I miss downtube shifters. I miss them in the same way I miss the days before the widespread use of race radios, when races were less choreographed and more unpredictable. Racing on downtube shifters, a rider had to be seated and take one hand off the bars to shift. Shifting had to be planned into race tactics. These days, we can enter a hairpin bend in one gear and exit out of the saddle in another all while never moving our fingers off the brakes. We can shift into any gear we want while mashing the pedals up a steep incline. With downtube shifters, a rider had to plan for corners and enter the turns in the gear they planned to exit it in; they had to commit to the gear they were going to sprint in. If they were in the wrong gear when an attack went, they had to stay (or get) seated, reach down and feather the derailleur into the proper gear – overshifting slightly and easing the chain back into the cog. Similarly, a rider planning to attack had to choose a gear before launching themselves up the road. A far cry from today’s bar mounted shifters. Besides, downtube shifters were beautiful: simple, elegant, and light.
Flipping through my old cycling books, it feels like the late eighties and early nineties were the golden age of component design. Even up to the early eighties, components were rife with nuts and bolts and square edges. But in the late eighties, it seems manufacturers spontaneously mastered aluminum forgery; Mavic, Shimano, and Campagnolo suddenly poured out elegant parts with sexy curves and polished finishes. In my opinion, the best and most beautiful groupo ever made was the 1989 and 1990 editions of Campagnolo C-Record.
Those were the years just before Campy put out the first version of the Ergo-Power lever which, to my taste, was always too bulbous and large; I much preferred their distinctive standard brake levers and their loose-fitting white hoods. The Campy crankset and derailleurs were stunning, complete with that unmistakable aluminum finish, polished to produce a luster that looked like it was something from a dream. The rear hub, with its sweeping curve from the freehub body to the axle, was mesmerizing to watch as it gleamed in the sunlight. But the piéce de résistance of the groupset was the delta brake, in its full triangular glory. In today’s weight-obsessed cycling culture, there is no possibility of such a brakeset ever being built again.
I already have plenty of bikes, but I think we all know that the correct number of bikes to own is n+1. It is a dream of mine to hunt around and collect an entire ’89-’90 C-Record groupo and build up a bike around it, right down to a set of hand-built (by me) three-cross wheels, downtube shifters, and delta brakes.
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Frank, you are a dreamer. Oh for the polishing-o-the Campy bits, the simichrome german polish would make all those aluminum parts gleam. A man/boy would get lost in that process.
Once in a blue moon my right hand drops down to the downtube for a phantom shifting, some atavistic behavior.
For you Seattle-ites, there is a shop called Branford Bike that has relocated there from Branford Conn., and it is another Campy fanatic shop worth checking out. They have a good supply of retro Campy. All Hail Campy.
@john
Thanks for the tip; I haven't been out there. I will make a point of it.
Frank - The SunTour XC Pro goodies on the Zip always shifted well. I also dig the top mount shifters. On a side note: Paul Components makes a cool adapter to turn current bar end shifters into top mounts. Check it out.
Another Zip note: For the last few years (before it hung getting dusty in the garage), the Zip was used on the road with slicks. Previously, for real dirt use - it occasionally suffered from chain suck - jamming the chain into the chainstay (ouch - but common). I ran a Ringle anti-suck device on the frame during that period. I pulled it off when retired for street use. You may want to dig something up for muddy use. It takes a bit of mud mess for that to occur, but possible.
I'd sell or give you the Ringle piece, but I may use it on my current Cannondale hardtail in the near future, as I've experienced some chain-suck on that as well.
As far as Di2, from what I've read - been tested and used for cyclo-cross. Stuff must be pretty durable.
@Dan O
I have noticed the chain suck already; not as much on the dry day out in Cle Elum on Sunday, but I have seen it. Anti-chainsuck device definitely in the works. Thanks!
@frank
Frank, Branford Bicycle might not be the Campy powerhouse it used to be. Its website does not make mention of all the retro stuff they used to carry. Just so ya know. j
@john
You broke my heart, Fredo!
If we had a bike like this do you think the gap between us and the podium of the Tour de France would be a bit closer? We can dream!
Looking back at this old article - Thought all would be amused, or at least the old farts - On a recent group ride I am on the old '83 753 Raleigh with the Campy down tube shifters and a kid says "I can't believe you take your hands off the bars to shift".
Nearly fell off laughing.
I have been lent a bike with the new fangled stuff and I am glad I still have this bike and the groupo - simple, light, elegant and I still keep up on it.
@Rob
Kids these days, they just don't understand anymore. Did they also ask you why your tubes are so skinny?
Due to funding issues (being skint) I was still running downtube shifters on my '97 season race bike. Did all right on it. Wouldn't go back.
Always wanted some of those Delta brakes. But probably glad that I bought a bike with 105 on it. That meant I never wanted to use the rubbery offering from Campag ever again.