Originally Posted by
TekMann
.. i thought about converting my downtube shifters to Bar end shifters. The groupo on the bike..is a Shimano 600, .. I realized that most of the downtube shifters on the market are for 10-speeds or less, as mine is 12-speed.
Shimano 600 is old, which means that 12-speed is 2x6. Today, 10-speed would mean that it has ten sprockets at the rear.
Originally Posted by
TekMann
.. A bunch of people say that Buying a bar end pod mount is a good option and plop on my downtube shifters,
Can be.
Originally Posted by
TekMann
...some say that it doesn't matter because what speed the bar end shifters are because the bike is using friction shifting,
Quite right. With friction shifting, pretty much anything goes.
Originally Posted by
TekMann
....I read that the gauge of my gear cable is important too?
Shimano and Campy shifters use different "heads", the anchor button at the end of the cable. Shifter cables and brake cables are different gauges. Flat bar brake levers may use different "heads" than drop bar levers.Those would be the main differences I can think of.
Originally Posted by
TekMann
.... could anyone direct me to a place where I can grab the parts that I need at an affordable price or am i better off going to a bike shop?
IME, not many bike shops would carry small stuff like DT cable stops and bar-end shifter pods. I'd use ebay or maybe saint John's cycles for small stuff like that. But there'll be a few options.