Friction Shifters

[Dale 1956]

How many of us like to use the old time friction shifters? I just got done a few days ago building my own touring bicycle I had install some click shift setup but I hate them so off they came and I installed a nice set of friction shifters on my new Surly DIsc Tucker 52cm here is a picture on my bicycle.

 

[Drago]

Friction is good on a hard working tourer. They ain't going to break, jam or stick like index or ratchet systems.

 

[rogerzilla]

They were ok on 5 speed. I wouldn't want them on anything.more than 6 speed, except as a backup option.

 

[Heltor Chasca]

Great bike. I have an earlier version of the Surly DT. I wouldn’t swap the bar end shifters for the world. You can set them to run as friction or indexed. Whatever takes your fancy. The best thing is, they are reparable in the field. I used to have a normal set of drop bars and occasionally I would knock the levers with my knees. I have since fitted a set of Salsa Cowchippers which are flared. The problem no longer exists. I assume your bars are Salsa Woodchippers.

 

[Dale 1956]

Salsa Woodchippers

Yes my handlebar are the Salsa Woodchippers they are the best for me I had them on my Surly Big dummy too.

 

[biggs682]

I shall be commuting on one of my bikes this morning that has good old friction shifters , Whilst at least 3 others have the choice of index or friction

 

[Heltor Chasca]

Yes my handlebar are the Salsa Woodchippers they are the best for me I had them on my Surly Big dummy too.

Surly DT and Big Dummy? Me too. We must have the same dysfunctional genetics or something.

 

[raleighnut]

Most Shimano downtube or bar end shifters are switchable between friction and indexed.

 

[KneesUp]

They were ok on 5 speed. I wouldn't want them on anything.more than 6 speed, except as a backup option.

I use friction on 8 speed all the time because I can't be bothered to index it - you get a feel for the lever movements after a very short time.

EDIT - I'm not sure the hanger is straight because when I did try to index it, it was never quite right, so I just swapped over to friction as @raleighnut says - it's easy on most SIS Shimano stuff.

 

[Salar]

I like them.

To split the debate who prefers downtube shifters and who prefers stem shifters.

 

[KneesUp]

I like them.

To split the debate who prefers downtube shifters and who prefers stem shifters.

Bar ends for me

 

[midlife]

I like them.

To split the debate who prefers downtube shifters and who prefers stem shifters.

This sort of thing?

 

[Smokin Joe]

This sort of thing?

View attachment 429743

Nutcracker shifters.

 

[palinurus]

One of my commute bikes I set up as a 1x8 downtube shifter. Since I didn't have the right shifter for it I ran it friction, for the first few days I thought 'this isn't working out', then I got used to it*.

*I was already used to downtube shifters, it was friction shifting on 8-speed I hadn't done before.

 

[mjr]

Nutcracker shifters.

You're meant to sit on the saddle, not the stem.