Lisa - you already sound like a mature cyclist who knows that constant shifting is for the most part unnecessary. So your conversion to brifters was one of convenience and, as long as you are willing to spend the extra money to buy them and endure the monetary loss you'll incur should you crash and destroy them, it's a fine personal decision. But, as you say, many cyclists want top-end bikes that come equipped that way whether they really need them or not. Just like a lot of other things over the years, like cassettes equipped with 8, 9 and now 10 cogs, the manufacturers pull various things down from the racing crowd and dangle them over consumers like a stick and carrot. It's these folks, no doubt, who are shifting all over the place whether they need to or not. It's kind of sad because in some ways they've been sold a bill of goods as a status symbol and never really get the chance to develop fundamental cycling skills.
George On Nov 25, 8:33 am, "Lisa -S.H." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > George Schick wrote: > > Seems > > like DT shifters also train you to shift only when you really need to > > - I've ridden along with people who have brifter-equipped bikes and > > all I ever heard was shifting going on for the slightest little rise > > or drop in elevation. > > I had bar end shifters on my Rambouillet for 2 years while it was my > only bike. I noticed that over the course of two years I slowly began > to shift less often for slight elevation variations. Part of this is > because I got a little stronger. I think that many of these riders who > shift obsessively are likely to be less experienced riders or just > weekend short-ride type riders who have not put in a lot of mileage. I > suspect they will shift less frequently as they ride more. Keep in mind > that most novice riders these days are buying bikes that typically have > brifters. That includes novice riders full-out clad in racing kits as > well. ;) I think if these novices were starting on bar end or DT > shifters they'd still be shifting more frequently than necessary. > I just finished changing my Ramb's bar-ends to brifters (for several > reasons) and I don't think I am shifting much more often than I did on > my bar ends. I have the same gearing setup as before, and I tend to > have my favorite gears already 'assigned' in my head for certain > segments and hills of my common routes. I expect as I continue to get > stronger I will continue to shift less often. > Lisa --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
