newbie introducing myself!

[Veronica]

Cali is talking about STI shifting. It's Shimano's integrated braking/shifting mechanisim.

I think most new production bikes have STI or it's Campy equivalent. Maybe Pedalfaster or Emily in NC can chime in here.

It sounds like Calla has been riding with friction down tube shifters. Look for the levers on the down tube in the following picture.






Then there are bar end friction shifters. That's what I use on my road bike. They are the silver levers on the ends of my bars.

I know when I first got my bike I probably looked down to shift.
I don't anymore. It becomes just a natural motion. When Iwas captaining our tandem with STI it was kind of weird at first because I would reach for the bar end to shift. I rode the bike a lot without a stoker to get use to the different shifting.


Veronica

[jobob]

I just have two things to say about that green custom Riv with the deluxe paint job and the hammered honjo fenders:

hubba
hubba

- Jo("whatever rocks your boat")bob

[emily_in_nc]

Hi calla ~

I checked out the Dolce Sport online, and it has standard Shimano STI shifters (aka "brifters" because the breaks and shifters are integrated). This type of shifters are pretty much standard on all new stock road bikes these days. I suppose there are a few that use Campagnolo Ergo-power shifters, but Shimano definitely has the lion's share of the market here in the USA. You'll love 'em once you get used to them - and it won't take long!

Downtube shifters and bar-end shifters ("barcons") are older methods for road bikes and still have their afficionados.

I have a variety of shifters on my three bikes: STI on my Terry, Campy on my Aegis (which I had built up from the frame), and barcons on my Bike Friday touring bike (so I could use V-brakes and fatter tires more effectively). They are all very easy to use - but changing back and forth between all the different methods can get a bit confusing at times!

Hope you can get the bike you want!

Emily

[Adventure Girl]

The past few years STI has been slowly creeping into mountain bike components, too. It started with XTR (Shimano's top of the line) last year, or maybe the year before. Now they also have it on the lower levels. The shifter and brake is the same lever. "Squeeze" to brake and uhhh... shift to shift... How can that be explained? The down side (in mountain biking, anyway) is that you have to have Shimano compatible brakes (AKA Shimano brakes).

By the way, does anybody know what STI means or stands for?

[pedalfaster]

Originally posted by Adventure Girl
By the way, does anybody know what STI means or stands for?

Shimano Total Integration.

A bit creepy, huh?



p.s. to Veronica--every time you post your bikes I think the same thing : freaking beautiful! Long live small custom frame builders!

[snapdragen]

It's soooo difficult to control these Riv girls sometimes.........

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jobob
[B]I just have two things to say about that green custom Riv with the deluxe paint job and the hammered honjo fenders:

hubba
hubba

- Jo("whatever rocks your boat")bob

[Adventure Girl]

Originally posted by snapdragen
It's soooo difficult to control these Riv girls sometimes.........

I'm not one of those Riv Girls, but that really is beauuuuuutiful!

[Veronica]

That beautiful green belongs to someone else. Thom took the picture on the Riv camping weekend. I just lust after a custom Riv. Mostly for the beautiful lugs. I didn't want to wait for my bike and the Rambouillet fit well. Now don't get me wrong, Fluffy's lugs are pretty - but custom .... drooling like Homer Simpson when he sees a doughnut.

I am thinking about a QuickBeam. But probably won't get one. I like the idea of a fixed gear for riding to work. It seems like the ideal time to work on pedal stroke. My ever practical husband says just pick one gear and ride it the whole way.

V.

[Maine-iac]

Let's hear it for stress! Pre-vet , here. The bike is my salvation. I'd be in the padded room is I didn't have it.

[IronHorse213]

Wooo - I agree, about those Riv pics - hubba hubba!!! And very good visual examples too. Classy!