Low Gear Torture Test

[@johnp9650]

Perhaps the most scenic, beautiful, proof-of-concept in world history . . . or at least that I've ever seen! I shared the last video on this shifter with a friend of mine who's really into integrated shifters & he's excited about the prospect of using your PLP-Soma-Dia-compe friction shifter on two or three of his bikes--and the possibilities this thing opens up for different parts combinations. The fact that this guy is stoked about this and imagining the possibilities it provides says alot. 3-cheers for meaningful progress in bike parts! I can't wait to get one!

[@shannonlehmann9632]

What they said.

[@juliapoelstra3624]

I was friction-curious, and after watching your videos, I finally took the leap and changed my Fargo over to a 2x with bar end friction shifters. It took all of 5km of riding to get comfortable with that shifting. This shifter will be so cool for the 1x crowd that wants low gears!!

[@jimryan6168]

That’s a heck of a climb this early in the season. well done

[@AWBabbage]

For the past 50 years, I have converted every road and touring bike I have owned to triple cranks, and bar end shifters. I still have several Suntour Bar Ends in my parts drawer, but I have been using Shimano (in friction mode) for the past 20 years because they seem to move more easily without slipping. I do miss the ratchet. I am eager to buy a pair of Uno shifters as I am always looking for more chain wrap capacity on the back in my search for wide range gearing AND closely spaced steps. I am currently running 12-36 9 speed with 44-32-20 in front on my heavy touring bike. I want to go to an 11 or 12 cassette on the back. For my century/road bike I run a custom 13-30 cassette and a slightly higher front triple with a 24 tooth granny. As a marketing professional I believe that there is tremendous untapped market potential for the Uno shifter as people are tired of the over-priced , overly complicated, must use perfectly matched latest group set industry hype. I just changed my 67 year-old girlfriend’s 105 Cyclocross bike from brifters to friction barends with mountain cassette and rear derailleur - she loves it. It took her five minutes to adapt. Now she has wider range gears that work.

[@christopherwinstone434]

Wow! Respect🙏. Managing to say anything at all on a 20%+ climb and still be meaningful - gosh! Good job Russ. This shifter is looking really good 👍. Congrats and very well done.

[@michaeltillman886]

What's up Russ? Checking out the picture you did; that was really fantastic, I mean; yogurt mad skills. I like your work. Peace!

[@Korina42]

Daaang, that's a murderous climb! Well done both of you! The prototype looks promising; again, well done!

[@jonathancram4628]

Russ, you're brave to film this climb. Inspirational. Awesome idea and congrats for getting the product to this stage, which was prob a lot harder than this climb ;)

[@juliapoelstra3624]

Fabulously challenging route! Gorgeous. So awesome that the shifter is a success. Can't wait to see it come to market.

[@andrewbrown9672]

The big shade tree was an awesome Easter egg hidden in the ride. I have a print collection that includes that scene. Love your work Russ - in water color, in videography, and early season climbing…

[@lenkomsa1399]

That’s some steep climb! Nice job Russ and Laura.

[@fancytyme]

I love this. I have an 11-speed Dia-Compe DT shifter and it's great. Thank you for taking it to the next level.

[@trevekneebone369]

Yes. Looks like the same lever and mechanism. Seems they have just machined a bar end mount for the same lever 🤷‍♂️

[@Apollo440]

The interesting part about those shifters should be apparent to those, who dislike the new electronic stuff: you have to build and use your muscle memory to "learn" your gears. Another "plus" would be (like you said in your previous video) that you don't have to align your rear derailleur, just set up the limiting screws and you're good to go.

[@herethere2518]

"struggling with traction" is relative; I have learned that my big dummy&me will taco a cassette before "struggling with traction" becomes an issue. (Long chainstays make a huge difference in traction - Grant will agree I'm sure!). Remove the rack and go minimalist on a long-tail cargo and you feel like one of those wall-climbing dirt bikes with bizarre chainstays and paddle tire! Proper loctite use is crucial; for instance Mirrycle is delightfully reassuring with, or a frustrating migraine without (also gotta think where the threading operation will push the stuff and plan accordingly to avoid pushing loctite into sensitive areas, i.e., male or female thread placement, and sometimes red is appropriate depending on fastener size/thread-pitch/material/usage, etc - gonna say I've used red on some of the friction nuts on my thumbies)

[@steveforst7149]

Holy Cow! Nice bit of drop bar under-biking on that descent !!! (show off!). Okay, I'm gaining interest in your shifter - the thumbie style in particular. Count me in.

[@kimberleemodel7182]

Looks like a lovely ride! I was about to say 'warm day in montana?' because I saw you in shorts. But then you telepathically answered that you were in so-cal.

