Re: [CR] Simplex barcon "demultiplicateur"?

(Example: Framebuilders:Chris Pauley)

Date: Sat, 23 Sep 2006 10:18:51 -0500
To: theonetrueBob@webtv.net (Bob Hanson)
From: "Mark Stonich" <mark@bikesmithdesign.com>
Subject: Re: [CR] Simplex barcon "demultiplicateur"?
In-Reply-To: <23763-4514EC22-12654@storefull-3274.bay.webtv.net>
References: <23763-4514EC22-12654@storefull-3274.bay.webtv.net>
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

At 9/23/2006 02:11 AM -0600, Bob Hanson wrote:
>Can someone please explain this piece to me?

Simplex barcon "demultiplicateur" allowed a shifter designed to pull a lot of cable, at low tension, per shift to work well with a derailleur designed for short cable pulls at high tension.

I installed about 20 of these in the '80s for people wanting butter smooth shifting using Suntour BarCons and Shimano or Huret derailleurs.
>Curious if these shifters actually functioned well,

Some people liked the shifting when mixing BarCons with other brands of RD.

But I always found that I needed to adjust the friction too tight for really smooth movement of the shifters. Demultiplicators cured this. I found them to be especially helpful with SunTour's narrow "Ultra" freewheel cog spacing.
>I've never known anyone who has actually used a set.

I've been using them for about 25 years, even making brazed on mounts.

Mark Stonich;
Minneapolis Minnesota
http://mnhpva.org
http://bikesmithdesign.com