Can anyone actually afford to buy STis anymore?

[jpembroke]

This is where Campag have the upper hand IMO: indexed for the rear and friction (well, sort of - multi-trimmable anyway) for the front. Best of both worlds.

 

[Davidc]

Indexing's probably essential on an sti but if you have an independent shifter such as downtube or bar end what's wrong with friction for the rear? I never had a problem on a 6 speed freewheel block, don't see why it should be any more difficult to use on 8 9 or 10 speed cassette systems.

Has anyone tried?

 

[Joe24]

No, why do you think i ride fixed?

 

[cheadle hulme]

Can't you people just save up for a week or so? Or get a better job.

Not being able to afford cycling equipment says you either don't earn enough or have bred too much.

 

[Joe24]

Can't you people just save up for a week or so? Or get a better job.

Not being able to afford cycling equipment says you either don't earn enough or have bred too much.

 

[MacB]

this has bugged the hell out of me recently, I've decided to go with the STI route. I even had a look at how the Ergo and STI shifters worked to see if there was some mechanically magical reason for the huge prices. Nothing miraculous that I could see, indexing is just a ratchet and release method working on a set amount of cable pull.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Indexing's probably essential on an sti but if you have an independent shifter such as downtube or bar end what's wrong with friction for the rear? I never had a problem on a 6 speed freewheel block, don't see why it should be any more difficult to use on 8 9 or 10 speed cassette systems.

Has anyone tried?

Not yet but I'll have DT shifters on my Audax/winterbike restoration project (if I ever get round to doing it...) and it'll be nine speed, give me another 5 years and I'll let you know if it works.

 

[asterix]

Indexing's probably essential on an sti but if you have an independent shifter such as downtube or bar end what's wrong with friction for the rear? I never had a problem on a 6 speed freewheel block, don't see why it should be any more difficult to use on 8 9 or 10 speed cassette systems.

Has anyone tried?

Only on the 8 cog cassette. I upgraded my old tourer from 5 to 8 (cold setting involved). It had a lovely pair of 80's DT shifters and the system worked very well. I also made the front a triple and the range was easily adequate for use on the North York Moors (and if it's good enough there it's good enough anywhere!)

Unfortunately our kit trickles down from the pro scene and once they change the fashion we have to follow, it seems.

 

[simon_adams_uk]

I'm running bar end shifters in friction mode with a 27 speed set up - works a treat! The front mech is completely trimmable and it has taken almost no practice to learn how to do clean shifts at the rear without thinking about it.

S

 

[ASC1951]

Not being able to afford cycling equipment says you either don't earn enough or have bred too much.

And even then you can just compare it with what the equivalent parts cost on your car.

 

[amrushton]

this has bugged the hell out of me recently, I've decided to go with the STI route. I even had a look at how the Ergo and STI shifters worked to see if there was some mechanically magical reason for the huge prices. Nothing miraculous that I could see, indexing is just a ratchet and release method working on a set amount of cable pull.

You would think so, but on deciding to get some new Ultegra shifters, I was told that I would have to change the front mech and brake callipers as the new groupset is a different cable pull compared to the earlier version (6600)

 

[MacB]

You would think so, but on deciding to get some new Ultegra shifters, I was told that I would have to change the front mech and brake callipers as the new groupset is a different cable pull compared to the earlier version (6600)

wow, now that is seriously taking the p*ss, enforced upgrades really wind me up.

 

[02GF74]

Veloce Ultrashift are only £85 from Ribble, and is exactly what I used with an 8 speed Shimano cassette and mech.

**** Ribble.

I'd rather pay double than give those theiveing lying useless bastards a single penny.

 

[andrew_s]

Try racing 'cross: everything rattles. It's just that mine seem a lot noisier than others and they drive me nuts.

If the brake spring isn't strong enough to pull the lever back tightly when you let go, they do rattle like anything.

Try changing the brake cables and cleaning up the calipers.

 

[fossyant]

Down tube shifters.........!!! The road STI's are silly prices, the MTB stuff OK - how come.........