Just wondering what the opinion was about using STI brake/shift levers on an aerobar/bullhorn type setup. It seems like I’m seeing this more often on age-group and pro bikes, also. I have heard this referred to as “the euro setup” but was wondering if there were any specific advantages over bar end shifters and separate brake levers. I currently use bar end shifters on my tri-bike, but have concidered going with STI’s on my next bike.
I LOVE my bar end shifters on my Tri bike!!
Dave
Well apparently I have gone “Euro.” I only have my tri bike, therefore, putting traditional road bars with STI shifters on it made it more versatile. Plus if you ride in any busy areas it’s nice have quick access to both your brakes and your gears. I also like being able to easily shift while standing up with the STI’s which you can’t do with bar end shifters. It’s all about personal preference, but I like it. If I had a road and a tri bike I would probably go with bar-end shifters on my tri bike.
I have a road bike with STIs, and that makes sense. When I was road racing a lot and doing TTs, I’d put clip-ons onto the road bike, and it worked okay. But for a more aggressive, forward position, nothing beats bar-end shifters out there at your fingertips.
To clarify, I didn’t really mean STI’s used on typical road bars.
I do have bar end shifters on my bike now, and have worked well for years in basically all conditions and distances. I just wondered if anyone had any insight into advantages/disadvantages of the STI setup. I was thinking for hilly courses this might be a good setup. I know it isn’t for weight purposes.
Keep 'em coming! : )
If you plan on riding in the aerobars get bar end shifters. If the aerobars are for show and you ride mostly on the base bar (like many age groupers) STI makes more sense.
I have bar ends on my steep tri bike and STI on my ITU style setup on my road / tri bike. Both work well since I ride in the aerobars most the time in the steep setup so like the levers where I can reach without getting out of the bars. With the other bike i’m on the hoods / drops more than the aerobars so the STI are more convinient.
I haven’t seen many bullhorns with STI. I’ll have to keep an eye out for that setup.
I understand, although I will say I liked the setup I had (or a similar setup probably) for Lake Placid. As for the weight, I am sure it is heavier, aerodynamics, if you have a good fit the difference is minimal if anything. Try something different, you might like it.
European pro riders sometimes do use STI or Ergopower on bullhorns for some technical prologue or TT courses if they anticipate needing to shift coming into and out of corners. They usually run one only on the right but I have seen them set up that way on both sides.
I think it depends on the course and if you will be shifting when out of the aerobars or not. I still think bar-ends are best for almost all courses and most of us dont have a mechanic to do the switch out and adjustment for us for a single race.
the simple answer, or should I say question is: where do you do most of your shifting, while on the bullhorns or in the aerobars? If you stay aero even while shifting than keep the bar-ends, if you tend to sit up on the bull-horns most of the time go STI. Unless the course is really really really really technical with a lot of turns and especially turns that enter into sharp climbs, stuff like that I don’t know why you’d go STI on a pure race bike…
When I first got my tri-bike frameset, I had some 8-speed STI levers sitting around so I used those on the end of the base bullhorn bar. I didn’t like it. The shifting was inconsistent since the amount of throw depended on where your hand was on the base bar. I botched more shifts than any other setup I’ve ever ridden. The brake levers also bottomed out a bit early. I rode that for one year and then switched to 9-speed bar-ends on the aerobars which I strongly prefer.
Riding on the flats and want to change gear
a) sti: Move arm over slightly, very small aero loss.
b) Bar end: move finger slightly, no aero loss.
Riding up a hill or needing to accelerate out of a corner, standing up.
a) Sti: Move fingers slightly, no loss.
b) Bar end: Sit back down, change gear then stand back up again, a big loss of momentum?
Also if training bike = race bike then sti’s are much easier in traffic and on group rides IMHO
I am sure the “KILLA” shifts where the shifters are located?Perhaps? Call me crazy.
This is one of the biggest reasons why Im currently looking for a road bike. I couldnt imagine giving up the bar ends on my Tri bike. But I want to put long miles in on a comfort roadie. Come race time and speed days switch back.
If Badmann can stay entirely aero for a Kona 112, Im gonna stop thinking like such a puss.