Downtube and friction shifters in general are great. Pretty much indestructible, simple, and beautiful. Love a classy Rando build.
@hopfag6555
11 ай бұрын
Haha yeah right, downtube shifters are zéro maintenance but they can’t handle actual bad weather abuse like 105 lever shifters for example, had two cold rides in the rain on old campagnolo downtube shifters and one brusque shift made it break in 2 pieces
@dillroastington
11 ай бұрын
@@hopfag6555 I'll take "Things that never happened" for $1000 Alex... I rode Ene downtube shifters through 5 years of Wisconsin winters on a commuter that literally never came inside. Never a single issue. I have never had indexed shifters of any kind or quality that could take that kind of a beating and still perform without issue. In fact those same Ene shifters are currently on an Ogre built for offroad touring (now on shifter pods on the handlebars) and they get absolutely abused and they've never failed me. I have 90s Trek frames with Shimano downtube shifters that still work like new. There are very few moving parts and unless they take a hard direct hit I've never known a decent quality downtube shifter to fail, definitely can't say the same for indexed lever shifters.
@CountryB4Party
11 ай бұрын
@@hopfag6555You’re one example is countered by untold thousands of examples of downtube shifters just working in all kinds of conditions. Must be more to the story. Care to tell?
@hopfag6555
11 ай бұрын
@@CountryB4Party well downtube shifters especially more performant models are not full metal and they got some kind of ceramic texture in the inside which all broke with a brusque load even if it wants heavy in any way… this is not the first exemple of those downtube shifters failing especially shimano’s
@ericritchie6783
11 ай бұрын
@@hopfag6555 "performant medals?" what meaning lightweight and brittle? Just have proper metal ones.. Campagonolo are not necessarily of decent quality metal, mainly just crafted to look nice and with relatively good engendering tolerances. A lot of "fancy shmancy" French and Italian components do actually just shear of and break sooner or later. If you want old school European metal then English or German seem to hold up much better over decades of aging, otherwise Japanese/Taiwanese of course is generally decent.
@lesleysmith5623
11 ай бұрын
I’ve got two early 80s Raleigh Randonneurs (531ST frames) with downtube shifters. Love them. So simple, so elegant and so easy to use. Bikes, like life, were simple then. No complicated brake levers, no internal routed cables, no hydraulics, no tubeless mess, and no electrickery gear shift.
@IAMTHECONTROL
10 ай бұрын
The swappable drop out is a very clever design!
@velo_orange
10 ай бұрын
Thanks!
@ThisTimeTheWorld
10 ай бұрын
Every great bike should live through several incarnations
@musekidd
8 ай бұрын
Love it. I've been pondering how I'd build a new bike for 2024 and you've just shown me. (However, I would try to find some vintage Shimano Deore derailleurs...) But it's as near a perfect bike as I can imagine. Now I'm an old fella who not only prefers a steel frame, but I love the aesthetics of a curved steel fork. Match that with side pull brake calipers with downtube shifters and it's just wonderful. The silver components with the brass details simply makes this a gorgeous build. I'll take one, please. Seeing this video has soothed my cycling soul. Thank you.
@melesshuffle
11 ай бұрын
Love that rear dropout system. As someone who loves to ride fixed, but who also lives somewhere with a lot of hills this makes a lot of sense to me. When (if) I ever stretch to having a bike made for me I'll look for something similar.
@starlastly8963
10 ай бұрын
a build with deep significance for the cosmic order and then some TIMELESS an ELIXER to theGODS of transport
@ringscircles142
10 ай бұрын
amen
@felixjackson2670
11 ай бұрын
Such a nice build. Simple,good quality and pleasing to the eye. Interestingly in direct contrast to the latest,drop seat stay,Carbon,disc brake road bike,complete with in-house wheels,seat pin,bar/stem combo….been racing,riding,touring,sportif participating since 1970’s..following the tech as I went. Now it has,in my opinion passed a point whereby I feel….ENOUGH! Last year ditched my Carbon MTB frame and bought a hand built 853 steel. Recently built a 531 Road bike with 11 Speed Campy Record. If I was taking on a long tour would look to use downtube shifters,for simplicity and ease of maintenance…
@velo_orange
11 ай бұрын
So true. You don't need a ton of tech to have a nice riding bike. Not all riders are trying to win races and searching for marginal gains. Most people just want a nice and practical bike without breaking the bank. Sometimes the best bike is the one you forget about when riding it.
