's an issue in general. I remember cases long ago on a steep climb
when a rider would have to reach down for a down tube shift and nearly
fall over.
 

 
Those of us who remember the "new bike vs. 1980s bike" comparison road
test, with young racers riding up a mountain, may recall that some of
the young guys said it was scary to take their hands off the lever to
shift.
 
Ah well. I've taken off both jackets and rain capes while riding. I even
drink from a water bottle while riding! But I'm not racing.

 
And some people never quite got the hang of being able to shift without
looking down at the lever lol....

 
 
 
 
In my experience, hardly anyone could shift without looking down to move
their hands to the shift levers accurately. This was happening in the
heat of racing and you couldn't afford to miss a shift. And it was only a glance.
 

Why would you look? My memory was it was done by feel ie push until the
chain engaged the next cog, and bit more until it was quiet ie not brushing
the front mech or the chain was rattling the cassette.

Unless your trying to gauge by eye! As your riding the chain position it’s
not particularly useful to look, in the same way don’t need to look to get
the water bottle etc, even a old MTBer such as myself can manage that!

Roger Merriman