Some weeks ago I picked up a '78 Raleigh Competition GS made from Reynolds 531 at a garage sale for $10. I was originally going to keep it as a 12 speed but after much deliberation I've decided it's going to get fixed. I've played around on it and the downtube shifters are just driving me crazy. Accidently sticking my fingers in the wheel when I reach down to shift and the once I extricate my mangled fingers from the moving spokes and execute a gear change I throw the chain because I'm not smart enough to operate a bicycle equipped with friction shifters. Yessiree Bob, she's a gonna get fixed.

That is a great feeling to find a bike that everyone else thinks is junk for dirt cheap.

I have only been shifting from the brake hoods for three years. I went from seven speed 105 on the downtube to 9 speed dura ace on the brake hoods. Definatley prefer the dura ace set up. I never caught my fingers though, Ouch!!