Cycling UK Forum

RonK wrote:My first tourer - a Surly Long Haul Trucker, was equipped with bar end shifters, and I HATED THEM.

Moved them onto to Paul Thumbies mounted on the tops. Better, but eventually I decided that I didn't much like the LHT and sold it.

When I built my current tourer (a Sabbath Silk Route), I decided to ignore the bar end shifter myth and fit STI levers. They have proved to very comfortable, very ergonomic and very reliable.

At first I was uncertain and carried a down tube shifter on tour as a spare. Now I don't bother.

I'm very pleased - delighted with my decision to ignore the dire predictions

Out of interest, how have you gotten STi's to work with an XT rear mech? Are you running 10spd or 9spd?

MisterTea wrote:
Out of interest, how have you gotten STi's to work with an XT rear mech? Are you running 10spd or 9spd?

Pre 10 speed, any XT rear mech will work with any STI drop bar lever, at least up to 10 speed. It's the 10 speed XT rear mech's that aren't compatible.

Bar end levers are the best, STI are little advantage and not needed for touring. Also a lot of push on the lever is needed with STI compared to a little tweek on the bar ends, I love em and much cheaper too. The Triple side on STI is a pain in the buttock,Cage always rubbing and the trim doesn't always work and drops you onto the little ring again to completely bolox you up, you do not need index on that side just for 3 positions, and are much better off with friction. Don't forget YOU ARE NOT RACING, TOTALLY DIFFERENT, I have done both.

Malky 1422 wrote:Don't forget YOU ARE NOT RACING, TOTALLY DIFFERENT, I have done both.

Nobody is racing. It's just nice to flick your wrist half an inch and the gear changes.

Malky 1422 wrote:Bar end levers are the best, STI are little advantage and not needed for touring. Also a lot of push on the lever is needed with STI compared to a little tweek on the bar ends, I love em and much cheaper too. The Triple side on STI is a pain in the <i>[rude word removed]</i>,Cage always rubbing and the trim doesn't always work and drops you onto the little ring again to completely bolox you up, you do not need index on that side just for 3 positions, and are much better off with friction. Don't forget YOU ARE NOT RACING, TOTALLY DIFFERENT, I have done both.

cant disagree more. STI are a big advantage to touring - especially if getting on in years and not so strong anymore and dont use the drops; able to change gear second by second as the road changes. re the triple side, atleast dont get any cage rub with my ancient RSX, dont have any trim issues as it dont have any lol. Only problem I had recently was bad change to the granny ring, solved by light lubrication of the STI mechanism ( first time ever since 1998), now very nice. Oh by the way has maintained its settings for some time. Love STI.

Yes its a personal preferred choice I think, I have had a lot of problems with the trim on one of my bikes with STI, another bike has the same levers and is fine. I know what the problem is, the little trim lever moves the main lever a little on trim, and drops me onto the little ring. I have found a way to hold the brake lever with my finger while I trim and get round it that way. In reality index is not required for 3 positions, but they cant make a friction shift on a brake lever. The right hand is great once you get used to how much you have to move the lever, which to my mind is a lot. While I have no problem going to the bar end, I must admit the brake levers are in a more convenient position . I do have both as I have a few bikes, but for me if I was building a new bike for touring/audax I would go for bar ends. My point about racing is, STI are designed for that purpose really, as quick changes can be made, and the other riders have little chance of seeing you change gear.
Ones choice I suppose, but when Audaxing and climbing, I am always apprehensive when I need to trim on that left lever, as it just kills my pace when it goes wrong.
Sorry about the rude word, I had a drink , but it wasn't that rude by todays standards. Think most will imagine what it was.

