[DHallerman]

Jtek Great

jTeks work very well and are uterly reliable.

They are barely noticeable ( the whole thing is a little over 1/2 inch long ), hard to imagine how that could be "clunky" that it blocks a view of the colored hub.

The heights of hyperbole that people will aspire to on matters like this are ridiculous.

The only caution I will give on using jTeks is to set aside some time for the initial install and make sure that you have 6 extra hands.

Once installed, they are like most components. They disappear and you never know they are there.

+1 big time.

I've used the ShiftMate two ways, two separate models:

* Campy 10-speed shifter, Shimano 9-speed cassette and rear der.

* Campy 9-speed shifter, Shimano 9-speed cassette and rear der.

In both cases, the shifting indexes as well as "all-natural," and has continued to work perfectly well, without any fiddling, for thousands of miles on several bikes, mine and my wife's.

The only fiddling was, as Windermere wrote, with the initial install. Among other factors, just make certain to get the rear der. cable nice and taut...not too tight or anything, but very little slack when in the smallest rear gear.

Dave, who uses the combo not for style but because Campy shifters have many advantages such as being more comfortable and logical and functional with any front derailleur and because Shimano 9-speed cassettes can also be large 11x32 cassettes which blend nicely with 48/34 chainrings for this non-racer

 

[DHallerman]

The Details

I was curious when I saw their latest chart as it has the #1 listed for both Campy and SRAM derailleurs with Campy 10 speed levers. That would imply SRAM and Campy derailleurs are interchangable, and that didn't make sense based on what I've read on this board about cable pull and ratios

Ah, the variables of the Jtek Shiftmate.

First off, for each model of Shiftmate, various mix-and-match combinations are possible simply by reversing the Shiftmate pulley, putting either the small or large pulley groove on the inside.

So, for the Model #1 with the small pulley groove on the inside and the Campy 10-speed shifter, there are only two combos:

* with SRAM rear derailleur means using a SRAM or Shimano 10-speed cassette.

* with Campy rear derailleur means using a Shimano 9-speed cassette.

Since that's a change in cassette size, I don't think that implies that SRAM and Campy derailleurs are interchangable.

Read the Shiftmate chart in detail, 'cause there are a lot of details there!

Dave, who has a rare Shiftmate model #5 which would let him use SRAM 10-speed shifters with Shimano 10-speed rear derailleurs and Shimano 10-speed cassettes

 

[DHallerman]

Large and Small

Dave, I'm looking at the chart right now and the installation instruction pdf, and I'm seeing Campy 10-spd shifters with jtek#1 entering large side. For Campy rear it's showing 10 spd Shimano cassette, and for SRAM rear it's showing SRAM or Shimano 10 speed cassette. Am I missing something that you're seeing?

No, T'Guy, but this gets at the Shiftmate choice palette.

Again, for the model #1 Shiftmate:

* For Campy 10-speed shifters and Campy rear derailleur and Shimano 10-speed cassette, it's as you say, with large pulley on the inside

* However, I was referring to Campy 10-speed shifters and Campy rear derailleur but with Shimano 9-speed cassette, which requires the small pulley on the inside

See, the only parts variable that changes is the number of cassette gears, even same brand. That parts change alone changes how the pulley needs to be installed.

(The SRAM rear derailleur with either SRAM or Shimano 10-speed cassette, also small pulley.)

Hope that helps.

Dave, who says the inner pulley is always the pulley the cable enters first but that inner could be large or it could be small but it's never medium