Vintage gear changing?

bluedoggy
bluedoggy Posts: 285
edited October 2012 in Road general
Never ridden a bike with the gears on the main tube - the ones on the vintage bikes. Is it hard or awkward to change gear? Maybe going to get a winter bike and all of the Peogeot's have them.
Wilier cento uno.

Comments

  • Hoopdriver
    Hoopdriver Posts: 2,023
    No. It's just what you get used to.
    http://www.My-Bicycle-and-I.com
  • gaspode
    gaspode Posts: 110
    not hard - just different. Maybe because I grew up with down-tube shifters, but I like the freedom that they provide to move to any gear without going through all the intermediate gears first. Some even come with built-in indexing (though you can normally turn it off if you'd rather).
    If you can ride one-handed without falling off, you'll soon get used to them :). I have nice modern Ultegra 10-speed shifters on my Mercian but chose to install old-fashioned down-tube Campag shifters on my 'winter' Paramount
  • edhornby
    edhornby Posts: 1,780
    down tube shifters - some are indexed (click=one gear move) some are friction shifters which require a bit of mechanical sympathy, you move it and you feel the gear move then trim so the mech doesn't rattle

    if you shift up one gear on the rear when you drop onto the small ring, this is a little harder to do without bar mount, you have to be brave enough to do a change none-handed

    good thing about downtube shifting is that it's simple to maintain etc
    "I get paid to make other people suffer on my wheel, how good is that"
    --Jens Voight
  • Diamant49
    Diamant49 Posts: 101
    I was out on my old 1986 vintage Diamant this morning, as its now my wet-weather bike - with Campag Record downtube shifters, rather than my 2000 vintage Somec with Chorus 10 speed.

    As noted above,it isn't quite as convenient if you want to change front and rear - but changing is pretty intuitive and you quickly get the "feel" for where you move the lever to.

    To be honest, there are some aspects of it that I prefer - in particular there is less weight on the bars (and with a nice Cinelli stem as well) and I find the handling is better, but thats maybe just me.....
  • zx6man
    zx6man Posts: 1,092
    I found the commute a bit more dangerous with down tubes to be honest. My peugeot had exage kit and was fully indexed (1984 I think) . Changing gear down while slowing and unclipping was an art form .
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    dont forget that MTBs had thumb shifters that can be used and will allow you to bar mount if you wanted. (some shimming would/may be needed).
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • bluedoggy
    bluedoggy Posts: 285
    zx6man wrote:
    I found the commute a bit more dangerous with down tubes to be honest. My peugeot had exage kit and was fully indexed (1984 I think) . Changing gear down while slowing and unclipping was an art form .

    Thats the last thing i want is something that is dangerous on a commute :(
    Wilier cento uno.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    In the days before indexing you'd need to 'feel / hear' your way to a shift - integrated shifters certainly make life easier whereas before, shifting mid-turn or when you were out the saddle was more tricky and often needed more forethought. You didn't have the same range of gears either, with race bikes have 42/52 chainrings and a 13-19 straight-through block (freewheel) so often it was a case of just sticking it in the gear and MTFU!
    I have a 1983 Gios which I use for classic events and I have to re-learn everything again, from toe clips and straps, fumbling for the gear levers and knowing that the brakes are pretty useless except for making squealy noises!
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,312
    Monty Dog wrote:
    In the days before indexing you'd need to 'feel / hear' your way to a shift - integrated shifters certainly make life easier whereas before, shifting mid-turn or when you were out the saddle was more tricky and often needed more forethought. You didn't have the same range of gears either, with race bikes have 42/52 chainrings and a 13-19 straight-through block (freewheel) so often it was a case of just sticking it in the gear and MTFU!
    I have a 1983 Gios which I use for classic events and I have to re-learn everything again, from toe clips and straps, fumbling for the gear levers and knowing that the brakes are pretty useless except for making squealy noises!

    Your brakes belong to an era where they should already be good. My super record are excellent, especially when combined to a hard anodised rim... the squeeking seems a case of the alloy being the wrong type for effective braking... maybe time to get a set of Nemesis? 8)
    left the forum March 2023
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Ugo, the blocks on my Modolos are 30 years old and have never needed changing! Actually, they don't squeal that much but I need to recalibrate my braking distances in comparison to my modern bikes. My rims are Ambrosio Synthesis Super Pros!
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,312
    Monty Dog wrote:
    Ugo, the blocks on my Modolos are 30 years old and have never needed changing! Actually, they don't squeal that much but I need to recalibrate my braking distances in comparison to my modern bikes. My rims are Ambrosio Synthesis Super Pros!

    Never had modolo brakes, but they are considered to be good... maybe new pads? Kool stop make some new rubber in the old shape even in salmon pink for stubborn rims
    left the forum March 2023

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