@ThisTimeTheWorld
10 ай бұрын
N+1
@Thetoad738
11 ай бұрын
The bicycle used to be such a democratic tool for man. It brought us industry and freedom. This build is the embodiment of the glory of the bicycle.
@ellerybice3787
9 ай бұрын
The digital screen is a detriment to a quality life, if you do not recognize its danger and treat it accordingly. The bicycle and its usefulness is not appreciated in a larger world seduced into mental illness by and of Digital madness.
@brennamiller6806
8 ай бұрын
@@ellerybice3787the portable internet of today is a tool for democracy, especially when totalitarian forces dominate broadcast media.
@sempi8159
8 ай бұрын
What arr you talking about? @@ellerybice3787
@karemtalli1339
Ай бұрын
Democracy is not freedom
@robwhite461
9 ай бұрын
I’ve ridden bikes for 50 years, I have six bikes varying from the 50s up to the late eighties, all except one (sturmey 3 speed ) have DT shifters. I feel comfortable and muscle memory helps with getting shifts right, well 90% of the time anyway. I still use straps and clips, and quite often I’m in the pedal and away before the SPD and clip less crowd. I do envy the brifter brigade occasionally but I’m used to the old school and it’s worked for me all those years, and simplicity is usually a lot more reliable and easier to fix on the road.
@ronhutcherson9845
10 ай бұрын
Your reasons for friction shifters are spot on. My old Suntour ratcheting shifters keep doing their job, through changes in bike, gears, and chain rings. And now I have a new Shimano bottom-line derailer - and it all works together, smooth as glass.
@tedjohnson64
9 күн бұрын
Tuned in because I still ride the downtube shifter Bridgestone RB-2 that I bought in 1994. Fascinating video, loved learning about all the minute details.
@ol48spring
10 ай бұрын
I use campy 10 with friction shifters. Campy has loose springs so plays nice with the d ring on shifter. Friction is the vibes…🖤
@JackY-pu5nh
11 ай бұрын
For my newly build steel road bike, I chose Shimano’s 8-speed index down tube shifters, I just love their light weight and simplicity! And the index system is very handy and practical too.
@velo_orange
11 ай бұрын
Ooo I was looking at those. I've used the 10sp Dura-Ace in the past, but they're rare/crazy $$ nowadays. Good review all-in-all for them?
@JackY-pu5nh
11 ай бұрын
@@velo_orange Absolutely!
@JackY-pu5nh
10 ай бұрын
@rollinrat4850 that’s a speak of experience👍
@vintagesteel
10 ай бұрын
@@JackY-pu5nhI have the same shifter. It's a Shimano SL-R400 down tube shifter or a Shimano claris DT shifter. I have it paired to the claris long cage rear derailleur but have used it with the suntour r80 and it works great with both. I've had it for a little over a year and a half now and I've noticed some wear on the shifter and it doesn't shift as well as when it was new but still works pretty damn well
@vintagesteel
10 ай бұрын
@@velo_orangeit's a bummer you can't fit a rear rack onto the rando frame. I would buy this frameset today if you could. I'm running a State Bike Co 4130 Road frame and even though it's very strong and solid, it's a compact frame with super aggressive geometry and isn't really conducive to the type of riding I do (bike packing, endurance and gravel). The rando checks all the boxes I'm looking for except you can't put a rack on it. Pretty hard to find frames like this these days that use side pull caliber brakes, standard QR axles and relaxed geometry
@chrisbowman2030
10 ай бұрын
I've used downtube shifters on my winter bikes for years. I case you crash on a slippery road you don't ruin expensive STI type shifters. Years ago i build an MTB with Paul Thumbies and downtube 9 speed shifters when everyone else was on 8 speed because there were no MTB 9 speed groups.
@kevinbarker125
2 ай бұрын
When you get used to friction shifters they are great,easy to use and satisfying finding the sweet spot.
@nxross
11 ай бұрын
Love that dropout option! Another hit from VO
@velo_orange
11 ай бұрын
Thank you!
@davidzof
10 ай бұрын
Where I live most people ride 70-80s road bikes around town due to the theft risk - nearly all with downtube shifters and this doesn't seem to pose any issue. As you say, simple and effective. I'm not going to say I don't like integrated brake shifters either.
