Grip vs Triggers

[JennK13]

I have grip shifters on one bike and trigger shifters on my commuter and mountain bike - while I do like being able to trim with twist shifters, I LOVE and prefer trigger shifters and find I don't have a need to trim on them. Especially in the cold or the rain when I can't really grip or feel my hands, trigger still works.

[laura*]

I think trigger shifters have more mechanical advantage. The triggers might be two inch long levers with the cable spooling around a one inch spool.

With twist shifters, the grip might have a one inch radius and the cable is also being wound onto a one inch spool. Thus the twisters will need twice the force of triggers. Of course this action is also done with different muscles.

[Catrin]

Interesting comparison. I have found that I need to trim my triggers on the LHT rather frequently. I must also say that they are not mountain bike triggers, but a special trigger shifter that Shimano makes to work with a road crank/road bike. I don't have to trim as much as I used to, but it still requires a good amount. I will need to re-learn how to shift regardless on whether I go with SRAM (trigger or twister) or XT.

So I am hearing that twisters can take more effort to shift, though of course different muscles are used, and sweat can be an issue but gloves should take care of that. I can have problems with my thumbs, but can also have wrist problems depending upon position. I will see what I can do about a test ride on a bike with a twister shifter.