[@turboseize]

I guess I'm one of those people you were referring to asking "why would you want so low gears on a drop-bar bike". We disagreed about this in some comment quite some time ago... I must admit I am now starting to understand your obsession with pizza plates. No way one could get out the saddle and just muscle through on these surfaces and these grades! Even if one had the power to do it on asphalt - on a loose surface without traction, no chance. Guess your gravel "roads "are much closer to mountainbiking or offroading than to gravel biking as I see it over here, which is basically road biking on roads with a gravel surface (but which are still roads that are suitable for any standard height 2wd passenger car, unlike those cratered pitiful remnants of a former road which require a dedicated offroader, that you showed in your video). Beautiful scenerey and a very nice video, by the way. :)

[@greggr1591]

Smoley hokes, a truly gnarly slope -- well done!. A rapid rise derailer would be good on such a hill. Shifter looks solid 👍🏻

[@markholm7050]

The Dia-Comp, Rivendell, VO “9-speed” shifters all use the same core (So far as I can tell.) and have had some issues with cracking of their plastic friction washers. Does this new design use a similar friction washer, or has it been redesigned? I think, for instance, that if the washer were redesigned in two parts, an outer metal washer to transmit force from the screw, and an inner plastic friction disc that is only in compression, the problem would be avoided. Also, you mention the use of thread locker. I assume this means the friction adjustment screw is prone to loosening. A bit more detail on the use and any drawbacks to the use of threadlocker is this application would be helpful.

[@themoodyteam]

Russ, there’s an expression in the UK - ‘blowing out of your arse’ 😂 Good effort! 👍

[@petebenson5030]

Nice ride. Way back in the olden days there was a suntour ratchet shifter that a friend had. It was probably a little heavy for the racer dude I was then, but operated very nicely. This would have been in the late seventies, well before index shifting was a thing. The local road ride that I like to do has a very steep section that tops out at 20%. I can do it on my 15 year old road bike triple when I'm in pretty good shape, but I always wish for more gear.

[@sadhu6740]

Great looking bikes yet again! Nice! Lived near Nevada city Ca a few years ago and the only way in or out from the cabin was about 5 miles of a dirt road/climb that looks exactly the same condition/steepness of this one. Then 12ish miles of hwy 49 to go to a grocery store. That weekly ride was what converted me to a low geared gravel bike fosho. Salut!

[@skyblue-lb9kr]

well done, Russ and Laura!

[@pablola1001]

Hi, nice video. I need your help. I want to gravelize a Sepcialized Stumpjumper 90, with nine sprockets and three chainrings, and I want to put a road handlebar and I have the doubt of what brake levers to put, because of the issue of vbrake brakes or cantilevers and integrated changes in the levers if possible and if not what gear shifter do you recommend me. Thank you very much.

[@SeanKeesler]

So simple of an idea. Why didn't anyone else think of this!

[@fontpartners1695]

What wonderful weather you have! Here in Denmark it is cold and dark ;-(

[@pablola1001]

I live in Malaga (Spain) and we have a landscape and climate very similar to that of California. Come and see for yourself.

[@CavenInToTheWorld]

Didn't know dia compe still in production. I've seen this groupset from classic bikes. Nice!

[@astro61362]

Beautiful scenery. I'd have a tough time convincing my wife to do this ride though!

[@gdamjan]

do you have a video of the current build of your bike? What's the chainline with that GRX crankset?

[@brendonslotterback5941]

Love this project, will be great to have this option. That White rear hub seems very loud.

[@stephensaines7100]

The obvious screams: Front Mech! You need either 2X or 3X...

[@peterasaldo9531]

Been following you because of contents like this - a no non-sense shifter. Hope this friction shifter also becomes available here in the Philippines!

[@johnschulz1142]

Now is when you wished you had a double chain ring up front.

[@miguela.8929]

Do you know if these can be used on a downtube mount? It would be cool to get a downtube friction shifter that ratchets!

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Yes.

[@JulianKent]

I heard that Deore 5100 casette has an issue where the rivets holding the slow gears onto the spider loosen up over time. Would love to know how yours is holding up - I ended up going Sunrace CSMS8.

[@TateJenson]

Good job!! What were the gear inches?

[@takeaim420]

That downhill looked pretty worth the climb!

[@curtvaughan2836]

The only more demoralizing thing than long hard climbs are persistent heavy headwinds, which have no "summit".

