11 speed indexed downtube shifter

[Mimmo89]

Good morning everyone, new to the forum here.

I'm planning a retro build, hopefully with an Italian lugged steel frame and campagnolo groupset.

I wanted to go with Centaur 11 speed in silver, mainly for greater gear range thanks to the cassette that could go up to a 32 tooth cog.

I also wanted to join the next Eroica ride and to do that I'd need downtube shifters; having looked around I don't seem to be able to find any indexed downtube shifter, campagnolo or any other make. I know I could go friction, but I'd really like indexed; do I really have no choice?

The other option would be using record 10 speed, I read you can hack some indexed 10 speed bar end shifters to downtube but I'd be limited to a 29 max cog at the back, right?
Can a record 10 speed rear derailleur shift bigger cassettes?
Would I need a longer cage? And if I do, is it a straight swap of cages or do I need to change the whole rear mech?

Looking forward to reading your very constructive thoughts,
Dom.

 

[foz]

I don't think campag do an 11 speed bar end shifter. So you're limited to 10. If Shimano, Microshift might do one, or a thumbie for road mechs that you can adapt. Other than that, the día compe eno I think has a larger barrel, they say it will work with 11s. Friction isn't really a problem, I prefer it for anything over 8 speeds (the best DT shifting ever is dura ace 7402 8 speed, IMO. Everything after that is just not as good...)
I don't think a campag 10 speed mech will work with 11s shifting. Might be wrong.

 

[pigman]

I don't think there is a 11 speed down tube shifter out there. 10 is the limit. And they're not cheap for what they are.
Not sure I would use friction for anything more than 8 speed, as the close spacing would need a lot of precision on your part.
If you want to use the mech on something bigger than 29, try a dropout extender (not sure what it's really called). It attaches to the dropout and drops the mech down to clear bigger sprockets.
Do Eroica have rules on the maximum number of cogs?

 

[Mimmo89]

Oh I didn't think about a maximum number of cogs allowed, I read the rule that says "h) Change of the gear ratios is allowed" and assumed you could use 10 speed but you are right, that's different from maximum number of cogs.
Can anyone confirm or deny?

Going back to the original question - it sounds like there are no 11 speed indexed downtube shifters then?

 

[Jonny69]

Shimano did indexed shifters up to 10-speed but the 11-speed one was friction only and it was (is?) made by Dia Compe.

I don’t recall seeing anything equivalent for Campag but a quick search online suggests those Dia Compe levers will pull enough cable to do Campag 11-speed. I can’t imagine friction shifting 11-speed will be much fun though.

 

[Mimmo89]

No, that's exactly my thought and why I wanted to see if there are any indexed ones.

Surely there is market for it? Or am I being delusional?

 

[pigman]

No, that's exactly my thought and why I wanted to see if there are any indexed ones.

Surely there is market for it? Or am I being delusional?

Yeh, delusional, no offence meant. I reckon the folk who ride 11 speed are up with modern kit (in my view anyway) and would see DT shifters as a bit of a joke. I know the (friendly) abuse I get when they see mine. Manufacturing such a thing would not be profitable for them . Plus few modern frames now have lever bosses

 

[bikeworkshop]

Hard to fit a boss on carbon.
(Hard, not impossible)

Just use vintage stuff
The problem with more and more speeds on an indexed lever is there's less and less movement available. By 9 d/t (or thumby) was rare.

Easy gears in the downtube era had a triple up front, so I'd suggest you think of that.

There's a reason why many parts changed together over time, and mixing the periods is rarely very successful

 

[pigman]

Hard to fit a boss on carbon.
(Hard, not impossible)

I wouldn't risk a ham fisted gear change though. The one where you suddenly find you need to bang it into bottom. I'd be scared of ripping the boss off

 

[bikeworkshop]

I wouldn't risk a ham fisted gear change though. The one where you suddenly find you need to bang it into bottom. I'd be scared of ripping the boss off

When carbon frames used to have bosses, late90s, they frequently broke off
We would glue them back on. Sometimes that was fine.