STI Brifters - Shimano Tourney.

[Fastpedaller]

Long story short....... I've been using a DIY gearchange comprising 'capuccino' mounts with Shimano bar-end indexed shifters for the last 12 years. They have given a good and easy change with hands on the hoods. Recently one of the detents on the RH lever packed up, and I don't seem able to get a replacement (only pairs, and expensive). I was hoping to dismantle it and effect a repair, but it's peened over so any attempt to repair will render it useless. It's 3x7 speed (8 will also work). I've replaced the RH shifter lever with a friction one, which works ok, but I confess the indexed gearing is easier to use. I have seen Shimano Tourney Brifters and they may be an option, but I'm pretty sure I'll need to replace my V-Brakes with Mini Vs to get adequate braking. Any comments will be appreciated

 

[All uphill]

I may have an old, but functional pair of Shimano bar end shifters in my box of bits.
From memory they cost me £10 years ago. Would they solve your problem?

 

[Fastpedaller]

I may have an old, but functional pair of Shimano bar end shifters in my box of bits.
From memory they cost me £10 years ago. Would they solve your problem?

Thanks for the offer, but I'm after buying new ones to be sure of another 12 years from them. So frustrating being unable to get inside them, as I thought I'd just be able to turn a 'disc with holes in' upside-down to effect a repair. With it being peened over at manufacture, the chance of effecting a re-assembly is so remote it's not worth trying. I guess I could get it open some time, just to see what's inside

 

[Elybazza61]

I wouldn't bet on Tourney shifters lasting 12 years,,,,,

 

[Fastpedaller]

I've 'hit the button' on some 3x7 Micronew brifters from Temu. They have excellent reviews on YT, (can they be believed?) so we'll see what happens. Brand isn't everything, as I found with my shoes that only lasted less than 200 miles before the soles came off! The previous Lidl ones (very low price IIRC £14) had given good service for 12 years.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Brand isn't everything, as I found with my shoes that only lasted less than 200 miles

Presume you claimed on those, as must have been well within the warranty period.

 

[Fastpedaller]

Presume you claimed on those, as must have been well within the warranty period.

Unfortunately I'd stored them in the wardrobe in readiness, so no chance of a warranty. In future I'll use purchases immediately to ensure against a repeat. Someone suggested the glue fails even if they aren't used - but even in use I'd expect them to last more than 3 years! Surely using them wouldn't extent their life? I'll try some Temu shoes if they fail again (it seems likely they will) - I've glued them with a polyurethane adhesive/sealer I've used successfuly to hold GRP and steel together for 14 years in the elements. Before gluing I roughened and cleaned with acetone, but I think the soles are a 'plastic that sticks to nothing else' because it looks like a gap developing (though not as pronounced as the original adhesive)

 

[cyberknight]

I've 'hit the button' on some 3x7 Micronew brifters from Temu. They have excellent reviews on YT, (can they be believed?) so we'll see what happens. Brand isn't everything, as I found with my shoes that only lasted less than 200 miles before the soles came off! The previous Lidl ones (very low price IIRC £14) had given good service for 12 years.

I found the Aldi/ Lidl shoes would crack across the sole where the cleats were so you did well .

 

[Fastpedaller]

I found the Aldi/ Lidl shoes would crack across the sole where the cleats were so you did well .

Maybe mine were earlier than yours? A couple of years after first having them I looked at the next offering from Lidl and they didn't appear as good, so I didn't buy another pair. I bought a pair from Aldi when they first offered mail delivery - I returned them without even putting a foot in, as they were clearly very bendy!

 

[cyberknight]

Maybe mine were earlier than yours? A couple of years after first having them I looked at the next offering from Lidl and they didn't appear as good, so I didn't buy another pair. I bought a pair from Aldi when they first offered mail delivery - I returned them without even putting a foot in, as they were clearly very bendy!

About 15 years ago maybe ?

 

[Fastpedaller]

About 15 years ago maybe ?

That's probably correct. The 12 years I referenced was based on my when my current bike was bought - I'd forgotten that I'd used the Lidl shoes (and pedals) on my previous bike, so yes 15 years would seem correct. The Lidl shoes were my first use of SPD's, and I wish I'd changed to them a lot earlier. I was doing the Lidl shoes a dis-service by stating 12 years, as they have indeed lasted longer.

 

[Fastpedaller]

I fitted the Micronew Brifters (3x7) yesterday and took the bike for a short ride (about 2 miles) up and down hills. The gearchange is superb!
at £26.29 I rate them as a super-bargain

 

[Fastpedaller]

Update on the Micronew brifters... The shift on the rear is so good and crisp that I've had to look sometimes to be sure it's happened With a close-ratio cassette it's not easy to tell (that's my excuse anyway).I wondered if the shift on the triple front would be an issue (thought of chain rubbing on cage in some gears), and I've found the change from middle ring to big ring is superb. However, If the rear is in a big cog (i.e. the ill-advised cross chaining) and I try to go from the big ring to the middle ring, the chain gets chucked onto the small ring! I found this could be avoided if I 'slow' the down-change by putting my finger on the upchange lever as well as the downchange. Not ideal, but I don't know if other brifters would handle a triple any better? I will try some cable adjustment to see if I can eradicate it. As it is, I rarely venture into the big ring anyway, probably riding 98% in the middle ring.

ETA - I've adjusted the front derailleur and its cable and it all works superbly. It's really good to be able to swiftly change into a bigger sprocket when going uphill with no loss of momentum due to hand movement!