What type of gear shifters are these and how they work

[lazy]

Hi I recently purchased a viking vuelta bike, please guide me how these gear shifters work? Any youtube instructions available and what do you call them.
Thanks

 

[fossala]

They are downtube shifters. They work by pulling and releasing the wire that is attached to the derallieurs. They are very simple to work, just pull and push them.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

What do you mean 'how do they work?'.

Have you not even attempted to do anything with them? Not meaning to be rude but it's just two levers attached at a pivot point.

Have a fiddle with them - I don't think the world will go into meltdown.

 

[machew]

They are probably not indexed, you will need to change gear by feel.

 

[Moda]

please guide me how these gear shifters work?

Old Skool! The agricultural school of mechanical design

 

[Shortmember]

And don't forget to keep pedalling when you're playing with the downtube shifters or the gears won't change.

 

[lazy]

Thanks guys
I thought its better to ask your expert opinion than playing around, I don't understand gear system very well

 

[snorri]

This link might help to get you going.............

http://www.southcoastbikes.co.uk/How-To-Use-Derailleur-Gears

There is reference to "shifters", the shifters are the levers below the handlebars, yours are friction shifters and are not "indexed".

 

[biggs682]

shame they dont make automatic gears for bikes really

 

[lazy]

That would be nice

 

[ufkacbln]

Been around for years.

I remember them from the 1980s, they have also been developed by Shimano, just never successful commercially

The NuVinci Harmony is the latest incarnation

 

[Gravity Aided]

I believe BrowninG actually experimented with these in the 1970's. Had a small line of bicycles, actually very nice ones at that. They appear still to be involved. Only reason I would know is that I got a BrowninG bike for a local Gun Dealer and he asked for a bit of provenance on the brand(marque).
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/CuttingEdge/story?id=97909&page=1
http://www2.bsn.de/cycling/articles/browning.html

 

[cyberknight]

Easy way to tell if the gears are indexed, does the right hand lever click as you move it up or down or can you rotate it all the way with no clicks?
I find it hard to believe that a new bike, no matter what brand or price would be sold with friction shifters unless you specified it as i had indexed down tube shifters 20 years ago.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Easy way to tell if the gears are indexed, does the right hand lever click as you move it up or down or can you rotate it all the way with no clicks?
I find it hard to believe that a new bike, no matter what brand or price would be sold with friction shifters unless you specified it as i had indexed down tube shifters 20 years ago.

That version had downtube shifters
http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B4861.html?id=PzPVWTUa
This one has STI
http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B5277.html?id=PzPVWTUa

 

[cyberknight]

That version had downtube shifters
http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B4861.html?id=PzPVWTUa
This one has STI
http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B5277.html?id=PzPVWTUa

The OPs picture shows down tube shifters so i believe i am correct in my assumptions