deadprez012

The bike is a GMC Denali (let's not get into that) and, having already lost the front mech shifter due to incredibly poor construction, I am completely dissatisfied with the Shimano Revos and ready for change. My university bike shop has a Parts Graveyard which means nearly any kind of shifter I can scrape from there is absolutely free--so this only leaves out brifters.

What type of shifter would be most effective for my short tours on this bike? I spend almost all my time on ~50 mile rides in the drops, so imagine that I would do similarly for 80-90 miles in a day (incredibly comfortable on this beast). I would like to minimize time that my hands are off the bars. That means bar ends, stem, and finger/thumb shifters right? Feelings on these types for touring?

As a specific question, which would be the most effective (combined with a properly adjusted mech) at "snapping" right into gear?

And then, I remember reading that DT and thumb shifters were friction...but friction works on indexed derailleurs just fine right?

Discuss please. Thank you kindly.

benda18

derailleurs are derailleurs. they can be shifted by both friction and indexed shifters.

i would try bar-end shifters if i were you. some models include the ability to be either friction or index shift.

Cyclebum

As you want "snap right into gear" shifting, indexed bar ends. Only the cassette shifter is indexed on mine, but I use it in friction mode. Not sure if you can get indexed for the chainrings.