@edwardnilges1675
11 ай бұрын
Five other benefits of dt shifters: Much shorter cable length so more direct "feel" when shifting and less cable stretch. No need to fuss with tensioning to get the rear derailleur indexing just right. Easy to trim the front derailleur as needed. If a cable breaks, just take what's left and use one of your bottle cage bolts to lock it in place/tension it for the gear you want to be in to get by. No need for a lot of cable housing.
@velo_orange
11 ай бұрын
Nice tips! I've also seen people take the remaining length and put the cable head directly into the barrel adjustor on the derailleur, tension it to which gear you want to be in, and wind the excess into a loop. That actually works well for a budget single speed, too!
@tbrowniscool
11 ай бұрын
I like the cut of your jib sir
@TheTrailRabbit
17 күн бұрын
If someone wants to build a retro bike with older technology, I say go for it, but let's not pretend like it's some kind of performance upgrade 😅
@lazyhominid
14 күн бұрын
@@TheTrailRabbit No, but it's a quality of life upgrade.
@Windingify
28 күн бұрын
Beautiful stuff!
@jimihendrix731
11 ай бұрын
Downtube shifters are great. I ride 9-10k miles a year and 2/3 of those miles are typically on a bike with downtube shifters. Super reliable and easy to use once mastered. I can even shift both levers simultaneously with one hand.
@Cog_In_The_Gear
10 ай бұрын
I have strong respect for restoration/building and if that includes a bygone shifting technology (and it works well) then I totally appreciate this direction. Down Tube shifting is not my preference, but after reading other comments I have a better understanding of the pros and cons. Great video, I especially liked the rim brake installation! That’s an old school tech I can get behind. Thanks for sharing!
@velo_orange
10 ай бұрын
Thanks for the kind words!
@ThisTimeTheWorld
10 ай бұрын
I like them because they are reliable and SILENT. I have a very quiet road bike I ride at night and I love hearing birds and things without the freewheel sizzle or hard clanking shifts.
@paulwinkfield6560
5 ай бұрын
Awesome build! Brings back great memories of my builds in the 70s!.🥂
@pervertt
8 ай бұрын
So satisfying to watch a well made bicycle put together with quality components by someone who knows what he is doing. I've been riding since the 70s and generally managed to keep up with the bicycling fashionistas. The latest trends however have been hard to stomach, especially disc brakes and electronic gear shifting. Bicycles seem to have picked up too much unnecessary complexity. I'm now going back to my cycling roots by doing a retro build, complete with toe clips and Suntour downtube shifters. Friction shifters that is. Nothing beats the satisfaction of a well judged shift, when your ears tell you that you've shifted the lever just enough to move the chain from one cog to another.
@RussGoerend
11 ай бұрын
Great video, really enjoyed it. I do wish you would not have skipped adjusting the limit screws. That’s one thing a lot of home mechanics start with and it’s always worth seeing a pro do it.
@velo_orange
11 ай бұрын
Noted! We've done it in previous videos, but will be sure to include it in the future. The yaw derailleurs are definitely outside the norm for adjustments. It wouldn't be the first option now that I've done it. Going with a regular 105 or Sora would be better for this build.
@ThisTimeTheWorld
10 ай бұрын
@@velo_orange I like the front mech that swings differently, that you demonstrate.
@velo_orange
10 ай бұрын
It is ok. I think Nic ended up switching to a regular Campy or Shimano derailleur because he didn't like the yaw. If I did it again, I'd go with a Sora or 105 front derailleur for this setup.@@ThisTimeTheWorld
@ThisTimeTheWorld
10 ай бұрын
@@velo_orange 105 is great stuff. Sora looks good but I haven't tried it yet. I have a pair of 3x7 brifters I might use next year. I likenthe campy style thumb triggers
@ThisTimeTheWorld
10 ай бұрын
@rollinrat4850 campy is neat but stuck up and high dollar. One of the first things I learned about bikes was campy stuff is pretty much made to only work with other campy stuff. Italian bbs are weird, too.
@SHWELL11
2 ай бұрын
Man, Id love one of these with a 650b wheelsetso I can squeeze in a slightly bigger tire.. I really like this.. Def could use something nice to cruise these FL streets..
@Nonkel_Jef
11 ай бұрын
Beautiful bike. Love the detailed explanation.
@velo_orange
11 ай бұрын
Thanks for the kind words!
