Stem shifters

[ridebikeme]

Stem shifters actually came on bikes BEFORE the downtube shifters. Last year, I actually had a customer that needed theirs replaced... and although I looked for quite some time, I actually was able to find some of pretty good quality.

Enjoy !!

[DebW]

Stem and downtube shifters are both friction shifters and were both in use at the same time in the 70s. Not sure if one came first, but I'd guess downtubes. Stem shifters came on low-end bikes for casual riders who wanted to sit upright. They came on bikes that also came with "safety levers" on the brakes (not always, but the same type of riders who wanted stem shifters often wanted safety levers). Luckily, stem shifters went out of fashion, as being on a moving stem made them awkward to use. Downtube shifters remained the norm for decades. Many stem shifters took cables with the now almost obsolete lug ends that you'll only see on double-ended gear cables.

The D-ring on the side of the lever is just tension adjustment for the lever -- too loose and the derailleur won't stay in gear, too tight and you can't hardly shift. Do make sure there is no significant cable slack when the levers are all the way forward.

Stem shifters can be replaced with downtube shifters if you can find the clamp-on variety (and be sure to clamp them good and tight or they'll slide down the frame from cable tension and scrape your paint). I find downtube shifters much easier to control in terms of making fine derailleur adjustments, and they put your hand in a more natural position. You can also use bar-end shifters if you can find a clamp-on cable stop for the downtube.

[OakLeaf]

being on a moving stem made them awkward to use.

Now that I finally learned why heavy tourers don't use brifters, can you explain why they DO come with bar-ends instead of down-tube shifters? It would seem to me that bar-end shifters have the same issue - worse even.

I'm thinking if I ever get around to building up a tourer, I'll stick with down-tube shifters...

[tulip]

Wow, y'all who've never seen stem shifters are making me feel awfully old...

I've found stem shifters to be adequate, but I prefer downtube or bar end shifters on older bikes. Stem shifters typically were on lower-quality/priced bikes. I found them kindof unstable when shifting.

For you young'uns, shifters integrated into the brake levers are a pretty new development...I had never tried them until I bought my Luna in 2005. But that might be because the bike that my Luna replaced was a 1983 Vitus with downtube shifters. Classic!

Oakleaf - bar end shifters are fantastic (to me). Very stable. You can see what gear combo you are in by looking at the shifter position instead of having to (dangerously) look down at the chain rings/cassette. Easier to fix than integrated shifters, too, if you are on the road and in a remote place. Easier to adjust. Easier to use than downtube shifters because you don't have to move your hand as far. The only drawback for me is that they do extend the length of the bars, and I'm kindof a klutz and so I'm always bumping my leg into the shifters, which result in some interesting bruise patterns (I bruise easily).

[Catrin]

Now that I finally learned why heavy tourers don't use brifters, can you explain why they DO come with bar-ends instead of down-tube shifters? It would seem to me that bar-end shifters have the same issue - worse even.

I'm thinking if I ever get around to building up a tourer, I'll stick with down-tube shifters...

Why don't they come with brifters? Is it because STI shifters are overly complicated to fix on a tour if there is a problem?

[OakLeaf]

Why don't they come with brifters? Is it because STI shifters are overly complicated to fix on a tour if there is a problem?

Exactly. (Basically, most shops will tell you they're not serviceable at all, although Shimano does have part numbers for every part in the exploded diagram and a little tool to insert the spring - so SOMEONE must service them. )

[sarahspins]

Exactly. (Basically, most shops will tell you they're not serviceable at all, although Shimano does have part numbers for every part in the exploded diagram and a little tool to insert the spring - so SOMEONE must service them. )

I suspect that might be primarily because it's just not economical for most shops to service brifters.. it's less work and probably (much) more profit to flat out replace them... not to mention faster if the shop doesn't carry those small parts in stock.

Personally I think I'd want thumbies over bar-end shifters on a touring bike, but having never tried either it's hard to say I don't particularly mind the stem shifters on my mixte... since there aren't a ton of gears to mess with

[Atlas]

I have stem shifters on my older Motobecane. They were a pain at first because the little D-ring wasn't tight enough. Now that I know to check it I haven't had any problems.

[Catrin]

[QUOTE=sarahspins;502171
Personally I think I'd want thumbies over bar-end shifters on a touring bike, but having never tried either it's hard to say I don't particularly mind the stem shifters on my mixte... since there aren't a ton of gears to mess with [/QUOTE]

I will let you know what I think of my bar-ends once I am brave enough to move my hands to shift - or grow tired enough of having a functional fixee touring bike to do the same I've already given myself permission to change bars and go back to trigger shifters if I hate the bar end shifters - but I have to give them an honest trial. Everyone else has seemed to do well with them

[SadieKate]

I feel sooooo ancient . . . . .

[Zen]

I feel sooooo ancient . . . . .

No, just experienced and knowledgeable

[SadieKate]

A fine vintage???