Hey, I use downtube friction levers on my surly with modern derailleurs, cables, etc.

Though I'd like to say I'm cool enough to use them with 100% effeciency, I honestly don't. For shifting to smaller cogs, I'm about 100%. I shift until the gear just changes and don't move the lever any further....seems to work great.

During downshifts, however, I often *think I have the gear perfectly because I hear no noise nor feel anything unusual. Then, sometimes the chain will pop a bit (like it's no meshing with a tooth) out of nowhere, then act fine again. I mean, I can ride along for sometimes 2 miles hearing no noise and have it do it.

Is this a common experience with you guys on modern cassettes? I guess I just need to downshift further past the cog I want and then trim it like an upshift.

I like being able to dump a cassette in a split second and love the ease they offer, but I guess I need more skill to really be good at them.

You old-timers and traditionalists have a real skill . My hat off to you.