This is possibly the most offensive piece of gear I have encountered on a bike. Do you really need a little orange wand to tell you what gear you’re in? There is only one gear to be in: the hardest one at which you can still make the pedals go around in something resembling a circle.
These goofy little things were found on the bike I rented last weekend for a benefit ride on the east coast in honor of my late Aunt. It was a wonderful ride and great family time… but really, shift indicators? Further proof that all has been in decline since the advent of indexed derailleurs. What added insult to injury in this case was the quality (or lack there of) in the shifting itself. Tiagra is a far cry from my beloved Dura Ace. I would try to shift and the little orange wand would wobble uselessly back and forth — like a Seattle driver trying to merge on the highway — until, finally, an enormous noise would ripple up the bike and a new gear *might* be achieved. I began to brace myself for the effort…. and…. SHHHHHIIIIIFFFFFFTTTTT. Like passing a gallbladder stone. (Or so I imagine.)
In the end, this Cannondale Synapse was just fine. It even had a sharp paint job. Almost sharp enough to make up for the kiddie shifters.
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These are carelessly open to being deemed "SHIT INDICATORS" !
I saw a nice set of shifters on ebay the other day, 105, I think, hardly used. In the description, the the owner explained that they were an upgrade but didn't like them as they didn't have the indicator. He was going back to his old shifters.
Seems to me that if you're crap enough on a bike to need a little orange anti-V indicator (maximum wherever it's pointing) looking down at your shifters is going to use up way too much concentration that should be used for more fundamental functions like balance and hazard recognition.
Do they have the same thing going on on the left shifter, are there people who have trouble coping with three chain rings?
I never understood those either. Like various "grip shifters".
If you're a novice, what does "1" mean? "7"? "Hey Honey, I got the new Surly long haul commut-o-tank into 7th today! Or was it 1st?"
This was only ever one bike that could get away with having a gear indicator*
*for children only. Adults riding Choppers should be dealt with the same level of disdain as fixie and recumbent riders.
What's next? Electric shifters?
Shimano is ugly full stop.
Being a lowly (but aspirational) Velominatus budgetatus I am forced to accept these idiot indicators. My question to my peers is this? Do I cover the indicators or sell a kidney to upgrade?
@Velodeluded Take it apart and spray paint the inside black?
@Velodeluded
In keeping with black tires, saddle and bar tape: black electrical tape may partly shield you from the anti-V
@Velodeluded Sell a kidney. Or if you're lucky enough to have more than one rug rat around the house, you could sell one of those. I've got one on the market; blond haired, blue eyed, smart, so I can get that Veloforma that slipped from my grasp in the VSP.