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[porthole]

Took my heel shifter off first week, guess you just can't teach an old dog new tricks.
Just curious, which do all of you use? 

Same here.

[Smiler]

I'm obviously in the minority.  Heel shift every time

[patrickt]

I'm obviously in the minority.  Heel shift every time

Actually, according to the stats in the poll, you are in the majority... I seem to be in the minority by not using the heel shifter. :^)

Patrick

[Grover]

I use both. I took the rear shifter off on the Seeg because my left foot was getting too claustrophobic. I also find it much easier to preload the front shifter with top of foot for power shifting on hard acceleration runs. It snaps into gear much easier.

I have both heel/toe shifters on the Heritage though, usually use heel to up shift & toe to downshift on that bike. Great for lazy Sunday rides.

[BlueFlames]

Never have liked to heel shift.  Took the shifters off.

[JW]

Always toe shifted, never had a bike that could heel shift before this one and the bike is relatively new to me(27 year break in between last bike and this one).  Took the bike out for a nice two hour spin today.  Here are my observations and thinking from an anatomical and physiological point of few (and gut too).

1.  To toe shift, the foot needs to go up against gravity and against the additional resistance of the shifter.  The muscles that perform this task are the anterior lower leg muscles, smaller muscles primarily meant to lift your foot up when walking.

2.  To heel shift, because my feet are big and my legs are long, I need to slightly flex my hip (power muscles-big and strong) to lift my heel up over the heel shifter, then push down with mainly my hamstrings (again, big strong power muscles) and with gravity assistance against the same shifter resistance.

so, toe shift= weaker muscle against gravity with additional shifter resistance = more work = more energy expended= ?quicker fatigue factor

vs

heel shift = big powerful muscles, with gravity assist, against same shifter resistance = less work = less energy = ?less fatigue

3.  It just feels good to me to hit it with my heel.  There's a satisfaction there for some reason.

Thanks for this post, you all just made my ride more enjoyable.

[hard10]

As I have told you previously, it is awkward at first but once you get used to it you will not want to do without.

Could you please explain this to the group? This is your first post. Am I missing something?

[Hoist!]

Could you please explain this to the group? This is your first post. Am I missing something?

  DSP coming to a neighborhood near you! Hoist!

[The Mysterious Q!]

Heel to shift up and toe to shift down.  I have big feet and I don't want my front shifter to aim at the sky. So adjust this BB.  Later,Q

[Twolanerider]

Could you please explain this to the group? This is your first post. Am I missing something?

AJ, you big bully.  Quit picking on the newbie.  It's obvious that in his two posts to date

I have gotten a HOG discount from the dealer in Gaylord, MI after spending $300 and I do not live there.  But in Memphis there is no discount.  All purchases of any size I go with Chicago, as do most of the people I know here.   

As I have told you previously, it is awkward at first but once you get used to it you will not want to do without.

the latter suggests clairvoyance and mental telepathy.  You gots to THINK it man!

[hard10]

AJ, you big bully.  Quit picking on the newbie.  It's obvious that in his two posts to date

the latter suggests clairvoyance and mental telepathy.  You gots to THINK it man!

Dude, thinking isn't always my strong suit.

[Twolanerider]

Dude, thinking isn't always my strong suit.

Don't feel bad AJ.  When I meet someone that really needs mental telepathy I try to sit on their head.  That's how I get my brain close to theirs.

[hard10]

You know there are some on the west side of the Mississippi that don't what the word clairvoyance means.

[Twolanerider]

You know there are some on the west side of the Mississippi that don't what the word clairvoyance means.

You shouldn't be talking about Californians and all their hippy chit that way man.  It's just rude.

[JW]

This is my first bike with a heel shifter. I find myself using about half and half. The EZ shift stuff listed earlier sure looks good though!!!!  Where is the best place to get these parts?

I don't know if this is the best-never dealt with them but plan geeting one from them unless someone else here has the knowledge.  Google searched it, they all seem about the same (actually, there aren't that many that showed up), this one offers free shipping and handling (there is an earlier post that had this supplier but prices were not listed).

http://bellsouthpwp.net/e/z/ezbrake/intro.htm