Originally Posted by
efriis@mac.com
My buddy has a Shimano Claris RD and shifter that he wants to use.
Claris would likely be a downgrade it is rare Claris would be an upgrade and when it is it is usually coming from Tourney which is basically as low as you can go maybe a light upgrade to some Altus stuff which is basically Tourney in some cases or a minor notch above it. If you have 9 speed keep that all you don't need to change anything aside from deleting the front shifter and derailleur or locking the front derailleur so it stays in one place and doesn't move so it turns into a chain guide.