Please don't post "STI are better" etc. I like those too.
Please post tips, pictures, reviews, "hacks", and home-made friction shifters, esp on "modern" bikes. Please post stories of how you enjoy the old-style shifters or why you use them. Style points for people posting links or photos of their awesome thumbie-equipped bikes.
I grew up with old salvage store/2nd hand store road bikes, and learned how to ride first with stem-shifters, and later downtube shifters. I thought the downtube shifters were a little awkward, but were very nice for their simplicity (very little cable housing needed, just for the rear derailer).
I'm currently using Falcon "5 speed" thumbies on a mtn bike, with "8 speed" gear system. I bought these for $10 to alleviate wrist pain that I was getting with some gripshift brand shifters, and decided I just liked them.
I'm planning to build a yardsale/dumpster bike for trying out cyclocross this year, and intend to put or use bar cons or thumbies on it.
Looks like there is a thumbie /barcon revival going on.
Friction Shifting
Linear Mode
