Coolwall - Thumbshifters

[utahdog2003]

This might not take long to decide.

Paul & D-A/Ultegra combo - cool in function, but always seem like an (expensive) bodge to me - obviously your only choice for 9/10 speed drivetrains (not retro anyhow) - unless you are happy running friction.

D-A/Ultegras have a friction mode, as I recall...

 

[legrandefromage]

This might not take long to decide.

Paul & D-A/Ultegra combo - cool in function, but always seem like an (expensive) bodge to me - obviously your only choice for 9/10 speed drivetrains (not retro anyhow) - unless you are happy running friction.

D-A/Ultegras have a friction mode, as I recall...

and the mounts are compatable with 7/8/9/10 spd levers

 

[rienster]

Agree, very cool.
I see however that 4 people have votes uncool, but none of them has dared to leave an explanation why. Come on, fill us in guys.

 

[Corduroyboy]

These transcend cool. They are iconic. Is a mini cool? What other component could grace a boutique Ti steed equally as well as a mass-produced Taiwanese ride? Heck, they even appear on Retrobike mugs and stickers! This is not even a valid question in my mind!

 

[flibble]

Cooler than an ice cream at the north pole

 

[chipko]

This might not take long to decide.

I think some qualification is necessary:

Deore XT 7/8s - coolest thumbies made - perfect combination of form function.

XC-Pro - XT's skinny slightly flaky younger brother - cool, but you wouldn't leave them alone with your wife.

Deore (often erroneously called 'DX') thumbies - cool in function, held back from total coolness by cheap rust-prone pressed steel mounts.

All cheap, mainly plastic, Shimano or no-name thumbies - slightly cool because they actually work better than all cheap plastic gripshift/rapidfire clones.

Paul & D-A/Ultegra combo - cool in function, but always seem like an (expensive) bodge to me - obviously your only choice for 9/10 speed drivetrains (not retro anyhow) - unless you are happy running friction.

Spot on: XTs!

 

[MJN]

Well,if you have to use shifters thumbies are the best,preferably XT's
Mostly ride without shifters nowadays though!

 

[brocklanders023]

XT or Deore.....V,v,v,v,v,v,v,v,v cool, sub zero infact.

IMO improve the look of any bike they grace. Retro Orange with RC35's and thumbies... Yum yum yum.

 

[J_Westy]

They are iconic.

Iconic indeed!

Even making my 7 year old daughter run them on the C'dale MC400 we built for her!

 

[Grannygrinder]

.

Cool as a polar bears privates