The real beauty of friction shifting is that you can mix any cassette with any derailleur you can find. Shimano sprockets with Campa derailleur? Not a problem! And apart from the upper and lower limiting there is absolutely no adjustment necessary. I am currently building my third bike with friction shifters.
Very interesting topic! I still have a Raleigh of 1987 with a Shimano 105 . Is the 1986 Shimano 105 index or friction shifter? Btw. your Garage is amazing….
I reject your claim that friction shifting is inferior. It was a simple skill to learn and was more reliable. I feel that electronic shifting should be banned from competition because it is a small step from motorized drivetrains. You forgot one huge advantage of friction shifting. It allows the rider to chose the components they actually like and not be captive to one supplier. I have a road bike with brakes that are half Campy Grand Sport ( front)and half Shimano 105 (rear) with generic aero cable levers ( probably the last levers ever made before brifters) with Campy C Record front Derailleur, Suntour Cyclone rear. ( With Campy Record levers, Campy record front hub and Deore rear Cassette. Shimano 600 crank and BB . SR Seat post because seat posts don't matter. I got to chose what parts I wanted. That freedom no longer exists. I vish I could have found a Mavic front Derailleur but wanted to build this from my parts bin and local suppliers only. No one had a Mavic and only one shop even knew what that was
Hello Joeg3741 and thanks for your post. You make a very good point about the interchangeability of bicycle parts in general “in the old days” and how modern manufacturers restrict you to their ecosystem. I also do understand your dislike of electronic shifters but I have to admit that once you try them, they are so good and so smooth, crisp and effortless that it is hard for me not to like them no matter how much I love vintage bikes. Cheers and happy new year.
These is the best docu about down tube shifters I've ever watched, very informative...
Wow, thanks for the positive feedback!
Thanks for creating this video -- there is a lot of interesting bits of info that help in appreciating what we have available today.
Thanks Robert. This was a fun Video to make. Glad you enjoyed it.
Excellent !
The real beauty of friction shifting is that you can mix any cassette with any derailleur you can find. Shimano sprockets with Campa derailleur? Not a problem! And apart from the upper and lower limiting there is absolutely no adjustment necessary. I am currently building my third bike with friction shifters.
Hello have blue 117. You are absolutely correct. Friction shifters are so much fun to use.
Nice videos! Keep them coming.
Thank you JM
Very interesting topic! I still have a Raleigh of 1987 with a Shimano 105 . Is the 1986 Shimano 105 index or friction shifter?
Btw. your Garage is amazing….
Thanks Hans. I love riding my 1980 Peugeot with friction shifters. Cheers.
I reject your claim that friction shifting is inferior. It was a simple skill to learn and was more reliable. I feel that electronic shifting should be banned from competition because it is a small step from motorized drivetrains. You forgot one huge advantage of friction shifting. It allows the rider to chose the components they actually like and not be captive to one supplier. I have a road bike with brakes that are half Campy Grand Sport ( front)and half Shimano 105 (rear) with generic aero cable levers ( probably the last levers ever made before brifters) with Campy C Record front Derailleur, Suntour Cyclone rear. ( With Campy Record levers, Campy record front hub and Deore rear Cassette. Shimano 600 crank and BB . SR Seat post because seat posts don't matter. I got to chose what parts I wanted. That freedom no longer exists. I vish I could have found a Mavic front Derailleur but wanted to build this from my parts bin and local suppliers only. No one had a Mavic and only one shop even knew what that was
Hello Joeg3741 and thanks for your post. You make a very good point about the interchangeability of bicycle parts in general “in the old days” and how modern manufacturers restrict you to their ecosystem. I also do understand your dislike of electronic shifters but I have to admit that once you try them, they are so good and so smooth, crisp and effortless that it is hard for me not to like them no matter how much I love vintage bikes. Cheers and happy new year.