@JustinDoesTriathlon
11 ай бұрын
DTs are a great example of "Newer may be better in some ways, but older is also great." I'm building up an RB1 and I'm actually converting it to DTs even though it had non-original bar ends on it. The other thing too is: Early STIs weren't super great, so if you want to stay period correct but also have good performance, DTs are the way to go.
@mitchellstride1673
10 ай бұрын
I have an 1988 RB2 with downtubes I ride all the time. Someone in the last 30 years put and old shimano 105 set on there.
@ThisTimeTheWorld
10 ай бұрын
"What's old is new again."
@davidgoddard399
11 ай бұрын
Love my downtube shifters!
@SHWELL11
2 ай бұрын
I plan on doing the Fl C2C ride this fall.
@borderlands6606
8 ай бұрын
My three most used bikes have downtube shifters. The only issue is reach from the bars if you have a very large frame (though you probably have very long arms, too!), and the same distance issue if you run 26" wheels. On the plus side, if you have a small frame like my wife's 19" with a short stem, DT levers are practically at hand. Also seen top tube and head tube levers on custom frames, and anyone remember Suntour twin levers mounted on a pip on top of the downtube, c1982?
@RO8YO
11 ай бұрын
Love my down tube shifters. 650b swapped an 80's race bike to fit 42mm slicks and 9 speed cassette. It's a fantastic bike for mixed terrain. Though really, I just clicked on the video to find out who makes the brown shifter covers... I think VO needs to source a new run of these. I need them for the barcons on my latest build!
@velo_orange
11 ай бұрын
Nice! Rustines used to make them, but I no longer think they do. They stopped doing the bike stuff during the pandemic to focus on their industrial business.
@RO8YO
11 ай бұрын
@@velo_orange Yup, I did a quick search last night and found a few international shops that still had stock. Will have to check out shipping costs. Think there's a chance of talking Dia Compe into creating some molds?
@RO8YO
11 ай бұрын
@@velo_orange They are still on the Rustines site and available in 4 colors. Sadly they want 45 euros for shipping :(
@butchpedit4871
10 ай бұрын
The frame/fork and set up remind me of the Raleigh International I rode in the early 70s. It was an amazing long distance rider.
@charlesmansplaining
6 ай бұрын
I like the brake check test at the very end. This proves rim brakes are better than disc brakes.
@monkmchorning
11 ай бұрын
This reminds me of when Bridgstone wouldn't equip its mountain bikes with trigger shifters. Their rationale (Grant Peterson's, actually) was that most of their riders were unsupported so if a shifter broke, they could always put it in friction mode and get home.
@fjp3305
11 ай бұрын
I replaced the low bar with a flat bar and installed mountain bike brake/rapid fire shifters. A lot better for the city with a lot of traffic.
@xvdifug
7 ай бұрын
Loving the dishing tool holder.
@josejn2007
10 ай бұрын
Beautiful and elegant bicycle.
@velo_orange
10 ай бұрын
Thanks!
@theindianveloist
11 ай бұрын
Looks like a piece of Art!! 🤩🤩
@alexwiercinski4510
10 ай бұрын
I've had dt indexed shifters all my riding life, saved a lot of weight on the front end of the bike.
@generalruler
7 ай бұрын
are they cast iron oversized lead plated shifters ?
@alexwiercinski4510
7 ай бұрын
@@generalruler Shimano 105's .
@LordVarkson
7 ай бұрын
Was searching quite a bit recently for a new steel frame with modern spacing but for rim brakes. There's only a few available these days. I was less keen to spend the amount required to get a Rando, but it was eventually the best option. Looking forward to receiving and building it up. This will be my first time owning a modern frame, so I'm really curious to see how it feels to wrench on.
@newoldsteel
8 ай бұрын
I might have the most downtube shifter content on KZitem, and when I go STI shifting, I just wind up coming back to downtube shifters. There’s nothing like it and feels so pure to riding. Plus it’s cheap and easy to work on! That’s just a set in stone fact!
@masonloh1411
11 ай бұрын
At times I would bring & still ride either of my 2 orig Campy equip road bikes from the 70's.1) Legnano 2 ) Vincini & everytime I ride in NYC Central Park & there's tons of modern racing road bikes that I don't even know the names. the ones in modern ultra expensive ones would stares at me like I'm a UFO LOL / Dinasaur bike they're thinking? & the ones that knows what I'm riding vintage downshifters would give me a thump up! & that is all I ride - never owned a mid 80's up road bike yet but someday I will.
