On 1/13/19 7:55 PM, wrote:
On Sunday, January 13, 2019 at 7:35:05 AM UTC-5, Tosspot wrote:
On 1/12/19 6:46 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 1/12/2019 12:11 AM, wrote:
Seriously, what is the point of these things? What problem do
they solve and is it worth the extra maintenance hassles for
non-racing riders?

Part of the point is "churning." Bikes and bike parts are a
super-mature industry, and bikes and their products last decades.
(My favorite bike is from 1986.) So the industry tries to come up
with new ideas every year, just to entice you to buy
_something_.

Going back to the 1970s, it was "Ten speeds!" then "Touring
bikes!" then "Aluminum!" then "Mountain bikes!" ... and on and
on, with front suspension, full suspension, 6 speeds, 7 speeds, 8
& 9 & 10 & 11 speeds, carbon fiber, electronic shifting etc. It
goes on forever.

Currently it's disc brakes, tubeless tires and "gravel bikes."
For almost everyone who rides a bicycle, the improvements (if
any) are almost undetectable. We are deeply into diminishing
returns, no matter what miracles the supposed connoisseurs
claim.

I take issue. Indexed ergo shifters vs downtube friction shifters,
LED LiPo lights vs dodgy glow worms, and this is going to cause
trouble, yes, hydraulic discs vs cable rim brakes.

I see what you are saying, but people don't *buy* crap. They buy
it because it's [marginally] better than what the had. Eg. I could
buy this mountain bike

https://www.walmart.com/ip/26-Roadma...Black/55376950



Or I could buy this;

https://www.damianharriscycles.co.uk...8-touring-bike



By your argument, the first is a clear winner, because it's every bit as
good as the latter and 600 bucks cheaper!

Just ride.

Not wrong :-)

No, they buy it because they have no other choice. If I could, I
would buy down-tube levers and top-mount shifters, but they are no
longer available. I have three or four of the stupid Shimano
push-button shifters. Every single one of them is broken.

Quite reasonable prices, as you'd expect.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=do...w=1067&bih=903

https://www.google.co.uk/search?biw=...bar+shifter s

For the real 1970s experience'

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Sun...-/254061406502

Sometime ago I thought I had an application for those friction bandon
shifters, but I'm damned if I can remember it now!