Speed control apparatus for a bicycle

A bicycle control apparatus attached to a handlebar having a grip, comprising:

• a support shaft disposed below said grip;
• a shift lever pivotable about said support shaft, said shift lever having a control knob, said shift lever being pivotable between a downshift position, a neutral position, and an upshift position, said neutral position being located between said downshift position and said upshift position, and wherein the entire range of pivotal movement of said shift lever is between said downshift position and said upshift position;
• urging means for urging said shift lever toward said neutral position;
• control means for controlling a change speed wire based on a pivotal displacement of said shift lever, such that pivotal movement of said shift lever from said neutral position to said downshift position effects a downshift, and such that pivotal movement of said shift lever from said neutral position to said upshift position effects an upshift;
• and
• a brake lever, said brake lever being pivotable about an axis of rotation;
• and
• wherein a tangent to a substantial locus of movement of said control knob during pivotal movement of said shift lever from said neutral position to said downshift position approximates a direction in which said grip extends, and wherein a tangent to a substantial locus of movement of said control knob during pivotal movement of said shift lever from said neutral position to said upshift position approximates the direction in which said grip extends, and wherein said support shaft is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said brake lever.