@kostyafedot551
2 ай бұрын
Great video. If not the best for how to build most beautiful bicycle!
@maxwellspeedwell2585
2 ай бұрын
Went to Velo Base. Lacking…. Nothing about Trecia, Walt Matthauser hydraulic brakes, Robert Barrett Side Bi-Valent style tear hub. Important items to me.
@velo_orange
2 ай бұрын
I love how absolutely obscure those things are.
@crush3095
24 күн бұрын
I bought the wrong size bars for my shimano bar end shifters Will have to use the downtube shifters, and they work, a little overhaul and they are smooth and tight just hate to hunch over every time I want to shift, and of course, I have to be there for a while as i slowly friction shift into perfect chain alignment I used to ride 50 miles up to San Fransisco, and I remember by the time I got there my thumb was so sore from hanging off the top tube and my finger joints from pulling the levers
@camt1818
11 ай бұрын
Beautiful build! Love everything about it.
@johne7345
10 ай бұрын
I grew up with friction downtube shifters, and have them on most of my road bikes. (Two have non-indexed SunTour barcons, and the mountain bike has SunTour thumbies operating in non-indexed mode.
@justinecooper9575
10 ай бұрын
You should have painted the insides of the drillium holes with yellow paint for that authentic drillium look.
@simonbailey2151
8 ай бұрын
A pity about the paint chips on the frame at the hanger. Anyway, no grease or thread lock on those bolts on the hanger? I would perhaps have done things differently. Nice build.
@DMcTyke
10 ай бұрын
Very nice. Couple of comments: Those Sram derailleurs are a bit ugly, Campagnolo would be my choice. Bit surprised you didn't use a torque wrench for tightening the BB cups, crank bolts and cassette lock ring.
@velo_orange
10 ай бұрын
My original build did have Campagnolo! velo-orange.com/blogs/theveloorangeblog/lets-talk-rando-builds In my years in the industry, I only use torque wrenches on carbon bits. Just a lot of experience and a carefully calibrated elbow.
@gfsdgfabfsdafjsavbdfs1253
10 ай бұрын
Downtube shifters are great for guys* who used to ride single speed and fixed in the 00's and still want to stand out from the crowd today despite their worn out knee cartilage. *tbh I'm one of those guys
@migueltrujillo5932
10 ай бұрын
Used DS for many years and now Im trying to adapt to end bars shifters and keeping on hitting the front one with my knee , very annoying but the back one I really like it and I think I can get used to it my hand is down there most of the time anyways.
@DDragan
11 ай бұрын
That cassette looks like 11-34, judging by the jumps between small cogs..
@velo_orange
11 ай бұрын
It's an 11-32. I don't have an 11-34 on hand.
@tirebiter1680
10 ай бұрын
I don't need a front deraileur or it's shift lever. I can move the chain from either cahinwhell to the other one.
@velo_orange
10 ай бұрын
I've tried foot shifting, but it's too risky to drop a chain
@jarikinnunen1718
10 ай бұрын
When you lost indexed shifter and not get compatible, the friction shifter work with all.
@Tarmaccyclocross
11 ай бұрын
Did all my racing in the 70s and 80s on downtube shifters either friction or later indexed the only real downside was you couldn’t change gear going uphill out of the saddle
@ralphc1405
10 ай бұрын
Campy SR or Simplex?
@Tarmaccyclocross
10 ай бұрын
Campag
@wallacegrommet9343
10 ай бұрын
Beautiful!
@davestambaugh7282
10 ай бұрын
They are fine as long as they have ratchets. With out the ratchet you are constantly re tightening them as they will always loosen up from use.
@ThisTimeTheWorld
10 ай бұрын
Blue threadlock is 3dol at harbor freight
@davidmarsden7103
11 ай бұрын
Really excellent frame. Much like my 2010 Salsa Casseroll
@paulbecket7399
10 ай бұрын
I'm running a Schwinn from the 70's
@ThisTimeTheWorld
10 ай бұрын
If you use dt shifters with a Sram 2:1 rear mech, it will possibly run out of cable travel unless you run a 5 or 6 spd or omit some cogs .
@velo_orange
10 ай бұрын
These work no problem with those rear derailleurs. The barrel is bigger to pull more cable.
