Shifters

I presently have a road bike with Shimano STI manual shifters
(Brifters), 9 speed, with a two speed, compact, chain wheel and would
like to change to a 3 speed chain wheel but of course the present 2
speed Brifter wouldn't shift three speeds.

I have two other bikes with three speed chain wheels and I can get a
(to me) better range of gears with the three as opposed to the compact
setup.

The best option, which is also the most expensive, would be to buy a
new set of STI shifters, but are there any options?

I've been thinking of a friction, bar mounted, front shifter and use
the existing STI front shifter only as a brake. Another option might
be to use a MTB shifter (click, click, click), which would look a
little dorky.

Has anyone ever done a conversion similar to this? Did you like it?
Are there other options?
--
Cheers,

John B.

John B. Slocomb wrote:

:I presently have a road bike with Shimano STI manual shifters
Brifters), 9 speed, with a two speed, compact, chain wheel and would
:like to change to a 3 speed chain wheel but of course the present 2
:speed Brifter wouldn't shift three speeds.

:I have two other bikes with three speed chain wheels and I can get a
to me) better range of gears with the three as opposed to the compact
:setup.

:The best option, which is also the most expensive, would be to buy a
:new set of STI shifters, but are there any options?

Your bike store may still be able to get a single left lever to match
your existing shifters, or at least a single left lever that will
shift a tripple, even if it doesn't match. You can also use a single
bar end lever, or a single downtube lever. Some pro drug users did
that in the start of the brifter era, when they weren't convinced that
a left brifter was worth the weight penality. You miht be able to
find a lever used.

:Has anyone ever done a conversion similar to this? Did you like it?
:Are there other options?

I've ridden a bike like this. (It was a buddy's spare, he'd replaced
the right (rear) shifter with a bar end after a crash.) The shifters
worked fine, but it's a little weird having different shifters. I'd
probably have found a bar end for the left less weird, since you don't
use it much.

--
sig 14

On 9/29/2014 10:16 PM, John B. Slocomb wrote:

I presently have a road bike with Shimano STI manual shifters
(Brifters), 9 speed, with a two speed, compact, chain wheel and would
like to change to a 3 speed chain wheel but of course the present 2
speed Brifter wouldn't shift three speeds.

I have two other bikes with three speed chain wheels and I can get a
(to me) better range of gears with the three as opposed to the compact
setup.

The best option, which is also the most expensive, would be to buy a
new set of STI shifters, but are there any options?

I've been thinking of a friction, bar mounted, front shifter and use
the existing STI front shifter only as a brake. Another option might
be to use a MTB shifter (click, click, click), which would look a
little dorky.

Has anyone ever done a conversion similar to this? Did you like it?
Are there other options?

There used to be a thing called an "Erickson Gizzmo," a sort of tubular
cam device that went inline with the front derailleur cable. It had a
small lever you'd rotate to drop to the small chainring. Here are
photos from Sheldon Brown's site:
http://sheldonbrown.com/images/erickson-gizzmo.jpg
from http://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_e-f.html
But I imagine it's a pretty rare find these days.

Personally, I think I'd just use a bar-end shifter on the left, and use
the left STI lever only for braking. Didn't Lance proclaim that to be
acceptable?

BTW, I wonder if you'll need a new front derailleur as well.
Derailleurs for doubles are different than for triples.

--
- Frank Krygowski

On Monday, September 29, 2014 7:16:15 PM UTC-7, John B. Slocomb wrote:
I presently have a road bike with Shimano STI manual shifters

(Brifters), 9 speed, with a two speed, compact, chain wheel and would

like to change to a 3 speed chain wheel but of course the present 2

speed Brifter wouldn't shift three speeds.



I have two other bikes with three speed chain wheels and I can get a

(to me) better range of gears with the three as opposed to the compact

setup.



The best option, which is also the most expensive, would be to buy a

new set of STI shifters, but are there any options?



I've been thinking of a friction, bar mounted, front shifter and use

the existing STI front shifter only as a brake. Another option might

be to use a MTB shifter (click, click, click), which would look a

little dorky.



Has anyone ever done a conversion similar to this? Did you like it?

Are there other options?

--

Cheers,



John B.

Spend money. Keep the economy strong. http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...38_-1___204723
http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-ST-570.../dp/B009VB7GEC -- single 3X front shifter from Amazon source.

I much prefer brifters (apart from the dorky moniker). I'd spring for the lever. Or get the $19 version. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shimano-ST-2...-/231063839721

-- Jay Beattie.

jbeattie wrote:
On Monday, September 29, 2014 7:16:15 PM UTC-7, John B. Slocomb wrote:
I presently have a road bike with Shimano STI manual shifters

(Brifters), 9 speed, with a two speed, compact, chain wheel and would

like to change to a 3 speed chain wheel but of course the present 2

speed Brifter wouldn't shift three speeds.



