Friction shifting 9 speed joy

[fr188]

After a good few years I've returned to downtube friction shifters, I've been restoring a 40 year old bike and I wanted a 9 speed block at the back, I have read on on these forums that 9 speed in friction might be too much and too finicky,
I've grown up on downtube shifters, so it was no problem in going back to them,
What a joy! Beautiful shifting through the gears,one pull of the lever and you can dump all the gears,
Set up was easy just clamp the gear cables no indexing & away you go .
It's easier than the old 5 speed blocks to shift as there's not so much distance between the cogs , with all the cogs on the 9 speed so close together it actually easier to change gear smoothly

 

[Hugh Manatee]

My bike (still off the road following an a fight with a Mercedes) has the same set up. 9 speed Ultegra with a very old 600 rear mech and 8 speed shifters in friction mode.

It all works quite well and apart from a tendency to get through jockey wheels, it has been fine.

 

[ChrisEyles]

Nice! I've only ever used DT friction shifters on 5 or 6 speed blocks, didn't know they'd work on an 8 or 9. There is something rather lovely about using them, isn't there?

 

[Fab Foodie]

When I had my custom Rourke built a couple of years ago I also went dt shifters on 9speed Dura- Ace rear/ Ultegra triple front. Light, simple, cheap and as said, work a treat. The rear is indexed and is flawless.
It's the future!!!

 

[Smokin Joe]

When I had my custom Rourke built a couple of years ago I also went dt shifters on 9speed Dura- Ace rear/ Ultegra triple front. Light, simple, cheap and as said, work a treat. The rear is indexed and is flawless.
It's the future!!!

View attachment 355644

Lovely, lovely, lovely looking bike. Personally I'd have gone for a larger white panel on the seat tube, though.

 

[si_c]

I've had a set of simplex retrofrictions work perfectly with a 10 speed block, so you have scope for upgrades

 

[Fab Foodie]

Lovely, lovely, lovely looking bike. Personally I'd have gone for a larger white panel on the seat tube, though.

I agree!

 

[fr188]

D/A 7402 rd on a 9 speed cassette

 

[Fab Foodie]

D/A 7402 rd on a 9 speed cassette

Dammit, that's a fine machine....