@ThisTimeTheWorld
10 ай бұрын
@@velo_orange great. I will look them up. I like shram rds and have a couple laying around. I don't really like twist shifters though. Sometimes I do the half and half if I get a finicky FD or it's a winter bike
@ThisTimeTheWorld
10 ай бұрын
@@velo_orange they're 80 usd on fleabay. Kind of steep but I like the big barrel and the idea I could use any cassette or freewheel and play with different wheel sets.
@ornametrics
8 ай бұрын
VO makes some very lubbly jubbly shiny things.
@eliroberts9362
11 ай бұрын
7:48 most relatable thing I've ever seen
@velo_orange
11 ай бұрын
@kazkazimierz1742
10 ай бұрын
I agree. By far the easiest to maintain.
@BobBob-ie6vl
10 ай бұрын
nice bike!
@jonyfany8763
11 ай бұрын
Hi. More grease on all steel bolts please. Nice build. I use downtube shifters on my commuter.
@phillipwhetzel6970
10 ай бұрын
And grease on the headset bearing not just inside the cones
@maxwellspeedwell2585
2 ай бұрын
I like downtube shifters. If I were in a criterium then brifters would possibly shave a few seconds off my time but I no longer race, and haven’t raced in years. However, since 1972 my preference has been for bar-end ratcheting shifters. Used Campagnolo bar ends briefly but did not like them. Have four bikes (three need to go). One has bar ends, the other three have downtube, and I’m considering a Mercian. It too has downtube shifters. Just because it’s progressive (brifters) doesn’t necessarily mean it’s progress.
@ThisTimeTheWorld
10 ай бұрын
I prefer stem shifters , but still have a couple downtube shift bikes
@Sills71
10 ай бұрын
The front derailleur should have never been moved off the down tube. The down tube front derailleur offers much more trim options, is lighter and given how much front derailleur is used compared to the rear it would have made sense to stick with down tube derailleur. Racers used to set bikes up this way to save weight but it makes sense far beyond just to save grams.
@velo_orange
10 ай бұрын
I've never seen a front derailleur mounted on the downtube? Any sources?
@n22pdf
11 ай бұрын
Wow what a lovely build.. very nice :) subscribed.. Pete
@velo_orange
11 ай бұрын
Many thanks!
@johnnunn8688
11 ай бұрын
I once sold a Battaglin with Shimano 105. I had a question from a fellow who asked if it was STI. I replied, ‘no downtube shifters, so you better not have it’.
@Kareems_archives
2 ай бұрын
Im curious What is the most important part / function in bycicles in gerneral ??😂
@nguyenhuuthien1961
3 ай бұрын
TKS
@ThisTimeTheWorld
10 ай бұрын
That french fork is hot.
@dopeytripod
10 ай бұрын
nice bike
@fakeasaur
6 ай бұрын
With new bikes starting $600+ I got into old 10 speeds with friction shifters a couple years ago , never minded the non- indexed gear feel, the maintenance is simple enough to do yourself with standardized available parts, and the 70 - 80's steel frames are indestructible.
@erics9214
11 ай бұрын
You know, you can have down tube shifters and not give up indexed shifting. Shimano still makes them, or you can buy vintage. Most will switch from indexed to friction if necessary. I date back to the friction era, and I guess it is kind of groovy in a retro way. But I recall being perfectly happy to give it up as well. I still own one bike with down tube shifting and am not tempted to run it in friction mode. But, hey, have fun.
@velo_orange
11 ай бұрын
I used to have 10sp Dura-Ace indexed shifters, but they are big bucks nowadays! I've heard good things about their 8sp ones, though. That's what I'd run personally, too.
@erics9214
11 ай бұрын
@@velo_orange Shimano's web site says the 8-spd Claris will shift 10, but who knows. Mine are the old 10 spd Dura Ace. Guess I should hold onto them.
@borderlands6606
8 ай бұрын
Friction shifters got a new lease of life when indexing arrived. The accuracy demanded to shift an indexed system properly, meant derailleurs and sprockets had to run closer and smoother. Ironically, this meant some of the disadvantages of the old friction system, like big gaps between the jockey wheel and the cogs, and suboptimal derailleurs designs (anything except Suntour's patented parallelogram, basically), no longer existed. So riders could de-index their lever and get really smooth changes, and C21st riders can wonder what all the fuss was about with friction shifting.
@vintagesteel
10 ай бұрын
Can you fit a rear rack on the rando frame??
