OK, I have a 2009 Jamis Aurora. I have been having a lot of trouble with the indexing and general feel of operating the front derailleur. It is a Tiagra brifter, and a Tiagra FD. This has brought back into my mind a pet peeve that I have always had. I have always preferred friction shifting on the front mech.

What I was thinking of doing was to keep the Tiagra shifter to use as my brake lever, but to disconnect the shifter cable. I would then buy either a set, or if I can find just the front shifter, some bar ends and connect that to the FD. I may just buy the set, so that when I decide to switch, or my RD brifter goes out, I can just slot it in.

My question to you all is, is this a stupid idea mechanically? I know that it will not be the most aesthetically pleasing choice in the short term, but I'm not all that aesthetically pleasing in bike clothes anyways, so no one will notice.

Thanks, I am asking this here because I am afraid of getting endlessly ridiculed in the Mechanic forum.