Tour Of Britain - Sponsor Ads

[martint235]

Was just watching the recorded highlights and came across one of the sponsor ads by Sharp entitled "This is Why".

It went on to explain that gear levers used to be on the downtube but were moved to the handlebars so that opponents couldn't see you shifting and getting ready to sprint. Surely the levers were moved to put them within more convenient reach???

 

[screenman]

It was certainly a tip off that the person in front was getting ready for a sprint when you watched him change gear, it also allowed you to get a slight jump on them whilst hands were off the bars.

Now as for where they ended up is a real matter of because they could.

 

[coffeejo]

One of the members of my cycle group has just put his 1980s road bike back on the road which has the gear shifters on the down tube and it seems (to my novice eye) to be much less efficient. Handlebars are much tidier though

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

I've got a 1980's Carlton Kermesse. I just have to remember not to reach down too far and put my fingers on the front tyre!

Apart from that I have to move my leg out a bit so my knee doesn't hit my arm as I'm changing. I'd think that movement on it's own is a good reason to move the shifters.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Was just watching the recorded highlights and came across one of the sponsor ads by Sharp entitled "This is Why".

It went on to explain that gear levers used to be on the downtube but were moved to the handlebars so that opponents couldn't see you shifting and getting ready to sprint. Surely the levers were moved to put them within more convenient reach???

I saw that series of adverts as well. There was some good stuff in there inc why the Yellow Jersey is that colour.

 

[Christopher]

American bikes used to have the shifters on the stem. You sometimes see new BSOs with them these days. I found that raching all the way down to the downtube to shift was a pain

OT but I love the race footage used in the Skoda advert, especially the way the pros treat the car and the bikes and the wheels with such contempt: scraping the door against a stone wall, throwing wheels around. We're all so precious about our stuff that it's good to see people who don't treat it with reverence...

 

[guitarpete247]

I recently moved my shifters from the down tube to the stem. I find them easier than on the down tube but as my bike is almost 30 years old I only have the 2 possible position choices

. My MTB (also old, 23 years old) has thumb shifters so are a little more modern

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