I’ve only seen down tube shifters and then the most recent STI shifters.
Can someone tell me when this was common or did someone just put their aero bar shifters on their road bike drop bar?
Actually people started putting their road bike barend shifters on their aero bars.
These are bar-end shifters. Common on commuters, as you see in your pic and on the ends of aero-bars.
Do you know what approximate year?
Thanks for the info. I thought it was a road bike but I see the wheel is a little different, and I guess thus “commuter”.
That was actually the original purpose for bar end shiters - they just happenned to fit aero bars by chance. They’ve been around a lot longer than STI/ergo style shifters, and were a handy alternative to downtube shifters. I can’t say when they were invented exactly, but likely mid sixties to early seventies.
They are still commonly used today - ususally found on cyclocross and touring bikes. The bike you have pictured is a 'cross bike.
It’s likely a cyclocross bike. Surly Bikes have done this with their bikes.
Thanks. I think you answered my question. I just never seen anything like it and it looks wierd to me.
This was a cool add on back in the '70s…they were also popular on tandems. Unfortunately, I rememeber those days very well :-)!
What’s that third brake lever on the drops? Tim
No idea. I didn’t even notice that. You’ll have to wait for some of these old fogies 
It’s a 'cross bike, designed for cyclocross racing. Sometimes you need to have your hands narrow or want to be sitting upright, yet stll have the capacity to brake.
**“What’s that third brake lever on the drops?” Tim **
That’s exactly what that is…a third brake lever spliced in for multi position braking. Schwinn bikes actually had 4 (2 front and 2 rear) on some models in the early to mid seventies.
“No idea. I didn’t even notice that. You’ll have to wait for some of these old fogies ;)”
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thanks a lot!!! Oh well, at least we are good for some useless knowlege!
It’s a little difficult to see, but there are four brake evers in the picture.
The original ones I remember from the 70s were made by Sun Tour, and they were called Barcons, and they were friction mode only. This was before indexed shifting was invented. Shimano got into the game late. I still had the Sun Tours on my commuter until about two years ago. I’ve never used STI on a bike. My commuter and my tandem both have the same Shimano barcons the tri folks have been using on their aerobars. My tandem is Dura Ace 7-speed.
I still have mine in the same place
I have never used brifters or sti or what ever they are called
yes my frame is steel
and my brakes are single pivot
plastic for a seat ???
not yet
oh yah tubbies to
Thom
I had Campy ones from 69 so I am guessing maybe the late 50s early 60s? I hope the post was a joke, cause that may be the post of the year if not. The original post mentoned "Barend Shifters, where do you the think the ends of the bars are on that bike?
well you are off some 55 !
they and the bike seem to still work
it is 9 speed sti barends and the frame is a 2000
old stuff works well not me so much ;=)
Thom
Oh crap. I MUST be getting old.
Please tell me you’re joking…
I had them on my touring bike back in the early 80s. It was very common on touring bikes at the time. I think they were non-indexed Shimano, though they might have been Suntour.
– jens