Tiagra gear indicators: What do they actually show?

[RSV_Ecosse]

It's to allow other riders to clearly see you're using a noob group set

Aha......we have a comedian in the building......

Cheeky fecker.


Aye, anyway, I've just been going purely by how the gears feel for the road/hill/whatever and changing accordingly till I feel comfortable.

Still not worked out how the indicators work though, they move about left and right but god knows what they are telling me.

 

[MessenJah]

Aha......we have a comedian in the building......

Cheeky fecker.


Aye, anyway, I've just been going purely by how the gears feel for the road/hill/whatever and changing accordingly till I feel comfortable.

Still not worked out how the indicators work though, they move about left and right but god knows what they are telling me.

As has already been said in the thread, they show what sprocket your chain is on.

 

[dodgy]

Aha......we have a comedian in the building......

Cheeky fecker.


Aye, anyway, I've just been going purely by how the gears feel for the road/hill/whatever and changing accordingly till I feel comfortable.

Still not worked out how the indicators work though, they move about left and right but god knows what they are telling me.

Hehe, glad you took it well On my MTB I have XT fitted with 'double glazing for gears' (which is what I call it). As others have said, it gives a general indication of what extremity your gears are at (highest or lowest at the front/rear). So if you're riding along and glance down to see the needle at one extreme, don't expect to be able to shift any more in that direction. Once you get a little experience you will realise they serve no actual use in the real world. Tape over 'em.

Dave.

 

[Mortiroloboy]

Pointless, unecessary gimmick, IMO

 

[RSV_Ecosse]

Right, cheers guys. I think I get the "jist" of them now.

To be honest, I was more curious about them at a standstill whilst giving the bike a look over when i first got it, but I think I've only maybe looked at them a few times when I am actually riding the thing and just thought "Hmmm....funny wee things, eh?" and then looked back up and forgot about them.

 

[yenrod]

Hi RSV - they show the gear your in.

They dont have indications ie 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9

..they just have 2 lines - like when i'm in the 3rd cog from the left the indicator on the right will be on the line - as its the gear i mostly start off in, from the lights, so I can jab the lever up to then.

Its a 50/50 bit of help: I reckon they're a help not a hinder.

So to be intricate:

The right STi will show the indicator moving to the left as the gear gets harder.

I'm not sure which way the indicator goes on the Left STi.

Still, I like them and they should be on more groupsets!

I still reckon they're are ok !

Is it sad to quote yourself

 

[John the Monkey]

Further left = higher gear.

They are unnecessary though, as everyone points out.

 

[RSV_Ecosse]

No yenrod, not sad at all!!!

Thanks for all the feedback folks, really appreciate it.

Think I have an idea of how these things work now after re-reading through all the helpful posts in this thread.

Cheers!!

 

[goo_mason]

Bit of a gimmick really make sure you put something under them if you upend the bike as they scratch very easy.

Scratched one of mine very badly less than a week after getting the bike. I put the bike upside down to fix a puncture on the journey home and didn't realise they'd be making contact with the rough tarmac

 

[dodgy]

Surprised to read of an experienced cyclist 'upending' their bike for a roadside repar, thought only kids do that!

 

[John the Monkey]

How do you do yours, Mr Dodgy sir?

 

[Maz]

How do you do yours, Mr Dodgy sir?

I'd be interested to know that, too.

 

[dodgy]

I've made countless repairs to my bikes at the roadside over the years. Snapped chains, punctures, wheel trues (snapped spokes), brake adjusts, indexing adjustments. They can all be done with the bike upright. I've never needed to upend my bikes and haven't really seen anyone else do it for a while either.

 

[John the Monkey]

Portable workstand?

Laying the bicycle on its side?

Getting a new wheel from the team car?

 

[dodgy]

Just rereading the messages up above, guys, I'm not criticising anyone. We all know what works for us as individuals, it was just an observation on my part that I hadn't noticed anyone upending bikes for ages.

Hope you understand I'm not trying to take some kind of know it all high ground (because that's how it looks imo!), just was curious really.