Originally Posted by
eddy m
I've used bar end levers and those Sun Tour wingnuts, but I neither of them indexed with whatever derailer I was using. I liked racing with them with 6s but not much with 8s, which required a lot more shifting (obviously, I'm old). With fewer gears and less frequent shifting, I'm happy to reach for the downtube shifters if only to stretch my back a little. YMMV
em
While this is getting OT from the OP’s question. I ride a 3x8 with a 14-36 cassette. It is really more of a 2x7, with the inner ring or 36t cog available.
I ran downtube Retrofriction until 2015 and then downtube index. I went to the Kelly’s a couple years ago. Not planning on going back.
John