@CormacPickering-sx4ut
20 күн бұрын
So are these shifters indestructible? Why are they $85?
@jjohnson1476
11 ай бұрын
I've been greasing tapers since 79....sue me!!
@porkyparry1
11 ай бұрын
If there is a circle of hell reserved for 'the greasers' among us, then you are surely heading there son.
@stephenhebard3004
11 ай бұрын
Forget downtube shifters. I'm so glad I can stand up and shift gears when I'm climbing, Todays shifters are way better and there's a reason they're used.
@peterwillson1355
7 ай бұрын
Yesterday's shifters were also used....
@darts-multiverse
17 күн бұрын
indexed downtubeshifter for the rear-derailleur are ok. But hard to find. My dura ace 8-speed-Downrubeshifter worked great. Because I switched to 9-speed, I now use a brake/shift-levers right for rear-derailleur. It makes things easier and foremost friction levers are a two steps backwards.
@kb181
10 ай бұрын
Another benefit to dt shifters…. especially when buying older bikes and repurposing. Much easier to change handlebars. I love a road bike with normal t style handlebars. Less cables and hardware to monkey with.
@velo_orange
10 ай бұрын
Nice tip!
@philhouck3560
5 ай бұрын
What no toe-in for the brake pads? What am I missing?
@philhouck3560
5 ай бұрын
When I finally got to eyeball the VO brake pads, I found that the washer between the brake arm and the pad is concave so there's room to toe-in the pad.. The easiest way to set the toe-in is to take some masking tape and wrap a spot on the rim 3-4 times. Then just rotate the wheel so that the masking tape spot is under the rear of the pad, clamp the pad down after setting the height of pad, tighten the pad and your toe-in is complete. Then, of course, you remove the masking tape.
@MORTEF8
11 ай бұрын
Reason why downtube shifters were replaced is the frictions are unstable and it unintentionaly shifted at critical racing scenes. Friction loss by vibrations, swets and manipulations tehemselves.Many makes invented balanced shifters like simplex, Shimano or Suntour. Unfortunately Campy was not an enthusiast in this drawback.
@paulmcknight4137
10 ай бұрын
Yes, nothing worse than the damn thing upshifting on a difficult climb. The elegant solution? Tighten down the wing nut!
@mohdnazmaszli8946
5 ай бұрын
Hi just wondering the stopper ring (the first ring u put in for the shifter) is it the same size for 11 speed and the 10speed diacompe ? Wanna change my downtube shifter from 10s to 11s but I dont know if it the same .
@jrpzjrpz24
11 ай бұрын
is the Rando a better option than a Surly Crosscheck? I don't know which one to purchase; I do commute on bicycle...
@velo_orange
11 ай бұрын
Depends on what you need! The Cross Check is definitely more of a burly frame for touring. The Rando is lighter and more minimal. I've commuted on road bikes before, just depends on your needs.
@dtshifter
8 ай бұрын
I am trying to get friction shifting working with a 10 speed cassette. The bike was eight speed index downtube shifting. The original 8 speed Shimano shifters were index only. I had some Simplex friction shifters. With a ten speed chain , 10 speed road cassette and the original light action 8 speed derailleur I can only use 9 of the 10 cogs the simplex does not pull enough cable to get all 10. A lot of sources say that I should be able to get 10 or possibly 11 speeds with an old friction shifter. What am I missing? Would it work if I bought a 10 speed derailleur?
@velo_orange
8 ай бұрын
I don't think the Simplex shifter will be able to pull a full 10sp cassette. It was really only designed to pull 5 or 6. I'd switch to a different shifter. I've had good luck with the Dia-Compe shifters we have on the website for 9 and 10 speed drivetrains.
@dennisledford1259
4 ай бұрын
Great
@roberthayes6329
10 ай бұрын
I haven't seen anyone ride a bike in about a decade now that there's an app for that.
@davebinks
9 ай бұрын
It's not a good idea to grease the square taper axles. Grease is to prevent friction between the mating parts and thus will allow the axle to keep sliding on too far and possibly split the crank, plus over time, the grease will extrude out and the crank will become loose. The cranks are held in position by friction, so fit the cranks dry and clean, tighten the bolt once and don't go back and retighten it, or you'll just encouage to split the crank. But I do agree, d/t levers are simple, light, cheap, reliable, easy to set up, and never need tweaking. Their only downside is you need to be seated to change gear. I rode them for 30 years without problems and regret they are no longer an option.
