Are Grip Shifts

[kosmonooit]

The clear plastic indicator covers on the X0 are vulnerable but replaceable, and I dinged a few, most memorably last year on the Route 42 when I did a cartwheel over a bridge, totalling a Hope brake lever in the process. It's listed as a spare part by SRAM, I have tried ordering from locally but no luck getting spares from LBS as yet (any suggestions in Jhb?) - you can get replacement rubber grips from CRC and I keep spares of those, but no luck with clear plastic windows.

[Danger Dassie]

Danger D, if you had to rate grip shifts over triggers for a ride like the freedom challenge, which way would you go ?

 

Hard to say, I'd be comfortable with both. Although my bias would be towards the gripshifts.

If you're concerned about hands slipping. Put 2 or 3 tie wraps around the shifter covers or a layer of bar tape. I know of one dude who used grip tape like on the skate boards.

Try someone's bike who has gripshifts though, see how you feel/adapt, welcome to try mine in fact. Shifters aren't in the best of nick though

 

When it comes to triggers, as much as I prefer using SRAM I really do like the Shiman triggers as the top trigger can be used with either the thumb or forefinger. Just a neat versatile detail that I like.

[Danger Dassie]

The clear plastic indicator covers on the X0 are vulnerable but replaceable, and I dinged a few, most memorably last year on the Route 42 when I did a cartwheel over a bridge, totalling a Hope brake lever in the process. It's listed as a spare part by SRAM, I have tried ordering from locally but no luck getting spares from LBS as yet (any suggestions in Jhb?) - you can get replacement rubber grips from CRC and I keep spares of those, but no luck with clear plastic windows.

 

Got pricing on them at a couple of LBSs, it's sort of a special order thing but at between R180 to R200 odd I decided to skip out and just use black insulation tape.

[manbearpig]

MBP, easy to change cables in the middle on nowhere on the way to somewhere when its -12 degrees ?

No more difficult than triggers, in fact I'd say its slightly easier cos the opening for the cable is more accessible (on top) But rather gooi new cables before you start the race

[Danger Dassie]

No more difficult than triggers, in fact I'd say its slightly easier cos the opening for the cable is more accessible (on top) But rather gooi new cables before you start the race

 

Yaw, and use them jagwire cables. Bloody nice them things!

[Shebeen]

oh, and i stand to be corrected here, but if you change to SRAM grips from a shimano trigger system you will need to get a SRAM RD but your shimano FD will still work.. include that in the cost

[Slowbee]

sram all round on the mtn bike

[The Drongo]

In doing some reading the for the freedom challenge, a few bloggers mentioned being happy with grip shifts.

 

In terms of doing a long ride like the freedom challenge, are there any advantages of grip shifts over normal lever shifters?

 

Possibly less to go wrong in the cold and wet ? Easy to replace cables ?

 

Here's my two cents worth if you are going to be going an incredibly long way:

 

Brake/shifter combination : :thumbdown:

 

Grip shift: (unless you are in high school) <_<

 

XT shifters and rapid rise derailleur: :thumbup: thumbup:

 

(swift thinking there batman!)

Edited April 1, 2011 by The Drongo

[Bike Mob]

Gripshifts plus continuous cable and you're good to go. test ride them for a few weeks though to get used to them.

 

I rode epic on mine, and still didn't replace cables for about 6 months afterwards. They are way cheaper too.

 

Best bit: Using the clicks on the FD to Trim the front blade for clearance at the back so you really can use the whole cassette in any chainring.

You can "Dump" plenty of gears/whole cassette at once, front or rear! Plus go up half a cassette at a time easily, more if you have rubber wrists you can go from the 11 to the 34 in no time.

[Slowbee]

Thanks for the help guys. And as usual, asking for advice has made things as clear as mud !

 

As SteveCT has said, if it gets cold and there is water inside the shifter and the water freeze's, then it aint going to matter if you have triggers or grips!

[Azonic]

For the last 5 years I've always either used Noken/Alligator cables, or regular, but full length cable housings. One piece from shifter to jockey. Your gears stay smooth for months, mud or no mud.

[intern]

It's personal preference. I use gripshift, would not change them for anything. The mechanism is super simple, delivers FAST gear changes, they never die. In the mud in Sani2c and Sabie X I had some major problems changing gears, but if you keep cable ties handy, zip some around the gripshift to improve its grippability (sorry about that neologism).

My wife was on XTR triggers and XT RD. She had a prang on the Spruit last year and got a nice alu XTR lever take a strip out of her thumb. She's on grip shift now, X0/X0. Definitely prefers it after taking a few rides to get used to it, but her thumb definitely feels safer

Also heard a story of someone else breaking their thumb courtesy of a XTR trigger. Sounds flippen eina.

[Slowbee]

XO shifters from our favourite Irish Shop are about R570. (yes yes, there is all the import costs etc) - but just using this to get an idea.

 

What is the difference between X0 and sram attack griper shifts?

[AndreZA]

What is the difference between X0 and sram attack griper shifts?

 

Attack GS and lever shifters are compatible with Shimano's 2:1 ratio and not Sram's 1:1 ratio.

[Slowbee]

Attack GS and lever shifters are compatible with Shimano's 2:1 ratio and not Sram's 1:1 ratio.

 

dude, I know you have a way with words - but man can you put that in eingleesh ?

 

I have a Sram 9 rear thingy, and I think i shimano on the front ?

[Mr. G]

Grip Shift are great.