I have two other bikes with three speed chain wheels and I can get a

(to me) better range of gears with the three as opposed to the compact

setup.



The best option, which is also the most expensive, would be to buy a

new set of STI shifters, but are there any options?



I've been thinking of a friction, bar mounted, front shifter and use

the existing STI front shifter only as a brake. Another option might

be to use a MTB shifter (click, click, click), which would look a

little dorky.



Has anyone ever done a conversion similar to this? Did you like it?

Are there other options?

--

Cheers,



John B.

Spend money. Keep the economy strong.
http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...38_-1___204723
http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-ST-570.../dp/B009VB7GEC
-- single 3X front shifter from Amazon source.

I much prefer brifters (apart from the dorky moniker). I'd spring for the
lever. Or get the $19 version.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shimano-ST-2...-/231063839721

-- Jay Beattie.

Have to agree with Jay. The ability to brake and shift in one place is
worth some extra bucks. I wouldn't consider down tube shifters again.
--
duane

On Tue, 30 Sep 2014 10:22:24 +0000 (UTC), Duane
wrote:

jbeattie wrote:
On Monday, September 29, 2014 7:16:15 PM UTC-7, John B. Slocomb wrote:
I presently have a road bike with Shimano STI manual shifters

(Brifters), 9 speed, with a two speed, compact, chain wheel and would

like to change to a 3 speed chain wheel but of course the present 2

speed Brifter wouldn't shift three speeds.



I have two other bikes with three speed chain wheels and I can get a

(to me) better range of gears with the three as opposed to the compact

setup.



The best option, which is also the most expensive, would be to buy a

new set of STI shifters, but are there any options?



I've been thinking of a friction, bar mounted, front shifter and use

the existing STI front shifter only as a brake. Another option might

be to use a MTB shifter (click, click, click), which would look a

little dorky.



Has anyone ever done a conversion similar to this? Did you like it?

Are there other options?

--

Cheers,



John B.

Spend money. Keep the economy strong.
http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...38_-1___204723
http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-ST-570.../dp/B009VB7GEC
-- single 3X front shifter from Amazon source.

I much prefer brifters (apart from the dorky moniker). I'd spring for the
lever. Or get the $19 version.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shimano-ST-2...-/231063839721

-- Jay Beattie.

Have to agree with Jay. The ability to brake and shift in one place is
worth some extra bucks. I wouldn't consider down tube shifters again.

I've got down tube shifters on a road bike I use in Bangkok. I
probably wouldn't want them in a different place but Bangkok is
essentially flat. On a typical Sunday ride I might use two gears on
the way out and back (Bangkok does slope very slightly from North to
South) and perhaps one more lower gear for the hump backed bridges. I
find them quite hand.... particularly when you only shift about 6
times in three hours :-)
--
Cheers,

John B.

On Tue, 30 Sep 2014 02:53:12 +0000 (UTC), David Scheidt
wrote:

John B. Slocomb wrote:

:I presently have a road bike with Shimano STI manual shifters
Brifters), 9 speed, with a two speed, compact, chain wheel and would
:like to change to a 3 speed chain wheel but of course the present 2
:speed Brifter wouldn't shift three speeds.

:I have two other bikes with three speed chain wheels and I can get a
to me) better range of gears with the three as opposed to the compact
:setup.

:The best option, which is also the most expensive, would be to buy a
:new set of STI shifters, but are there any options?

Your bike store may still be able to get a single left lever to match
your existing shifters, or at least a single left lever that will
shift a tripple, even if it doesn't match. You can also use a single
bar end lever, or a single downtube lever. Some pro drug users did
that in the start of the brifter era, when they weren't convinced that
a left brifter was worth the weight penality. You miht be able to
find a lever used.

Nope. The bike shops stock what sells. The largest bike shop in
Bangkok (two branches and innumerable agents in towns all over the
country) no longer stocks wheel parts - hubs, spokes, rims. I asked
them about it and they tell me that "nobody buys wheel parts any
more".

I have been considering adding a single lever shift lever on the L.H.
side of the handlebar and see how it works out.

:Has anyone ever done a conversion similar to this? Did you like it?
:Are there other options?

I've ridden a bike like this. (It was a buddy's spare, he'd replaced
the right (rear) shifter with a bar end after a crash.) The shifters
worked fine, but it's a little weird having different shifters. I'd
probably have found a bar end for the left less weird, since you don't
use it much.

I've been chewing it over and on that bike, in the locality I ride it,
I generally don't shift the chain wheel much. I usually put it in
"high range" and leave it there until I can't get any further up the
hill and than shift to "low range" none of this split shifting -
"front down one; rear up three" that I think the English used to talk
about.
--
Cheers,

John B.

On Mon, 29 Sep 2014 23:23:30 -0400, Frank Krygowski
wrote:

On 9/29/2014 10:16 PM, John B. Slocomb wrote:

I presently have a road bike with Shimano STI manual shifters
(Brifters), 9 speed, with a two speed, compact, chain wheel and would
like to change to a 3 speed chain wheel but of course the present 2
speed Brifter wouldn't shift three speeds.

