Originally Posted by
the sci guy
I think I recall someone mentioning here that I couldn't use the current stem shifters as downtube shifters - but I might have to go back and re-read the thread, so I might take you up on this Raleigh shifters - but I was also going to eventually ask for suggestions on where to buy nice (but not expensive) shifters. I found some at velo-orange, but everything they have is $$$.
Where are you located in HTX? I'm out in energy corridor.
I'm in the Heights very near the intersection of I10 and I45 on Houston Avenue just south of the Main St Houston Avenue intersection. Very easy to get to from I10.
I go out to the "Energy Corridor" occasionally to deposit trapped opossums in Bear Creek Park. I've got a sign on my trap that says, "Free trip to Bear Creek Park, Lunch included."
I'll attach a picture of the bike that the shifters I'm talking about came on. The bike is destined for an SA hub conversion so I don't need the shifters. I looked at them earlier today and the chrome is a bit pitted but that's the case with almost all 70s era Huret shifters -- probably the stem mounted ones on your Raleigh included. The DT shifters, as you can tell in the pic, are really long so if you're operating at the end, you can be pretty precise. For run of the mill DT friction shifters, I think they're as good as about anything from the 70s. The Simplex Retrofriction, which I've never experienced, are supposed to be the best. The Suntour ratcheting friction were probably the next best.
I'll PM you with my real world contact info. You can drop me an email if you want to try the Huret shifters.