Brifters vs. bar-end from a convenience standpoint

[staehpj1]

Some of you might find this development of interest http://www.bikerumor.com/2011/11/28/first-look-retroshift-brake-shift-levers-for-cyclocross/
Basically a downtube shifter adapted to a cross brake lever.

Thank you for that link! Finally, a best of both worlds solution.

Depends on what you are looking for.  Some folks consider it the worst of both worlds.

My take is that it is a good idea but at $140 and not including any shifters, the price is awfully steep.  I wouldn't consider them myself for that reason and will stick with STI.  That said, I would definitely use them before I would go to bar end shifters, which I do not care for.

I think the retroshift levers would be hard to find replacements for when on the road, but you could always mount the same shifters on the down tube bosses.  I actually might put something like them on my 1990-ish bike with 7 speed cluster if Tektro or Cane Creek or someone manufactured them rather than doing a costly modification and therefore brought the price down to the sub $40 range (plus shifters).

[waynemyer]

My take is that it is a good idea but at $140 and not including any shifters, the price is awfully steep.  I wouldn't consider them myself for that reason and will stick with STI.
...
if Tektro or Cane Creek or someone manufactured them rather than doing a costly modification and therefore brought the price down to the sub $40 range (plus shifters).

I know, that "made by American workers in an American shop" is a pretty hard price tag to swallow. I'd much rather buy something made completely in China by cheap labor where they don't have to worry about things like environmental standards.

[DaveB]

I know, that "made by American workers in an American shop" is a pretty hard price tag to swallow. I'd much rather buy something made completely in China by cheap labor where they don't have to worry about things like environmental standards.

If you read the description, you would know the developers are modifying Tektro R200 brake levers.  Guess where they are made?

[waynemyer]

Thank you for pointing out the obvious. Hence my adverb "completely" in the phrase "made in China."

[DaveB]

Thank you for pointing out the obvious. Hence my adverb "completely" in the phrase "made in China."

I wasn't being nasty but I don't think it was obvious unless the original link was read thoroughly.   I'd pay the extra to have the majority of the work done here too.  I do wish they would modify Tektro's RL520 levers so their adapters would work with V-brakes. 

[staehpj1]

My take is that it is a good idea but at $140 and not including any shifters, the price is awfully steep.  I wouldn't consider them myself for that reason and will stick with STI.
...
if Tektro or Cane Creek or someone manufactured them rather than doing a costly modification and therefore brought the price down to the sub $40 range (plus shifters).

I know, that "made by American workers in an American shop" is a pretty hard price tag to swallow. I'd much rather buy something made completely in China by cheap labor where they don't have to worry about things like environmental standards.

The question that I ask myself is "how much more is it worth to me" and $140 seems too much to me especially since the levers were originally made in China and I still need to buy shifters that were probably made in china as well.  It is understandable that the price is high not only because it is produced in the US, but also because the production numbers are certainly very small at this point.  The bottom line is still that they, for me at least, do not provide enough of an advantage to justify the price tag in my opinion.

[DaveB]

One option similar to the modified brake levers mounting downtube shifters is the Kelly Take-Off  (www.kellybike.com).  These are brackets that attach to any make or model of unmodified brake lever and accept downtube shifters located just inboard of the brake lever.  They are reasonably low cost (~$50) and accept any make or model downtube shifter.   They aren't as convenient as brifters but are much more so than downtube or barend shifters.  They are also less expensive and offer the durability and ease of low cost upgrading that downtube shifters do. Also, they are USA made. 

I have a pair on my Surly Cross Check using 8-speed Shimano dt levers and they are a very good compromise.

[pdxsnap]

You can have both!   

- Bar-end Brifter

Cheers!


Adam

[Pat Lamb]

- Bar-end Brifter

Looks just a bit odd, to me, seeing someone wearing trousers with straps around his ankles riding on a trainer...

[pdxsnap]

They are there to distract you from the oddness of the shifting system  :p

Adam
Retroshift, LLC