Categories: Irreverence

Irreverence: Shift Indicators

Rubbish Tiagra

This is possibly the most offensive piece of gear I have encountered on a bike. Do you really need a little orange wand to tell you what gear you’re in? There is only one gear to be in: the hardest one at which you can still make the pedals go around in something resembling a circle.

These goofy little things were found on the bike I rented last weekend for a benefit ride on the east coast in honor of my late Aunt. It was a wonderful ride and great family time… but really, shift indicators? Further proof that all has been in decline since the advent of indexed derailleurs. What added insult to injury in this case was the quality (or lack there of) in the shifting itself. Tiagra is a far cry from my beloved Dura Ace. I would try to shift and the little orange wand would wobble uselessly back and forth — like a Seattle driver trying to merge on the highway — until, finally, an enormous noise would ripple up the bike and a new gear *might* be achieved. I began to brace myself for the effort…. and…. SHHHHHIIIIIFFFFFFTTTTT. Like passing a gallbladder stone. (Or so I imagine.)

In the end, this Cannondale Synapse was just fine. It even had a sharp paint job. Almost sharp enough to make up for the kiddie shifters.

jim

Jim rides a bike a lot and hates people.

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  • @Pistolfromwarragul the Shimano tradition even goes back 12 years longer than Campagnolo, and surely has a culture worthy of recognition? The price point Campagnolo commands is entirely unjustified, it's quality and performance are just not that much better, possibly the same phenomenon as a budget Mercedes, no one would want one.

  • I would compare Group-San to Honda and Gruupo to Ducati. I would buy the Honda because its more reliable and better value for money even though a Ducati is sexier. Bro-Set would of course be Harley Davidson and I wouldn't even consider throwing a leg over one of those because Harley riders are fags.

  • I have Tiagra on my older bike (my all weather road riding, cyclocross racing, cross country racing, kid's trailer pulling, market going, and sometimes commuting machine) and after 7 years of heavy use in some pretty harsh Canadian weather they still shift like a dream with minimal maintenance and hassle. I just built a road bike with Centaur; there is a big difference for sure, but how substantial depends of how crap a cyclist one is, I guess.

    Upgrade if you can/want, in the end it doesn't matter, does it?

  • @Deakus

    @meursault

    @Brian

    @wiscot Very good point about the yellow lenses and heightened visi-awareness. I have seen this movie too many times to count and it still never gets old. Like watching the 1994 Paris-Roubaix.

    Spot on, if you like movies and haven't seen it, rectify it asap. I have it in a Coen Bros box set, all movies are good, but this is the dogs pyjamas.

    I think it would be most entertaining if Liggett and Sherwen were replaced by Walter and the Dude. The latter can handle the flat stages, Walter the sprints. The Tour might have to move to HBO or something though . . .

  • @eenies

    I would compare Group-san to Honda and Gruupo to Ducati. I would buy the Honda because its more reliable and better value for money even though a Ducati is sexier. Bro-Set would of course be Harley Davidson and I wouldn't even consider throwing a leg over one of those because Harley riders are fags.

    This thread has taken a quick turn to the ridiculous. I thought the conversation should have ended at "It's the Indian, not the arrow."

  • @simon

    @V-olcano

    I've just gone from Ultegra 6700 and its "lovely" hidden cables back to DA 7800. I also have 6500 9 speed on my #2. Whatever else Shimano did when they hid the gear cables they also made a royal balls of it at the same time. Got sick and tired of my shifters eating cables, clogging up with shit, being vague, and generally not being as good as what went before. Won't say anything about silly long lever throws or only shifting down two at a time. Or the fun to be had in trying to fish an exploded cable out of a 6700 shifter vs the simplicity of the old stuff. I haven't tried the new 9000 DA (out of my price league) but whatever - in my experience Shimano hiding the cables was anything but an improvement. And I like that other people don't like the cable thing, because it meant that I was able to get an almost pristine DA Group-san with both 172.5 and 175 cranks for 600 NZD. Ssshhh...

    I simply haven't seen the problems you have with 6700. I ride it on my #2/long long long days bike, and have worked on lots of them. I haven't seen major clogs in the housing, despite most of my customers bringing their bikes to me filthy; no shredded cables or anything of the sort. I will say that broken cables are more difficult to remove if they break near the head, yes, but some time with a pick is fine by me - it's like a puzzle!

    As for only getting 2 shifts, I agree. And the lever throw is a little much, yes. Those are reasons I put a Bro Set on the #1 when I bought it. But I never praised the mechanicals in the hidden-cable shifters over their predecessors. I simply said that the hidden cables are more attractive. I still think they are, and should be retained. I don't run around in public with my tool out, and neither should my shifters.

  • shift indicators totally have their place: on novice bikes. that's why you don't see them on high-end shifters geared (heh) towards more experienced riders. for novice riders, they're totally helpful. yes, seeing 1-9 might mean squat to them but if they see "hey i have a few gears left and i think i can get over this hill with 'em instead of front-shifting" then that's helpful.

    re: tiagra. i actually have it on my everyday bike (specifically because it's cheap) and the shifting's been pretty much flawless even though i grossly mistreat it and barely service it. now, were i to use it in a more intense setting (hard group ride) more regularly, i might notice issues.  but for day to day, it's perfect; reliable, cheap, and just works.

  • @Chris

    This was only ever one bike that could get away with having a gear indicator*

    *for children only. Adults riding Choppers should be dealt with the same level of disdain as fixie and recumbent riders.

    @ralph

    @eenies

    I would compare Group-san to Honda and Gruupo to Ducati. I would buy the Honda because its more reliable and better value for money even though a Ducati is sexier. Bro-Set would of course be Harley Davidson and I wouldn't even consider throwing a leg over one of those because Harley riders are fags.

    This thread has taken a quick turn to the ridiculous. I thought the conversation should have ended at "It's the Indian, not the arrow."

    Really?

    i thought it hit the apogee around the chopper reference.

    all of the hurt bunnies extolling the virtues of their beloved plastic group-san had held me positively riveted...

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