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Post by Arnie on Nov 4, 2008 0:28:47 GMT
Can anyone explain in simple terms what the difference between a 'top-normal' mech and a 'low-normal' mech is? I know it's something to do with the spring  |
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Post by mtbman on Nov 4, 2008 8:09:15 GMT
It's all about which way the mech goes when you remove the gear cable.
One will naturally go toward the big ring and the other to the little ring.
My RM came with a rapid rise mech (which goes to the big ring) but my LBS didn't stock them. As I couldn't be bothered waiting I took the standard mech. The only difference being the gear change is now reversed on the lever (brake lever in my case, combo's). Took some getting used to but no problems after a few rides.
I can never remember in gear terms whether they are refering to the TOP ring or TOP gear when they talk about TOP and BTM? Can someone else answer that?
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Post by danevs on Nov 4, 2008 18:04:51 GMT
I've always used low normal (rapid rise.) and find it to be more natural as both fingers select lower gears and thumbs higher. All very personal I suppose.
My only gripe with rapid-rise is that you tend to be left with a large loop of cable into the mech, no biggie though.
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Post by Arnie on Nov 4, 2008 20:03:03 GMT
Not sure i follow. The gear levers on your right shifter (if using Shimano Rapidfire) work oppositely if you swap from a TN mech to a LN mech, or vice versa? Up becomes Down etc??
What I should have asked is 'Is one better than the other and if so why?' Why have the 2 types?
I've just bought a new replacement XT Shadow mech as i bent my old one. Apparently its a top normal mech. The problem i found with my old mech was that the spring often didn't seem strong enough to move onto the smallest cog, there would be a long delay between flicking the lever and the actual shift occuring. Up and downshifting across the rest of the range was fine. Does this sound like its symptomatic of certain mechs or have i bent something i shouldn't have perhaps...
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Post by thistle on Nov 21, 2008 22:31:20 GMT
Up and downshifting across the rest of the range was fine. Does this sound like its symptomatic of certain mechs or have i bent something i shouldn't have perhaps... I had this problem on my previous mech. The problem was the spring wasn't strong enough to overcome the friction in the cables - cleaning all the crap off the cables helped, as did replacing the cable tubes the next time it happened! I think my rear mech is bust as well (wobbles a lot: looks like the paralellogram is worn at the pins so the holes are now slotted) so I'm looking for a new one too. Is there a logic to Shimano's numbering system for derailleurs? |
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"Guess I must be trying then"
