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SRAM vs Shimano shifter action, a revelation
I feel like such a putz so I'm looking for reassuring words. Am I the only one who didn't realise you can use a Shimano trigger shifter like a SRAM? i.e. you can change up by pushing with your thumb as well as the 'traditional' Shimano way of pulling with your finger.
My commuter has Deore shifters on it and since I've been riding a MTB with SRAM it's always taken a while to adjust when changing between the bikes. After a couple of months of putting up with this I accidentally used the 'push' technique on the Shimano and it worked! I haven’t used the Shimano way since as I find the SRAM way a lot more natural.
I figure by putting this up I'll either be ridiculed for taking so long to notice the bleeding obvious or hailed as a deity for my amazing discovery, your call.
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Don't feel bad. Unless you're a proper bike nerd or geek you can't be expected to know things like this. This feature in Shimano is known as 2-way release and was developed by the good folk at Shimano to compete with Sram because the thumb thumb action has proven to be popular. It seems now that most would use the Shimano and shift in the thumb thumb way.
Some trivia; With Shimano, the groupsets of XT and above have a feature called instant release. The RD shifts instantly upon depressing the release trigger, whereas others and Sram needs the rider to depress the trigger and let it go again for the RD to shift.
XTR shifters can shift one or two gears at once when operating the release trigger which is unique.
And for those who care; new ten speed is awesome in both brands! I built a couple of 2011 bikes the other day at work and the new systems set up great and feel good on the obligatory car park test ride. Sram X9 with a double is a particular favourite. Crisp and snappy shifting and a light, dare I say it, Shimano feeling action.
I have used shimano 2 way, sram x0 trigger and recently I changed to X0 grip shifts and these are awesome.
... and Low-normal rear derailleurs have all gone the way of the dodo. They have been officially made extinct from 2011 and onwards.
The new XT 10-speed rear DR/shifter action is now so light that the reason for me going to dual-control has disappeared.
Next bike will probably see me make the transition on all of hem.
+1 for instant release. Very nice. My current 9-speed XT dual control has it on both up and downshift, and you can go up 3 or down 2 depending on how far you push the levers.
Is it just me or has the instant release been taken off the new XT 10 speed shifters?
But yes back to the original post....I always use thumb for both pull and release on Shimano shifters. I had SRAM on my old hardtail and I do like the very defined click on the pull lever on the SRAM system.
I used to use my finger to down shift, it just felt more comfortable at the time. But as my riding position, handle bar position, brake lever and gear shifter position have evolved, shifting with my thumb now feels more natural... lol
I blagged a ride on a 2011 Scott Genius at the Scott 24hr and did one lap and it was all 2011 XT shifting and the instant release is certainly there. Plus, we're a dealer now of Scott and slowly slowly the new models are coming through so I've definitely seen it first hand. The Avanti suspension bikes have 2011 Sram in triples or doubles depending on the model. The new generation Sram is lovely indeed. Curiously, I never got along with Sram before and I loathe Avid brakes.
It's a shame dual control never found the popularity that it's received in the road world. I have, on one of my bikes, a current generation XT set and use a rapid rise RD and I love it. Really, really love it. Oh well, Shimano has to make what sells and anything that's unpopular gets deleted.
thumb thumb just feels more natural to me now, been using shimano for years and find havent used the index finger release for about 3 years now..
As for dual control. I shudder everytime it's mentioned.. One of the worst inventions to every get put on decent bikes...
try hitting a rough trail into hairpin at speed - braking and downshifting at the same time will soon prove it shortcomings
Looking forward to trying new shimano 10 speed in next few weeks
I brake and downshift simultaneously all the time with my dual control / low normal DR combo. Dunno what your problem was.
The ease and safety with which you can do it was the primary reason I switched all my bikes across to it.
Nearly sending myself under a bus after grabbing too much front brake while downshifting with 9-speed X7 shifters was the final straw.
You must have been doing something wrong with your dual control
I'm assuming you left your thumb levers in place and were using a rapid rise rear derailleur?
Anyway, it's of historical interest only now: dual-control's gone the way of Betamax videotape. It was a better system in its time that failed to get enough market penetration to survive but - like the DVD did to tape - new systems (Dynasys 10-speed, SRAM XX) have surpassed it.
I found trying trying to dump a heap of gears I couldn't get the brake control I was after when trying to ride on the limit. Had to do with the brake levers moving up / down as well as in / out.
Also found riding really rough technical trails fast, finger resting on the brake levers was leading to inadvertant shifts.
Both symptoms showed up riding hard and fast in rough terrain like I was still on the DH bike.
Techincally was a good system, just didnt work for me in rough trails, but is the only way to go on roadies.
Thats the great thing about mountainbiking, there is so much choice.
well thats my vote anyway. After wondering what you were talking about I tried the thumb push last weekend.
Not sure I am ready to switch over and leave my finger with nothing to do.