[@sherryharrison361]

Great video! 👏👏👏we always watch you’s on my hubby’s iPad. We heard you’s go on Zwift!? If you’re ok with it, what are your names on Zwift so we can follow you and perhaps one day get to ride with you’s on Zwift. We would love that … at least until we get down your way later in the year from the great white North 🤭🤭. Cheers to you both! Keep up the fun videos 👏👏we loved our stickers from you’s too! Toodles for now….Two fans from Canada 🇨🇦🇨🇦🥰🥰

[@michaelpraino1416]

No ghost shifting cool..and no party pace up the climb😮

[@GeekonaBike]

Would flipping the lever on the thumb shifter & rerouting the cable work to run the right shifter underneath the handlebars?

[@CavenInToTheWorld]

Just a question cause im planning on getting my first bikepacking/bike touring bike. Which is better QR or TA. Will be getting the one with disk brakes.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

I don’t think either is necessarily leagues better. TA is “better” for discs in that it’s easier to always center the rotor in the calipers. There is always the low level danger of messing up the frame threads however.

[@CavenInToTheWorld]

@@PathLessPedaledTV thanks for the reply. Actually im also thinking of QR because of the dynamo hub. But thinking also of the centering of the brakes. Because i have a fat bike that is TA on the rear and QR on the front. And i always have grinding sound on the front when turning. And at some point i also experience the TA being caught up and hard to remove. So yeah i understand that. But as an experienced bikepacker considering the environment that you ride in. What is the easiest to maintain in case of breakdown, parts and any sort and the parts availability. I just don't get how to center the disk because i also have a road bike with rim brakes in QR but doesn't gave me head ache on centering. Whew!. 😁

[@veitus9483]

Will there be a 2by system so the looks match? To me it looks like the perfect shifter to start a long journey across the world with new components and never fear not to get replacement parts that match the shifter.

[@andrewhamilton3486]

Real world puffing..... nice work guys

[@tomcruz3774]

Im out of breath watching this. I think I'll switch to 20inch tires to get even lower gears lol

[@nthonyholden]

Threadlock! Why have I never thought of that?!!

[@lesand5484]

Would there be a way to have a 2x with this large of a cassette? The shifter definitely looks awesome - might be my first friction if shipping to EU isn't too expensive.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Sure.

[@Fetherko]

52t cog: How many teeth on the chainring ?

[@kimberleemodel7182]

Dang, sign me up for a barend! I'd love a gravelish ti bike-build with bar ends.

[@0guiteo]

I get tired watching you climb and I am safely sitting on my couch. Please be careful.

[@hjuha19010]

This shifter should work on SRAM,Shimano, Road and mountain, right? Also, what is the bar bag and gloves that you are using?

[@ccfixx]

The gloves look like the GOAT gloves that you can get from Rivendell or from the SOMA Fabrications web shop.

[@brianyoungberg8750]

Can’t wait for these to be available! Also, you makes that nice handlebar bag?

[@themindunset]

Please let us know when we can buy these!!

[@sflores28]

Where is this trail, Russ? It’s beautiful.

[@petercheuk9019]

My asthma is kicking in just watching you climb that hill...

[@petercheuk9019]

You only really fight the derailleur clutch when trying to shift to an easier gear. Shifting to a harder gear or staying in a gear won't make any difference if there is a clutch or not.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

That’s not entirely true. A clutch is going to continuously want to pull the shifter into a harder gear. That is why people end up overtightening friction shifters and what they are actually fighting against is the compression.

[@amacedonieto]

Do you know what will be the price of this awesome shifter? And greetings from Tijuana!

[@pedalingprimemover]

If you come up to the Bay Area to visit Soma be sure to come do Repack in reverse :)

[@djkenny1202]

I’m jealous of the ☀️

[@paulericksen6898]

Can it be mounted upsidedown so you are pushing to get to the lower gear instead of pulling?

[@cjones7854]

It would have to be on your left hand to do that I think

[@briand8862]

I don't see why you can't just rotate the mount. Same for the thumbies. As long as you can move the lever how it needs to be moved in those positions I can't imagine it not working. It's a pretty simple mechanism of pulling and releasing cable.

[@cjones7854]

@@briand8862 russ has a video on it. Try it and you'll see what we mean. I have this setup on a computer right now with flipped 3 speed bars. Works nicely.

[@danstenis660]

There aren't any videos on how to build an internal gear hub with Gates carbon belt drive bicycle. Shimano Alfine 11 speed is around $400 dollars. Would love to see you build one while trying to beat the 24 pound Priority Apollo gravel bicycle with the Shimano Alfine 11 speed. A bicycle with greater gear range than the Alfine's 409% gear range is preferable, but Pinion's 12 speeds and 18 speeds internal gear hubs are not sold to consumers, only to dealers. And be sure to include the links for buying all the parts and tools for the build. Imagine not having to oil the chain ever again or getting all dirty from the chain and the external drive-train when changing tires or when removing the wheel or just from riding. Would love to see you start a bicycle company selling these bicycles online to the mass. You know enough about bicycle. You know a lot of engineers that can work out the technicalities. And these internal gear hub bicycles are perfect for party riding where you can go free, riding without the hassle of bicycle maintenance.