@spinnetti
11 ай бұрын
its Florida... why not 1x for lighter weight and even further reduced complexity? Back in the late 80's I did 1x with a Campy super record drive and single Dura Ace down tube shifter.
@velo_orange
11 ай бұрын
He wanted a double for a more classic look.
@jrstf
10 ай бұрын
Probably need really low gearing for riding into the hurricane.
@jamesrafael6794
11 ай бұрын
Somebodys gonna make downtube electronic shifters. And theyll be 20 times the price of mechs.
@paths2go
10 ай бұрын
fan of downtube shifters here
@tomruth9487
10 ай бұрын
No lube on the cables? Just wondering if that's best?
@velo_orange
10 ай бұрын
I usually will lube cables if the housing is old, but everything is in good shape and didn't feel like it was necessary.
@tomruth9487
10 ай бұрын
@@velo_orange I started working in bike shops when I was 15 and I'm 73 now. I made a dollar an hour and the owner had a ton of old bikes, mostly 3 speed etc. I remember greasing all the cables and it was a big improvement. Now I have a bike with Shimano brake lever shifters and sometimes in cold weather the front shifter won't shift down from the large chainring. So, I'm thinking the grease I put on the cable is the problem. I was just wondering if cable housings are different now than back in the day, so maybe they don't and shouldn't have grease? I'm going to start riding an old bike I have with downtube shifters again and I'm looking forward to it. I think many of the new "improvements" to modern bikes really have a downside. I think companies felt the need to make "improvements" to bikes because they needed to try and create something that people thought they needed. Seems like your Rando is a nice blend of old and new.
@velo_orange
10 ай бұрын
@@tomruth9487 Depending on the generation integrated shifter, I would hit the internal ratcheting assembly with wd40 to clean out the gunk. Dribbling some chain lube down the cable and Housing can't hurt!
@jrstf
10 ай бұрын
I've been crying for down tube shifters for 15 years, this is the first I've known you could buy a frame with DT shifter mounting. But why do I have to pay $3000 for something that is lower cost to manufacture and maintain?
@velo_orange
10 ай бұрын
Lots of frames have downtube shifter mounts! Look for the little squared mounts.
@alik250
11 ай бұрын
I have downtube friction and i like friction, but i hate the placement. I keep missing them. Id love to try bar end shifter but they are pretty pricey. Hard to justify for my primary beater bike
@velo_orange
11 ай бұрын
I've seen downtubes mounted on top tubes - which sounds cool, but custom. The alternative is stem shifters. More accessible.
@ThisTimeTheWorld
10 ай бұрын
Handlebar friction levers are cheap and fun. Sunrace makes some metal ones with ratchet mechanisms for a decent price. I only need one on my dutch bike.
@ThisTimeTheWorld
10 ай бұрын
@@velo_orangehow can I put stem shifters (friction) on a 1 1/8 threadless bike?
@ThisTimeTheWorld
10 ай бұрын
@@velo_orangethe only ways I have found to get stem shifters on a 1 1/8 tl bike was to use a sawed off mtb bar end on the handlebar as a mount, or possibly find a way to weld stem shifter bosses and cable stops to a 1 18 tl stem. The bar end as shifter mount is a little off center but works, and can host a bike speedo up high from the handlebar bags
@velo_orange
10 ай бұрын
@ThisTimeTheWorld not sure, there might be a mount out there, but I haven't seen it
@CandidZulu
11 ай бұрын
Are the dropouts drop forged or CNC milled from bar stock?
@velo_orange
11 ай бұрын
The frame mounts are cast and cleaned up via cnc. The inserts are aluminum alloy and are CNC. The bolts are stainless steel.
@TheRickurb
11 ай бұрын
Yaw did good
@dewiz9596
10 ай бұрын
Why downtube shifters? Because crossing Florida, you won’t even be using them 😊 French Threading is like British threading, but different thread pitch. It is a Italian Threading that is righty tightly both sides. I’ve build a brake of each type. Italian is “The Devil” I luved the self extracting crank bolts. . . Had them on Shimano 600 back in 1979, but the bolt was a 6mm Allen Bolt.
@TheNow_Now
11 ай бұрын
What drillium crankset is that?
@velo_orange
11 ай бұрын
That's ours! Getting more in December: velo-orange.com/collections/cranks/products/drillium-fluted-110-double-crankset-34x48t
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