I have two other bikes with three speed chain wheels and I can get a
(to me) better range of gears with the three as opposed to the compact
setup.

The best option, which is also the most expensive, would be to buy a
new set of STI shifters, but are there any options?

I've been thinking of a friction, bar mounted, front shifter and use
the existing STI front shifter only as a brake. Another option might
be to use a MTB shifter (click, click, click), which would look a
little dorky.

Has anyone ever done a conversion similar to this? Did you like it?
Are there other options?

There used to be a thing called an "Erickson Gizzmo," a sort of tubular
cam device that went inline with the front derailleur cable. It had a
small lever you'd rotate to drop to the small chainring. Here are
photos from Sheldon Brown's site:
http://sheldonbrown.com/images/erickson-gizzmo.jpg
from http://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_e-f.html
But I imagine it's a pretty rare find these days.

That is sort of interesting. I can make something like that pretty
easily. I wonder whether the front shifter is linear enough that it
would shift "Low - Middle" with the gizmo on one position and "Middle
- High" in the other"?

Personally, I think I'd just use a bar-end shifter on the left, and use
the left STI lever only for braking. Didn't Lance proclaim that to be
acceptable?

But I don't have a spare bar-end shifter :-)

And, I certainly don't have all the oomph that Lance has/had :-)

BTW, I wonder if you'll need a new front derailleur as well.
Derailleurs for doubles are different than for triples.

Maybe. I've used two speed shifters and they work.... sometimes.
--
Cheers,

John B.

John B. Slocomb wrote:
On Tue, 30 Sep 2014 10:22:24 +0000 (UTC), Duane
wrote:

jbeattie wrote:
On Monday, September 29, 2014 7:16:15 PM UTC-7, John B. Slocomb wrote:
I presently have a road bike with Shimano STI manual shifters

(Brifters), 9 speed, with a two speed, compact, chain wheel and would

like to change to a 3 speed chain wheel but of course the present 2

speed Brifter wouldn't shift three speeds.



I have two other bikes with three speed chain wheels and I can get a

(to me) better range of gears with the three as opposed to the compact

setup.



The best option, which is also the most expensive, would be to buy a

new set of STI shifters, but are there any options?



I've been thinking of a friction, bar mounted, front shifter and use

the existing STI front shifter only as a brake. Another option might

be to use a MTB shifter (click, click, click), which would look a

little dorky.



Has anyone ever done a conversion similar to this? Did you like it?

Are there other options?

--

Cheers,



John B.

Spend money. Keep the economy strong.
http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...38_-1___204723
http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-ST-570.../dp/B009VB7GEC
-- single 3X front shifter from Amazon source.

I much prefer brifters (apart from the dorky moniker). I'd spring for the
lever. Or get the $19 version.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shimano-ST-2...-/231063839721

-- Jay Beattie.

Have to agree with Jay. The ability to brake and shift in one place is
worth some extra bucks. I wouldn't consider down tube shifters again.

I've got down tube shifters on a road bike I use in Bangkok. I
probably wouldn't want them in a different place but Bangkok is
essentially flat. On a typical Sunday ride I might use two gears on
the way out and back (Bangkok does slope very slightly from North to
South) and perhaps one more lower gear for the hump backed bridges. I
find them quite hand.... particularly when you only shift about 6
times in three hours :-)
--
Cheers,


For me I do a lot of group riding so taking my hands off the hoods is not
always a good idea.
It's also not very flat around here.

But Jay posted a link for a pretty inexpensive brifter. This seems like
the most elegant solution because it seems like the most simple. Not often
you can appease William of Occam and your wallet at the same time.


--
duane

On 9/29/2014 9:16 PM, John B. Slocomb wrote:

I presently have a road bike with Shimano STI manual shifters
(Brifters), 9 speed, with a two speed, compact, chain wheel and would
like to change to a 3 speed chain wheel but of course the present 2
speed Brifter wouldn't shift three speeds.

I have two other bikes with three speed chain wheels and I can get a
(to me) better range of gears with the three as opposed to the compact
setup.

The best option, which is also the most expensive, would be to buy a
new set of STI shifters, but are there any options?

I've been thinking of a friction, bar mounted, front shifter and use
the existing STI front shifter only as a brake. Another option might
be to use a MTB shifter (click, click, click), which would look a
little dorky.

Has anyone ever done a conversion similar to this? Did you like it?
Are there other options?
--
Cheers,

John B.


There are oodles of options [1] but if you don't mind dorky
aesthetic, I agree that an MTB thumb shifter would be the
simplest and cheapest solution.

[1] The Sidetrack Gizmo from 1992 seems to be unsearchable
on the InterWebs. It was an in-line mini shift lever for
'one more click'.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971