Conference noted::bicycle

    Shaw,
    
    I remember reading a feature about components in one of our MTB
    mags recently. I'll try and fish it out for you tonight, but I'm
    pretty sure that both Suntour and Shimano still do thumb shifters,
    if not for all their groups, at least for the mid-to-upper-range
    ones. It may be just a question of finding the correct P/N. You
    could also try some 2nd hand equipment -- should be compatible...
    
    /Ben
    

    I should think that any Shimano 7-speed thumbshifter should be
    compatible with any Shimano 7-speed derailleur and block. However,
    aren't STI shifters manufactured as one piece with the brake lever
    assembly? If so, you'll have to have new brake levers as well. All the
    parts should still be available if you look in catalogues/phone artound
    the shops.
    
    
    Rod

    I did the same surgery you're thinking about on my girlfriend's bike
    last summer.  You will need new brake levers, as .2 noted--Dia-comp 
    makes some nice light ones that are readily available from mail order 
    houses.
    
    Deore over-the-bar shifters were in fairly short supply this fall and 
    winter, I think.  I believe this has gotten better...in fact I've got 
    a copy of Mtn Bike Action handy here.  Just for example...
    
    Frankford Bicycle in Girard OH 800/621-3593 shows:
    Deore DX Thumbshifters for $34.95
    Dia Compe Advantage 5 Brake levers for $16.95
    Deore II two-finger brake levers        24.95
    
    That Rapidfire stuff is a tremendous pain, IMHO.
    
    Tom

    Has anybody seen / tried out those new "whishbone" ones? They look
    like forked over-the-bar shifters. They seem like the best of both
    worlds to me.
    
    /Ben

    
    Thanks for the pointers friends, now I have to look into the labor and
    cost as opposed to how much of preforemance enhancement that would be
    I had not thought of the break levers. From your replies I gather 
    I can use the existing cables and just replace the shifters. 
    
    Shaw

    The Maverick of all the Bicycle companies, "Bridgestone"  stated
    that this would happen and decided to put top mount shifters on all
    their top end bikes MB2 and Up. Every company laugh at them. This year 
    they are doing it to all there Mt and Cross Terrain bikes. I wonder who
    will be laughing at the end of this year sales. 
    
    The STI system (Brake and Shifters) has to be completely remove and to 
    replace with top mount. This is will going about ~$100.00 including
    labor on DX or equivalent stuff. But in the long run, it's worth it.
    
    Good luck,
    
    Dave

The biggest problem I found with doing this was availability of the thumb 
shifters last year.  I am not sure if this was an attempt to force STI down
the consumers throat, or just increased demand from people swapping out STI on
their new bikes.  I understand the availability of the thumb shifters is
better this year. 

Many shops were doing the conversion for free at the time of your new
bike purchase.  When we purchased our Fisher tandem last year, it came with
STI.  I immediately asked for swap to thumb shifter (I really wanted a friction
mode with all that cable on the tandem, STI has no friction mode override) 
The shop claimed they could not get the thumb shifters anymore at all.  
I was able to locate the shifters and brake levers at another store, installed
them and brought back the nearly new stuff to the other store who gave me a 
refund on them that covered the price of the brake levers/thumb shifters.
(Of course the STI unit was very near new, this unit lists for about $100,
the shop gave me $60 which covered the non-STI replacement parts)

The cables are interchangeable, and I would think you should be able to do
this for ~$60.00 in parts,  $35 for shifters, $25 for brake levers.
	Greg

    
    RE; .4
    
    I think the forked shifters that you are talking about are the Mavic
    thumbshifters.  I have only seen them in a picture but eagerly await
    their arrival.  
      I run my "over the bar" thumbshifters under the bars.  With this
    setup my fingers stay wrapped around the bars at all times.  The Mavic
    shifters look like they will make my setup dream like.
      I have heard the Mavic shifters have 13 detents (click stops) and are
    compatible with Shimano.  Can you imagine the axle spacing for a
    thirteen speed freewheel?  
    
    							Norm
    
    
    

    Re: .6
    
    I like Bridgestone's attitude.  They refused to use the "BioPace"
    out-of-round chainrings that all the other companies jumped at.
    They were right about that fad, too.  Everyone else is switching back
    to round chainrings now.
    
    Ken
    

	First, if you can't swing the deal Killer Keller did to get rid
	of his rapid fire (get a refund from the shop), you might stick
	with them for a while.  I personally can't stand them, but I know
	of a few racers who use them and plan to keep using them - it
	just takes a while I guess.

	If you are set on changing, give Colorado Cyclist a call, a mail
	order outfit here in the springs.  XT-II thumb shifter kit - cables,
	cable guides, everything you need for the shift conversion short
	of the new brake lever assembly's, for $54 (from memory, could be
	off on that).  It's a great kit, easy to install, and all new parts.
	These shifters are for 7 speed hubs, but they work fine on my 6 speed,
 	they are very smooth, and when packed with snow still worked well.
	However, don't do this for the reasons I did it - a Yakima and a
	garage (they had a great frame deal too!).

	Colorado Cyclist is at 719-576-3474, call and get their 800 number
	and call them back!

    RE: .8
    
    One of the big supermakets I get sent our to about once a week has
    a reasonable bike parts department. To my utmost surprise and
    amazement, they actually had the complete set of components those
    forked shifters are made for. As a matter of fact, they are made
    by Simplex, not Mavic. However, I don't how "compatible" they are
    with other makes (I run Suntour gear).
    
    Anyway, the most impressive thing about those beasties is the PRICE:
    
    48 FF ($10) for each shifter, 150 FF for a long-armed rear derailleur,
    and so worth. I'm wondering whether this a labelling error or what...
    
    /Ben