What are STI shifters and rapid rise?

Question

is there a difference between shimano STI shifters and Dual-control shifters? i, have a set of shimano LX dual control, are they STIs?

what is rapid rise? I was looking at buying the 2007 XTR rear derailluer and i see that it comes in "regular" and "rapid rise" versions. what is that, and is it compatible with my LX shifters?

Answer 1

Regular derailleurs have the cable slack in the high (smallest gear) rear position. Rapid rise are opposite- the derailleur is at rest on the largest rear cog.

STI stands for Shimano Total Integration. I think all Shimano components are STI, provided you use the recommended component groups..you can't use LX shifters with XTR, for example.

Answer 2

I'm not sure about STI, but dual-control shifters are the ones that you use the same lever as your brakes. When you want to upshift you push up the brake lever, and when you want to downshift you push down the brake lever. Some like them, some don't. I really like them, but to be honest, most people don't.

In order for you to use the dual-controls, you need brakes compatible with those levers. If you have some cable brakes (V brakes, or cable disc brakes), you have to get some cable dual-controls. If you want hydros, you need shimano disc brakes (you can't just use any brake, only shimano, as far as I know).

You can mix Shimano components, you can have deore shifters and XT rear deraileur, and LX front deraileur and it works very well.

What you can't mix is Sram stuff with Shimano on the rear deraileur, since they use different ratios (Shimano uses 2:1 and SRAM 1:1). You can mix shimano cassettes with SRAM chain or something like that.

The difference between rapid rise and regular rise is for the rear deraileurl ON a regular rise, you pull the cable and the deraileur moves the chain to a larger cog, and if you release tension, it drops it to a smaler cog. On a rapid rise, it's the opposite, when you pull the cable you move the chain to a smaller cog, and when you relese tension you move it to a larger cog. Mechanically, a regular rise is better (from what I hear).

Answer 3

Only thing i know on this one is that my buddy has rapid rise xtr and instead of shifting from one gear to the next to the next to get to the gear he wants, he just jams it to the gear he wants. Like shifting from gear 1-12 i go from 1 to 2 to 3 to 4 where he just jams it to 12. The feel is really nice although ive also heard good things about Srams 1:1 shifting too.

Answer 4

its attainable. I actually have common lx shifters and a short upward thrust XTR derailleur on my bike. the purely element is that your shifters will inform you that your in low equipment even as your in severe, and vice versa. no longer a huge deal