Getting used to bar end shifters

[freebooter]

I have fitted bar end shifters to see if I can swap to them from STIs. I have used them a few times so far and I am not sure about them tbh. I have ridden on a combination of roads and off road cycle track. On the track they were fine. Firstly it was flat so I didn't need to change much anyway but also I didn't find changing a problem. However, on the road I was often reluctant to change in traffic.

The problem is I find it quite a large movement to take my hand off the bar reach down and back to find the lever, change and go back to bar. On the trail this isn't a problem but when I am in traffic and do not want any sort of wobble I would put off changing.

My handlebar was a slightly anatomic deep drop bar (150-155mm iirc) fom the early 90s. I have just swapped it for an even older slightly shallower bar so will see if it makes a difference but it is also very narrow so the steering is twitchier which won't help.

Obviously they will never be as convenient as STIs and I will get more used to them if I keep using them but I wondered how other people had got on with the change and if they had any tips?

[531colin]

Compact drops! and cut as much as you can off the ends. I can shift without moving my shoulder.
I went from down tube to bar end, never had STI.

[robgul]

All my geared bikes (7) have bar-ends - no issues at all - it all becomes intuitive very quickly ... the one thing that does fox me from time to time is that two of the bikes have a rear mech that swings the other way on the cable ... which means the lever is then in the opposite position.

... and I keep them in friction (front is anyway) to be able to "trim" the mech position (Armstrong did this with his TT bike gear levers)

Rob

[ANTONISH]

It's just practice. I've been happily using bar ends (on friction) for many years.

[freebooter]

Compact drops! and cut as much as you can off the ends. I can shift without moving my shoulder.
I went from down tube to bar end, never had STI.

I have been looking at compact drops anyway. One question with them though; I often ride with the base of my palm on the flats and my hands/fingers running along the section behind the hoods. I don't know if that makes sense but if it does is there enough room to do it on the compact bars?

[reohn2]

Ah,well,Hmmm.....................





You'll get used with time





Then when you're fed up with them put the STI's back on

[CREPELLO]

Compact drops! and cut as much as you can off the ends. I can shift without moving my shoulder.
I went from down tube to bar end, never had STI.

I have been looking at compact drops anyway. One question with them though; I often ride with the base of my palm on the flats and my hands/fingers running along the section behind the hoods. I don't know if that makes sense but if it does is there enough room to do it on the compact bars?

Yes, there's room, unless you have extraordinaryily big hands!

The other thing to make best use of bar ends is to have the handlebars set high. Then you will find that not only are the levers even nearer to hand, but you will be happier using the drop section far more often. This comes into it's own when tackling a hill and approaching the faster the better. For the only drawback I can find with bar ends is that once you are grinding up said hill with hands on the hoods, reaching for the next gear requires a little more skill than from STI's.

[ANTONISH]

The other thing to make best use of bar ends is to have the handlebars set high. Then you will find that not only are the levers even nearer to hand, but you will be happier using the drop section far more often. This comes into it's own when tackling a hill and approaching the faster the better. For the only drawback I can find with bar ends is that once you are grinding up said hill with hands on the hoods, reaching for the next gear requires a little more skill than from STI's.

[/quote][/quote]

I have all my bars set below saddle level and usually ride on the hoods. I don't have difficulty of reaching for the bar end - gear changing is an automatic action. In the past we had down tube levers and I even had a rod operated front changer, I can't remember any particular difficulty.

[NUKe]

try down tube shifters then you'll find bar end shifter a breeze.
Out of interest what wrong with STI or Ergo? Why do youwant to change ?

[CREPELLO]

The other thing to make best use of bar ends is to have the handlebars set high. Then you will find that not only are the levers even nearer to hand, but you will be happier using the drop section far more often. This comes into it's own when tackling a hill and approaching the faster the better. For the only drawback I can find with bar ends is that once you are grinding up said hill with hands on the hoods, reaching for the next gear requires a little more skill than from STI's.

[/quote]

I have all my bars set below saddle level and usually ride on the hoods. I don't have difficulty of reaching for the bar end - gear changing is an automatic action. In the past we had down tube levers and I even had a rod operated front changer, I can't remember any particular difficulty.[/quote]I have no doubt that as a seasoned D/T lever user you would have absolutely no difficulty using bar ends anywhere on the bike! However, somebody coming from STI's is another matter altogether.

[reohn2]

............. somebody coming from STI's is another matter altogether.

An STI user (either road or MTB) who hasn't used B/ends would, I think find it upsetting to their riding style.
Initially when riding the winter bike with Kelly Take off's I found it inconvenient and the levers are right beside the hoods.I realised how spoiled I'd been by STI's,their convenience is somethinng thats become so natural to my riding over the years that I don't even think about changing gear as I dare say its the same for anyone who uses whatever gear shifting system.
The OP however hit on the one place where STI's are a real boon,in traffic,especially in a hilly area.

[MacBludgeon]

I found I preferred my barends with a rapid rise rear derailler, that way both levers go the same direction for easier/harder gears.

That said I have been perusing the Kelly takeoffs for the new build but am tempted to wait for the new thumb mounts from Pauls Engineering. My commuter originally had two crosstop levers but I've since dropped the one for the rear brake and just have the front brake. I like this in traffic, it means I can ride on the tops and have the ability to adjust my speed, I just found both brakes were more than I needed for this purpose. The new bike will be super compact, 24/40 up front, so I'll keep front shifting at barend. But it would be nice to have the rear shifting next to the crosstop lever, it also makes the cable runs much easier.

It's annoying, you can get thumb mounts to fit 22.2mm MTB bars and to fit 26mm road bars but nothing yet for 31.8mm road bars. I've even been tempted to try and modify an existing one, cut away most of the clamp, file a groove each side and just fit with an o-ring.

In fact, can you fit bar end shifters onto old MTB thumb shifter mounts? if you can does anyone have an old one kicking around that I could attack with dremel&co?

[thirdcrank]

I still have a perfectly good bike fitted with Campag bar end levers from when they were the latest thing, first time round.

Although using them is easy, they are a pita if a cable needs replacing, especially if one goes during a ride. Unlike modern bar ends - which are just a DT lever on a boss in the bar end, they fit in a slot and are held in there with some special bolts and washers. STI is a doddle compared - a big improvement IMO.

[pherron]

I had bar end shifters for a year, but I never really liked them. They weren't a big improvement on downtube shifters. I now have Ergopower and I love them - they are as easy and convenient as thumbshifters on straight bars.

[hartleymartin]

I love bar-end shifters. Use a touring-specific handlebar like the nitto noodle with a shallow drop of about 140mm. Also, the hoods should be about the same height as the saddle, otherwise the shifters are a bit far down. I've got Dia-Compe Silver shifters, on a 6-speed freewheel. BEAUTIFUL!