FWIW,STI's were developed for racing but pretty soon caught on with many road cyclists to the point where they're almost universal in one make or another.The reason for that is their convenience.They are convenient.
Malky1422's problem seems to be either a faulty lever or set up.
I've used 7,8 and 9sp,Sora,Tiagra,105 & Ultegra Shimano STI's on doubles and triples,tandems and solos,for a lot of miles and only very occasionally do I overshift with the left(front mech) shifter,it's always on the downshift and always user error.
I take his point about trim settings and cage scrape,though IMO it's not a deal breaker if set up to suit the individual.
As I said up thread I don't like b/ends and ffind them no more convenient than d/tube lever TBH.
Kelly Tke Off's OTOH are another thing entirely,not quite as convenient as STI's but not far short and with all the plusses of friction shifting on the front mech and the added bonus of friction on the rear too should you need or prefer it.

maybe some one can explain why trim which causes so much trouble is so needed with STI these days, when my old 24 speed RSX triple dont have it and seems to work fine. Seems like design went wrong some where with later designs; seems like the needs or racing bad news for general purpose STI's? All I can think is that they wanted to get rid of the loud thwack going to the granny ring? high price to pay.

mercalia wrote:maybe some one can explain why trim which causes so much trouble is so needed with STI these days, when my old 24 speed RSX triple dont have it and seems to work fine. Seems like design went wrong some where with later designs; seems like the needs or racing bad news for general purpose STI's?

IMO it's the newer 9&10sp front mech cages that are narrower causing a need for a trim feature.My old 7sp RSX STI's didn't need trimming either,why Mr S couldn't have left the cage the same width for 9&10sp and just made the mech pull a bit more cable is anyone's guess,unless I've overlooked some technicality

MisterTea wrote:

RonK wrote:My first tourer - a Surly Long Haul Trucker, was equipped with bar end shifters, and I HATED THEM.

Moved them onto to Paul Thumbies mounted on the tops. Better, but eventually I decided that I didn't much like the LHT and sold it.

When I built my current tourer (a Sabbath Silk Route), I decided to ignore the bar end shifter myth and fit STI levers. They have proved to very comfortable, very ergonomic and very reliable.

At first I was uncertain and carried a down tube shifter on tour as a spare. Now I don't bother.

I'm very pleased - delighted with my decision to ignore the dire predictions

Out of interest, how have you gotten STi's to work with an XT rear mech? Are you running 10spd or 9spd?

Sorry, missed your question.

I'm using 9spd STI - it is a touring bike after all. It works just fine with an XT derailleur and a 9sp cassette.

A road deraileur is required up front. I'm using an IRD Alpina, which is a road derailleur designed for use with small chainrings.

MisterTea wrote:

RonK wrote:My first tourer - a Surly Long Haul Trucker, was equipped with bar end shifters, and I HATED THEM.

Moved them onto to Paul Thumbies mounted on the tops. Better, but eventually I decided that I didn't much like the LHT and sold it.

When I built my current tourer (a Sabbath Silk Route), I decided to ignore the bar end shifter myth and fit STI levers. They have proved to very comfortable, very ergonomic and very reliable.

At first I was uncertain and carried a down tube shifter on tour as a spare. Now I don't bother.

I'm very pleased - delighted with my decision to ignore the dire predictions

Out of interest, how have you gotten STi's to work with an XT rear mech? Are you running 10spd or 9spd?

Sorry, missed your question.

I'm using 9sp STI - it is a touring bike after all. It works perfectly with an XT derailleur and a 9sp cassette.

A road derailleur is required up front. I'm using an IRD Alpina, which is a road derailleur designed for use with small chainrings. Can be hard to get though, as they are are manufactured in small production runs.

Can anybody explain why the screw that secures my Shimano bar end shifters is left hand thread on both sides?

Pete Jack wrote:Can anybody explain why the screw that secures my Shimano bar end shifters is left hand thread on both sides?

It's not,the bolt is a right hand thread and is screwed toward you through the 'nut' part which is the alu casting that holds the lever,spreading three collets that tighten on the inside of the handlebar.

Edited for typo.

reohn2 wrote:

Pete Jack wrote:Can anybody explain why the screw that secures my Shimano bar end shifters is left hand thread on both sides?

It's not,the bolt is a right hand thread and is screwed toward you thought the 'nut' part which is the alu casting that holds the lever,spreading three collets that tighten on the inside of the handlebar.

What had me confused is you have to to turn it anti clockwise to tighten it. My bike shop guy described it as 'left hand thread'. I didn't take it all the way out just loosened it enough to install a new outer cable so I didn't see how it was built.