Originally Posted by
HillRider
Unless you have index shifting (and with a 5-speed freewheel, this is VERY unlikely) you can use your current friction shifters with any 6,7,8,9 or 10-speed cassette. You will need the cassette and a chain of appropriate width but the shifting should be fine.
This puzzles me. If you are considering a Phil Wood hub at over $300 right now why can't you use the same money to upgrade the drivtrain with good but less exotic components?
Well, the Phil freehub runs at over $300, but the freewheel is only $150. So, if I went with a freewheel, I'd go for Phil. If I went with a freehub, I would not.