[@kelvingrover4043]

Try riding a huffy 😂

[@ploegdbq]

Did you hear the audio? You could hear the huffy

[@dancing8595]

Nice. Could you share the strava of this?

[@bshean72]

What is the thumbie model called?

[@saulm9794]

You are in better shape than most of us but it almost seem like you could use a double ring at the front. Not hating just saying.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

MY personal preference is 2x. I’m only testing 1x because that’s what people want to see.

[@robertrhoadesofficial]

Is the thumbie the 'ENE 11S THUMB SHIFTER'? Doesn't look exactly like what you point out early in the video!

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Yes.

[@nonpersonal56]

But does it work with 12 speed though? The name is 11speed so..... Makes me hesitant to drop dollar on it just in case..

[@robertrhoadesofficial]

@@nonpersonal56 If it's the same as the bar end one he's testing, then it has the increased diameter to achieve enough cable pull. Would like confirmation though!

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

@@nonpersonal56 it should work. It doesn’t say 8 or 9 spd and it works with those. The cable pull betweeen 11/12 is the same. The inter cog spacing is smaller but the overall width is the same.

[@nonpersonal56]

I did not know it was the same cable pull, thank you so much for the reply and clearing that up.. I've got email notification settings up for stock from a store here in the UK... Possible June delivery... Looking forward to it..

[@GeekonaBike]

Free advice that's worth twice the price -- Next pack the bags full of styrofoam so they still look full ; -)

[@jasonkatz8]

Crazy climb

[@pulex73]

Steeeep :D let a high torque pro repeat that ;) let's see if the shifter holds up.

[@markroberts6971]

The things you do for us.

[@charlesr.carney6297]

What are your lowest gear inches?

[@dave_c2805]

ah i see russ, shifter did just fine the torture was for you and laura

[@thebigcrouton]

which loop is this route?

[@djlesinski7978]

what the heck was running over his left shoulder around 1:13

[@rivnuts7398]

…and this is one of your favorite rides? 😊😊

[@SergHooley]

Thanks 🙏

[@singletona082]

You're the friction shifter guy in my rotation so. Perhaps a dumb question. Recommendations for a straight bar friction shifter?

[@gravgrav]

Microshift makes thumbie mounts, and then you can use any downtube shifter that has a square mounting interface. For wider range cassettes you need a larger diameter shifter than for narrower ranges. You can also find old thumbies in bike shop parts bins!

[@andrew_yeah]

he actually points out around 1:20 that you can already buy this shifter with a mount for flatbars to use it as a thumbshifter. lots of other options exist for friction, but for now this seems to be the only ratcheting one that will push a modern MTB derailleur across its full range without hacks.

[@gravgrav]

@@andrew_yeah and so we see there are many ways to achieve this task.

[@jp93309]

Better be called the PLP barend or else. This kind of beta testing ain’t cheap.

[@mikehayes6803]

would this work on a 12 spd?

[@Bassfili33]

I would like to try to ride my meager six speed Brompton!!!

[@elizabethburgess3969]

So if I switch to that shifter will I be able to climb like that? Holy cow - good job, Russ!

[@daviec1816]

What was that animal that ran by in the background at 1:12? Was it a good dog? Was it a big pig? That's really all I care about here. These are the important things.

[@gdamjan]

the same dog that appears on 1:41 I'd guess

[@hope2someday691]

That steep stuff is not fun. We’re you clipped in for this ride? It would help but kinda scary if you stalled on a climb.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Flats. Always.

[@jaworks1987]

28x50t on my fatbike and i can climb any stiff climbs

[@markday1714]

forgive my ignorance how are you determining the steepness? an app? Great content

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

GPS bike computer.

[@sheilastallard]

You pair are gravel gear guinea pig's !! Stay Safe!!

[@paulvanreesch2493]

Preorder? 🤓

[@Alderonn10]

Oh, 1st view! I'm going to buy the thumby version

[@joshuawalker9385]

please get this to be available! i want 1,000,000,000 please

[@besselfunctions]

$150, please

[@BruceChastain]

so beautiful

[@toxicblackwidow9841]

👍🤞👏

[@Ray.J]

Sufferfest 😓 Shows you stop at nothing for the benefit of the biking community!