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Friction shifting Vs Index
I have bikes that have both.
Often an index shifter will be vauge or ratchet, whereas with my friction shifter I can always get it just right. Might sound crazy but does anyone PREFER friction?? |
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Tom Keats wrote:
In article , (Fx199) writes: I have bikes that have both. Often an index shifter will be vauge or ratchet, whereas with my friction shifter I can always get it just right. Might sound crazy but does anyone PREFER friction?? I like shifters that just plain work well. I agree. My friction shifters worked perfectly and shifted well all of the time. I should have moved them to the bar ends for better access. However, my index shifters kick ass when they're properly tensioned and the cables are clean. That said, one of my old bikes has a nice set of friction stem shifters that I'm quite taken with. cheers, Tom |
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Have also used both...
When properly adjusted "click" shifters are accurate, fast, and require no "back shifting" However, I have broken three sets of index shifters of various makes and models...and I have never broken a plain 'ol friction setup... |
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brian said:
When properly adjusted "click" shifters are accurate, fast, and require no "back shifting" i agree, if they are properly adjusted index shifters work great. if, however, they are not, it is my experience that they do not. i've never had a particularly long bicycle commute (30 minutes or so) and the most of the rest of my riding tends to be (or rather tended to be until recently when i moved out of seattle) in-city riding with not a whole lot of shifting anyways. i feel that, with a bit of practice most people are capable of shifting more quickly and effeciently than an index shifter can shift for them. i will say, however, that reaching between your legs to shift at 20mph in traffic is pretty scary. |
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"Fx199" wrote in message
... I have bikes that have both. Often an index shifter will be vauge or ratchet, whereas with my friction shifter I can always get it just right. Might sound crazy but does anyone PREFER friction?? I've recently purchased 2, virtually unused, old bikes, both with friction shifters. I rode both for a while, as they were, just to reacquaint myself with 25 year old technology. It was OK, but not really fun. I think a bike should "disappear beneath you", and these drivetrains didn't do that at all. Some index shifting gets a bit balky and vague, but I've found bar-end shifters to be always crisp and precise. After converting these old bikes they were a joy to ride, before that, they were a bit of a chore. |
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I prefer friction for the front and index for the rear. -- ad6mj |
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On 28 Sep 2004 01:16:27 GMT, Fx199 wrote:
I have bikes that have both. Often an index shifter will be vauge or ratchet, whereas with my friction shifter I can always get it just right. Might sound crazy but does anyone PREFER friction?? It's ok when you're sitting down and have plenty of time to fiddle around, but try it when you're standing or sprinting. Indexing makes it possible to shift whenever you like. -- bpo gallery at http://www4.tpgi.com.au/users/mvw1/bpo |
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On Tue, 28 Sep 2004 01:16:27 +0000, Fx199 wrote:
I have bikes that have both. Often an index shifter will be vauge or ratchet, whereas with my friction shifter I can always get it just right. Might sound crazy but does anyone PREFER friction?? Index is great, I'm especially taken with bikes that have internal hub gearing and indexing--totally lets you focus on the road. My road bike is friction because I like the simplicity of it and the virtually silent shifting. The reliability is a huge plus. I do use a modern cassette and chain, which helps shifting enormously. Being able to get replacement parts for a couple bucks is nice. I ride alone and do ride fast, but if I miss one out of a hundred shifts, it's not going to kill me to adjust the lever--I'm not in that much of a hurry. I've ridden friction so long that it pretty much feels "indexed" anyway. I just know exactly how far to move the lever--it's no different than playing an instrument. Perhaps my next bike will have indexing, I've always disabled it in the past because I hate the the sound of it. LOL Maybe somebody can come up with clack-free indexing for me? Both types of gearing can be enjoyable for different reasons, just keep them adjusted and lubricated. |
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