Moving the shifters

[SadieKate]

The parts aren't that expensive but I'd let her try the downtube shifters first. It's a very personal choice. I have bar ends on one road bike and dislike them because I find it hard to shift the front der with my small hands. You don't get any more accurate or fast shifting with barcons over downtube and the cable is even longer so you may sacrifice some performance.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/s...s.html#barcons

Unless you can do the labor yourself, you'd need to factor in the cost of an LBS doing the work.

Switching to STI could be exorbitantly expensive as you'd have to replace the dérailleurs and maybe even the cassette as the number of speeds comes into place. With friction, you can mix and match stuff a bit more.

[SouthernBelle]

Thanks, SadieKate,

I suspect she'll either like 'em or not. If she wants to investigate a change, we'll call my mechanic who I believe has worked on this particular bike and should be able to tell us on the phone.

[spokewench]

I started riding in the late 80's - all we had was down tube shifters! So, they really aren't that bad! We are just all soooo spoiled. If that is what you get used to it's not hard at all and the shifting is really quick with DT.

Actually, it is probably a good thing to have and then you learn that you don't have to have a death grip on your bars! The bike isn't going anywhere unless you lean to the right or left - your butt steers your bike, not your hands!

[KnottedYet]

I miss DT shifters. I'm hoping to build-up a Soma frame, and I'd really like to put DT's on it. (and nice Soma small-hands brake levers)

They are clean and simple and mechanically elegant.