I like to tinker and one of the things I've been thinking about trying is mounting Simplex retrofriction levers on these:
http://www.rivbike.com/webalog/shift...urs/17068.html
It would replace the Suntour barcons I have on one of my bikes now. The Suntours are good, but I think that Simplex retrofriction barcons would be the ultimate in friction shifting. If Simplex ever made such a thing, I've never seen them.

Rivendell used to sell Simplex retrofriction shifters. When the supply dried up, they started selling the Suntour shifters. Now that they can't get the Suntour shifters they're having their own made.