Bicycle Austin forum

Awaqa909

Member

Registered: 2013-06-26

Posts: 3

What kind of shifter does your roadbike have?

Looking at a old roadbike and I'm probably not gunna invest in shift/brake levers (would love to have em tho)
but it has downpipe or stem shifters? not sure what word fits better.

Pretty much im wondering what your bike has and are they comfortable/cheap/etc?

Thanks,
Awaqa909

AusTexMurf

Member

From: South Austin

Registered: 2008-11-21

Posts: 439

Re: What kind of shifter does your roadbike have?

Stem shifters are on the stem, the metal piece connecting your handlebars to the head tube of your frame. Often associated with entry to lower mid level road bikes from the late 70's through late 80's. Advantage is that you don't move your hands far off the bars to shift.

Down tube shifters are mounted on the (usually) diagonal running down tube on the main frame of your bike.
Road bike standard in the 70's, 80's, early 90's, etc.....
Some very nice, very reliable down tube shifters and components from SunTour and Shimano in the 80's into early 90's.

Both systems friction not indexed, advantages and disadvantages to both.

You can also upgrade the brake levers to modern Tektro Aero brakes and Tektro long reach brake calipers. This is a very nice upgrade for an older road bike. Much improved braking performance. Next switch to 700c wheels and modern 9, 10 spd cassette. Then you can run bar end shifters, which are quite nice and very reliable. Good, affordable path to upgrading a nice old steel road bike.
IMO.

Good luck.

Last edited by AusTexMurf (2013-06-28 17:42:24)