Hear, Hear,
I never had good thoughts about either stem shifters or suicide brake
levers; they were fashion items of no function sort of like the front shock
forks on sub-$300 mountain bikes today. They were a cheap takeoff on barcon
shifters and randonneur brake levers which are both safe, functional items.
One relocation that always has looked and felt good to these eyes were the
wingnut shaped Suntour
shifter that mounted near the brake lever on drop bars.
David Feldman
----------
>From: "Stockwell, Brad" <BRAD.STOCKWELL@mpp.cpii.com>
>To: "'Jerry Moos'" <moos@penn.com>, John <bikehunt@pacbell.net>
>Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Subject: {ClassicRend]RE: [Classicrendezvous] Atala and "Schwinn Approved"
plus commerc ial
>Date: Thu, Nov 30, 2000, 10:01 AM
>
>MY TWO CENTS ON STEM SHIFTERS:
>
> To me, the drag was that you almost have to sit up to shift.
>
> I don't know how many of you actually use your fingertips to shift (OK,
>maybe those with Simplex retrofriction levers can get away with that) but I
>generally shift my somewhat stiff Campy-style levers by grasping the
>downtube-mounted lever from above -- sandwiching the lever between the heal
>of my thumb on the 'front' side and the remainder of my fingers on the
>'back' side - so I'm sort of pushing the lever with my wrist/palm rather
>than my relatively weaker fingertips. Is this verbiage making any sense?
>
> Well, so, if you're gonna shift the rear derailleur with stem shifters
>you've gotta sit up, put your left hand on the bar tops near the stem, then
>shift with the right hand, then resume your original position on the hoods
>or the drops or where ever.
>
> (True confessions: my first 10-speed was a Nishiki Olympic with
>'champagne' paint, 'safety' levers, stem shifters, a plastic 'quilted look'
>saddle, and reflector-weighted-always-right-side-up pedals. This bike was
>stolen 2 months later, and replaced 8 months later by a used Zeus
>Competition.)
>
> Now, with down-tube levers you can stay right where you are. You get
>plenty of leverage fulcruming against the frame and there is no effect on
>steering.
>
> I don't know, maybe it's just me. I also have issues with bar-ends.
>
> Brad "put 'em on the dog-gone downtube, thank you" Stockwell
> Palo Alto
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jerry Moos [mailto:moos@penn.com]
> Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2000 5:34 AM
> To: John
> Cc: brian blum; jfbender@umich.edu;
>classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: Re: [Classicrendezvous] Atala and "Schwinn
>Approved" plus commercial
>
> I think you have a point, John. There is a certain amount
>of snobbery that
> creaps into our thinking. These shifters do present an
>injury hazard in a crash
> - but the same could be said of those adjustable Cinelli
>steel track stems or
> pre-WWII Paramount stems. We probably think of stem
>shifters as ridiculous
> because they appeared on some pretty junky bikes. If Rene
>Herse had used them
> extensively, we'd probably be calling them "classic".
>
> Regards,
>
> Jerry Moos
>
> John wrote:
>
> > Just out of curiosity, what is it, exactly, that makes
>stem mounted shifters
> > "ridiculous"?? Stop guffawing, you veteran experts. I
>really want to know.
> >
> > John Dunn in Napa Valley
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: brian blum <brianblum@hotmail.com>
> > To: <jfbender@umich.edu>
> > Cc: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> > Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2000 5:10 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Classicrendezvous] Atala and "Schwinn
>Approved" plus
> > commercial
> >
> > > I find it hard to imagine a Varsity as quality, though
>it could be
> > > consistant. I have a photo of an abandoned Schwinn
>Sports Tourer that has
> > > been lock in this rack for many years. It was there when
>I started working
> > > here 4 years ago. Grand Tourismo, TA cranks, brazed
>Reynolds 531 and
> > > rediculous stem mounted shifters just like a Varsity.
> > >
>http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=269411&a=10226754&p=34344260
> > >
> > > Brian
> > >
> > > ----Original Message Follows----
> > > From: Joseph Bender-Zanoni <jfbender@umich.edu>
> > > To: "brian blum" <brianblum@hotmail.com>
> > > CC: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> > > Subject: Re: [Classicrendezvous] Atala and "Schwinn
>Approved" plus
> > > commercial
> > > Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2000 19:24:22 -0800
> > >
> > > Ah but a Varsity is a wonderful thing in terms of
>quality. Consistent,
> > > reliable. It worked. See Sheldon's site about the
>electroformed frame
> > > process. The consistency of the Schwinn product and what
>it stood for
> > > across the line is remarkable.
> > >
> > > My point about the Chiorda is that you have the good one
>and it is fine,
> > > but the lesser bikes were painful and they hurt their
>image.
> > >
> > > And now a special "Schwinn Approved" offering. Toe
>straps. White. NOS
> > (some
> > > have a little rust on the buckles. Made in Italy.
>Schwinn Sprint $2.
> > > Schwinn Approved $4. Plus shipping ($1-$3.20). Delivery
>may slide to
> > > January.
> > >
> > > Joe
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>____________________________________________________________________________
> > _________
> > >
> > >
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