Help me! Road Bike Part Grades for Dummies

**Andrea** · 03-09-2008, 04:24 AM

SRAM Doubletap is actually really easy to learn. And you'll be addicted to how easily it shifts from the small ring to the big ring

Sorry, I just got SRAM, and I'm addicted

**Thorn** · 03-09-2008, 05:17 AM

Originally Posted by KnottedYet

Getting Salsa Short-n-Shallow bars made it much easier, though.

Yep.....my FSA wing pro (short drop, but not as short as the Salsa) make it easy. To be honest, I was surprised that I could because I cannot shift my Shimano from the drops. However, that's really the difference between a bike that fits (my Campy equipped) and a bike that doesn't fit (my Shimano equipped) and not a difference in the shifter style.

**rij73** · 03-09-2008, 05:24 AM

Wait, so how exactly is the button reached? You can reach it with your thumb? I just have a hard time picturing it...

**Thorn** · 03-09-2008, 05:57 AM

Originally Posted by rij73

Wait, so how exactly is the button reached? You can reach it with your thumb? I just have a hard time picturing it...

Exactly. I really, really would never have believed that I could have hit the button from the drops, but with the right position and the right bars, it just works.

But, that said, I had a good fitter for the frame and a good mechanic helped me pick out the handlebars that would work. In the past, I rented a bike with Campy and I rarely was in the drops (mediocre fit because it was a rental). I don't think I could even reach the break levers. With my new bike I can use the drops comfortably (yes, I'm still gushing over this bike's fit--it is amazing!) and the shifters work from the drops.

**mimitabby** · 03-09-2008, 07:13 AM

This ranks as the most confusing thread I have ever read!!!

And no, I can't explain how Campy is different, but today when I'm riding to Bike Expo, i'm going to try to figure out what I am doing so I can tell you guys.

**rij73** · 03-09-2008, 08:01 AM

LOL, mimitabby...

**VeloVT** · 03-09-2008, 11:14 AM

I actually don't find Shimano counterintuitive, but it took me a long time to be able to talk about "shifting up" and "shifting down" without getting really confused (since oftentimes, in order to "shift down" -- into an easier gear -- you LITERALLY have to shift "up" through the cogs). Finally got my head around it though

.

I think it's one of those things that you have to not think too hard about. Sort of like which way to loosen your pedals. People get all confused because on one side of the bike it's clockwise and on the other side it's counterclockwise, and it's hard to remember whether left is clockwise or counter, and vice versa -- but the better, non-confusing way to think about it is that you loosen in the opposite direction from the direction you pedal... Ergo, always loosen towards the back of the bike.

**rij73** · 03-09-2008, 03:16 PM

Liza, I don't find it counter-intuitive either. When I shift, I picture what the chain is doing, and since I understand how the position of the chain affects the gear, I do fine. The problem is, I cannot explain it or talk about it at all.

**KnottedYet** · 03-09-2008, 03:19 PM

someone posted the best pedal mnemotic *ever* a while back, and I use it all the time now: Forward, onward; back off. (that's the direction of the pedal wrench)

**mimitabby** · 03-09-2008, 03:28 PM

Okay
here's the deal. on my bike which is campy-equipped, i have a long lever on the front of the handlebars which is also a brake. There is one of those on each side, and on the inside of that there's a little thumb lever.
now, when you want to move the chain of your Campy equipped bike to the left, you move the right button or right lever towards the direction you want your chain to go.

That's all there is to it!

The left hand operates the 3 big chain rings. When I want the chain to go up to the big ring to go really fast, I just shove that left lever over to the right; where it is; and it goes there.
The right hand does the same thing. When I want to push the chain up to the big ring in the back, to go up a hill, i just push that lever to the left.

I don't believe that's how the Shimano stuff worked.

**mimitabby** · 03-10-2008, 06:26 AM

bump - I was wondering if anyone was going to comment on my post after all that hard work figuring it out!

**mkidd** · 03-10-2008, 07:00 AM

I've been following this great thread--this is Bike Parts U!

But I've never seen/used anything but Shimano (or this weird dial thing for the gears on my mtn bike). I'll be really cool to check out people's bikes this season and to actiually know there are other systems out there to look for!

**elk** · 03-10-2008, 10:28 AM

Mimi
that sounds exactly (?) like my Shimano....only I wouldn't call the mini lever a thumb button...it's a mini lever that operates the same as the maxi...

so I guess I'm a little confused about the smaller button...I need a photo....

**rij73** · 03-10-2008, 11:07 AM

Yes, it took me a minute to think it through, but I believe Mimi's description of the Campy lever function equals the function of the brake lever on Shimano. Then, where Campy uses the thumb button, Shimano uses the second, inside lever. I can see now where a Campy user would get really confused on Shimano, since their inside lever does what our large lever does. I think I finally understand it all now! Phew!

**mimitabby** · 03-10-2008, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by rij73

Yes, it took me a minute to think it through, but I believe Mimi's description of the Campy lever function equals the function of the brake lever on Shimano. Then, where Campy uses the thumb button, Shimano uses the second, inside lever. I can see now where a Campy user would get really confused on Shimano, since their inside lever does what our large lever does. I think I finally understand it all now! Phew!

I'm glad YOU do! (because according to Elk, they are the same, and I know they aren't )

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