Road compact doubles on 'bents - what shifter?

[UpWrong]

So I have a 33/48 road compact double (Stronglight Junior) on the Paseo and a Sora FD to match it. Gear change with the SRAM MRX twist grip was straining my arm so switched to a Dore triple LH trigger shifter. Aargh, forget that the cable pull isn't the right match for a road FD. Have to have a slack cable in 1st position in order for it to ratchet into 2nd. Had some trouble setting the limit screw to stop it over-shifting. And still finding it stiff to get the chain across onto the outer ring. There's no resistance at first (slack wire) then significant resistance after the slack is taken up, then stiff resistance for the final "overshift" to get the chain up on to the ring.

I do have a dura ace bar end and Paul thumbie but whether i mount it in the handlebar end (OC bars) or on the thumbie I still think I am going to get handlebar reaction when making the shift.

Anyhow, will give the Deore trigger a try to see how it goes.

Any other easy shift solutions for a road compact double FD?

[[XAP]Bob]

A double can easily be indexed with any lever - it's just a case of adjusting the stops appropriately.
What style of bars?

[UpWrong]

Open Cockbit bars.

Maybe I should look for an MTB double FD that works with 33/48 rings, if there is such a thing.

[[XAP]Bob]

I would have thought that a thumbie should be operable without steering

[UpWrong]

I would have thought that a thumbie should be operable without steering

I think you are right, if I mount the thumbie underneath the grip, to be operated by my thumb

It seems you can't get mtn double FDs that can handle a 33/48 double.

[UpWrong]

Ah, looks like Shimano make the SL rapidfire shifters to work with road FDs. I could presumably use the Tiagra SL-4603 triple shifter with the Sora double FD: https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/gear-shifters/shimano-tiagra-sl4603-10-speed-rapidfire-shift-lever-for-flat-bar-triple-left-hand/

[OldBloke]

Check out Microshift https://www.microshift.com/en/product-category/road/road-shifters/page/2/, they have some road options that might suit your situation.

OB

[swscotland bentrider]

Ive recently built a Gaucho 28 tour with open cockpit steering. Ive used a compact double (48/34) with SLX shifters mounted under the bars (you can just make them out in the image) the front changer is a Tiagra double and the left shifter a triple. So far seems to work fine.

[UpWrong]

Check out Microshift https://www.microshift.com/en/product-category/road/road-shifters/page/2/, they have some road options that might suit your situation.

OB

I couldn't find any UK sellers of these to find out prices. Thanks anyway.

[UpWrong]

Ive recently built a Gaucho 28 tour with open cockpit steering. Ive used a compact double (48/34) with SLX shifters mounted under the bars (you can just make them out in the image) the front changer is a Tiagra double and the left shifter a triple. So far seems to work fine.

Nice bike, nice build . I assume you've adjusted the gear cable so that it's slack with the chain on the small ring, but tightens sufficiently to move the chain across in the first click position.

[UpWrong]

I've ordered an SRAM X5 2x10 FD. Hoping that matches the pull of the Deore shifter. The spec says it's good for 48/32 rings.

[OldBloke]

Check out Microshift https://www.microshift.com/en/product-category/road/road-shifters/page/2/, they have some road options that might suit your situation.

OB

I couldn't find any UK sellers of these to find out prices. Thanks anyway.

Try https://www.moorelarge.co.uk/brands/microshift

[swscotland bentrider]

Yes Upwrong, I used a combination of the limit screws on the mech and the tension of the cable so that it would change cleanly between the two rings. I find that using MTB shifters and a road triple doesn't work nearly as well as the errors accumulate the further you move the cage.

[UpWrong]

I took the bike for a spin today. Changing up on the rings was ok if a little stiff. It sometimes took a second push of the thumb to get there. I might swap the Sora double FD for the X5 double when it arrives.