bike finder in cycling plus

Super Domestique

Just been reading the July issue. I wondered if anyone else was surprised to see the recommended £500 bike for the commuter wanting a road bike had downtube shifts. I am sure they work well enough but when I was spending the same on my first road bike I would have ignored them as old tech so to speak.

LeicesterLad

I ride an old Record Sprint with downtube shifters, get on fine with them, retro 8) wouldn't see them as a probelm for commuting, however they probably would hinder me in a race, and for £500 (its cheap, but still a lot of money, if that makes sense) you expect something without downtube shifters.