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.

View Comments

  • I have a set of those Tiagra shifters on my winter/commuting/shitty weather bike and I think they are amazing. They don't work very well, and the small orange 'wands' that tell you that you may or may not be in a gear are most embarrassing. However, I ride this bike as hard and fast as I can at all times just so hopefully no other cyclist will see orange tipped embarrassment of my kiddy shifters, and anything on my bike which encourages me to bury myself rather than ease up when the going gets spicy is a good thing, no? It also makes me appreciate how good any bike with a better gruppo on is when I get to ride one.

    The basic premise that these shifters are a godsend for those who can't work out what gear they are in by any other means is a bit distressing though. If you can't glance to your cassette and work it out from that then I would suggest that maybe an alternative sport would be more appropriate..... Maybe a nice game of whackfuck (golf)?

  • I've got some of these wee nine speed things on my #2, they work fine but are a struggle compared to #1.  I'd forgotten all about the indicators, which I used to pay attention to when I was starting out.  I've got a second hand set of 10 speed shifters waiting to be fitted, I just can't afford a ten speed chain and cassette at the moment.  I shall have to get rid of some superfluous odds and sods on ebay to make that happen.

  • The BSO wasn't plush enough to have Tiagra, had to make do with 2300, it also had indicators but they don't actually tell you much anyway. Wore out the wheel and BB bearings in 10 months but those gear still changed fine.

    in my opinion there are only two indicators required anyway, if you legs are spinning at warp speed change up until you are moving at a "decent clip" , the second one is, if you are struggling to maintain a magnificent stroke then change down until in bottom gear. Still struggling! Then HTFU!

  • @Percy

    If you can't glance to your cassette and work it out from that then I would suggest that maybe an alternative sport would be more appropriate

    What exactly do you do with this information once you have it?  Put another way, who cares about what gear they are in?  It might do you some good if you could use your shiny new recon glasses to caclulate the gradient you were about to hit, and reduce your gear ratio proportionally to account for it.  But seriously at that point, the glasses should alert your ant+ enabled Di2 to make the shift for you.  Did I go too far?

  • @razmaspaz

    @Percy

    If you can't glance to your cassette and work it out from that then I would suggest that maybe an alternative sport would be more appropriate

    What exactly do you do with this information once you have it? Put another way, who cares about what gear they are in? It might do you some good if you could use your shiny new recon glasses to caclulate the gradient you were about to hit, and reduce your gear ratio proportionally to account for it. But seriously at that point, the glasses should alert your ant+ enabled Di2 to make the shift for you. Did I go too far?

    I would point out that while none of US would ever do it, some people may find a need to shift from the big ring to the small one. Knowing that you've run out of rear cogs and that the next downshift is going to require changing chainrings is pretty valuable information, especially if you are anoxic and the snow looks black. So, looking at the cog and determining that the best your RD can do for you is to throw the chain into the spokes is probably a good indication that you need to use the other shifter, but having a flashing blue light on the right shifter telling you the same thing might help others.

  • @snoov

    I've got some of these wee nine speed things on my #2, they work fine but are a struggle compared to #1. I'd forgotten all about the indicators, which I used to pay attention to when I was starting out. I've got a second hand set of 10 speed shifters waiting to be fitted, I just can't afford a ten speed chain and cassette at the moment. I shall have to get rid of some superfluous odds and sods on ebay to make that happen.

    If you were not off swanning around the fecking Alps and having a number one good time then you could afford to treat #2 to an upgrade !   #notjealousatall

    Oh, and a fair few uses of the C word here, am I the only one banned from using it ?

  • I have a genesis vapour as my #2 / rain / commuter / cx bike running humble 9sp tiagra and for what it is I can't fault it. Its easy to set up nicely and then it works perfectly. I can't say i've ever really paid the orange indicators any notice so I guess at worst they are unnecessary. My #1 is 11sp Chorus which is fucking ace in everyway but I have no less fun or feel any less rad on my #2.

  • Real shifters only shift up.  Just saying... If you got to the small cog in back and the big in front why would you ever want to leave?

1 4 5 6 7 8 16
Share
Published by
jim

Recent Posts

Anatomy of a Photo: Sock & Shoe Game

I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…

7 years ago

Velominati Super Prestige: Men’s World Championship Road Race 2017

Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…

7 years ago

Velominati Super Prestige: Women’s World Championship Road Race 2017

The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…

7 years ago

Velominati Super Prestige: Vuelta a España 2017

Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…

7 years ago

Velominati Super Prestige: Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian 2017

This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…

7 years ago

Route Finding

I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…

7 years ago