jowilson

I bought some 2$ friction shifters from the co-op I volunteer at and set all the cables in about 3 minutes- something I could never do with indexed shifters. I got the bike off the stand and rode it around the lot a few times to get a feel for them. I've used them before, but never on my own bike. They work wonderfully and I love not needing to adjust them in the stand before riding. I just set the adjuster on the rear back to zero and clamped the cable down. I love the ease of maintenance part about them already after owning them for only 3 hours now.

Before I had friction shifters, I had indexed front and rear shifters. A bit time consuming to fine tune, but they were working great. I got frictions shifters for ease of maintenance, price, simplicity, and take up less room (no room in fact) on the handlebars- which is good for touring.

Any one else have any success stories going from full indexed to friction?

Josh

bikemig 

I don't know about a "success" story. I like indexed derailleurs but I've been thinking of going with friction on one of my riders. I like having to "feel" the shift rather than relying on the mechanical click. So I may join you (with one bike) in moving backwards in technology.

Rest_assured

I also love friction shifters, especially suntour. I have suntour symmetric shifters on my commuter. They are self trimming!

Baytree

My bike has friction shifters. A while back I needed to swap out the old 6-speed freewheel for a new one, and the only one I had was a 7-speed. Put it on and rode away without even adjusting anything... it works perfectly. Try that with indexed shifters!

zandoval 

No but I had one hell of a time trying to use indexed shifters on my brothers bike - I had never appreciated how much direct control I have with my friction shifters...

urbanescapee

All my bikes up until a few years ago had trigger shifters. Then I picked up a bike on CL that had down tube shifters, then I got a touring bike that had bar ends. Now I have the shimano bar end shifters where the rear shifter can be indexed or friction (except that I have them mounted in an unusual fashion, see pic). I really like the front being friction because it's so easy to trim for any gear combo. For a few years I rode with the rear friction as well, but recently switched it to index mode. I am finding I prefer the rear indexed because with more gears it's easier to just push the lever around and it automatically lines up with the nearest gear wherever I stop without me having to trim it for noise etc. . What I like most about this kind of shifter is that unlike trigger or STI shifters, I can push through the entire rear cassette in one smooth motion in a split second, instead of ratcheting.

Ozonation

Ha! Funny you should say you've "upgraded" to friction, when about 30 years ago, that's about all the choice you had! I had this $99 special from Canadian Tire when I was a kid that never really worked all that well - cheap, centre-pull caliper brakes that needed adjusting all the time, heavy steel road style frame, a pretty awful saddle - but even the cheap friction shifters worked.

... and now I have a much more expensive bike - with newer and much better made friction shifters, and I love it! I will concede that an indexed rear shifter could have some advantages in some riding positions, but I really prefer just friction shifting the front gears to make sure I trim it just right.

Yo Spiff

I have 2 bikes with friction bar ends and one with DT (The DT bike is actually index capable, but I see no point in bothering). Never found it difficult at all, just moved the lever until it is in the next gear. No fuss.

calyth

I didn't like friction shifters on the old bike, it took forever to shift right, and it was probably tied to the whole fact that the bike was crap anyways.

Brifters at least encourage me to use the bike with many of the gear that's available.

But to each their own It's good that you find something that works for you.

mikhalit

Another success story here. Have a rear dura ace 9 sp barcon with broken indexing, but it works well in the friction mode. Not precise enough when used with a 9sp hyperglide cassette though, chain would frequently jump up or down. I've installed an 8sp cassette which has a bit wider spacing between cogs and voi la, it works very well now.

AusTexMurf

On modern drive trains w/ 9, 10, 11 speeds..........
It is a nice combo to have friction front and indexed rear on bar end shifters.
In some ways, best of both worlds.

deeth82

I mostly ride single-speed, but for the few geared bikes I have, I'm running friction because I love how lazy it allows me to be in "dialing in"...I set the high and low limit screws so that the chain can't jump into the spokes/stays, and away I go for lonnnnnng periods of time! I've got a Sunrace top-mounted shifter for my 8-speed lazy commuter, and I'll soon be putting a set of Sunrace stem shifters on the dreaded Kent Denali for grocery-getting. I've got a nicer set of Shimano bar-end shifters, but I'd kind of like to put them on a nicer bike, to be honest...eventually I'll come across a nicer frameset and dedicate them to that particular Frankenbike, but when it comes to friction shifting, I'm with the OP...due to its low maintenance and easy on-the-fly adjustment, it's definitely my preferred choice of shifting.

corwin1968

bikemig 

LOL, love it.

gerv 

I have friction shifters on all my bikes. Cheap, reliable... yes... all that. But you missed one point. Friction shifters are *way* more forgiving of an equipment change. And I love to change out equipment. If I have an 8 cog cassette, I can easily swap it for a 9 or a 7. I can change out the FD or even put on a smaller chainring. After the change, the adjustment is quick and simple.

Beyond that, one simple fact: friction shifters give you more control. You do have to learn to shift differently if you are moving from STI or indexed thumbies, but it isn't hard to learn.

jowilson

I had to Google his name.

I feel that recently I have been turning to the "simple is better" concept.

fietsbob

I got off before the index thing in 88, at 7 speed freewheels , then the 'index' shifting
is just the sequence of gear combinations through the grip shifter,
operating in my Rohloff hub, or the trigger shifter on the 3 speed..

catonec 

nice "up grade". welcome to 1982.

imi

Love the "upgraded" title
I have friction stem shifters on my commuter which has evolved from 6 to 9 speed cassettes over the last 25 years or so

Also had friction on my touring bike until the last build where I put indexed barcons on. They can be run friction but I haven't bothered as they work so well... May just upgrade now by turning the knob!

corwin1968

You should spend some time reading the "Learn" section of his website or pick up his book "Just Ride". He's all about functionality and comfort. His views are not for everyone but there seems to be a growing population of folks who find his ideas compelling.

fat_bike_nut

+1 on friction shifting. It really is my favorite by far over indexed

As an adult, I started with an indexed shifting 21-speed 1990's mountain bike from a relative who didn't want it anymore, and then I bought a stem-shifter-equipped 1970's 10-speed from the flea market. After that, I didn't really like indexed shifting much anymore.

When I bought my Surly Long Haul Trucker over 3 years ago, it included Shimano Dura-Ace bar-end shifters that offered indexing or friction mode for the rear derailleur. I switched it to friction mode and never turned it back.

ThermionicScott 

Although I just straightened the derailleur hanger on my Bianchi Eros so that the indexing (7-speed) would work cleanly again, I've got to say that I'm a big fan of friction shifting, especially with good micro-ratcheting shifters that will hold their setting with a minimum of friction. While the responsibility for doing the shift cleanly is now up to the rider, that rider can always fine-tune the setting so that they don't have to ride around with a rattly bike if something goes wrong.

chefisaac

I would have to agree with you. I love mine too.

I have brifters, rapid fire index, and bar ends and I love my bar ends. I thought I would hate them but they are so nice. The others do not really allow to trim that much on shifting, even the brifters. They allow you to trim but not that much a all but the friction shifting allows a lot of trim and even though cross chaining is not proper, it does allow for it much more then the others. I thought I would hate them but man, I love them.

The ONLY downfall is sometimes they get knocked around since they are located at the end of the bars.

genec

What are these "index shifters" you speak of... GRIN

nigelsane

+1 for symmetric shifters and for GP/Just Ride

I love my autotrimming symmetric shifters too and I get annoyed when I have to trim on my other bikes. I made the same "upgrade" to friction shifters from STI a couple of years ago. Brifters are great, but there's no satisfaction in nailing a shift perfectly with them.