Friction Shifters Explained

What are friction shifters? How do they work? What are their pros and cons? Which types and mounts exist and how to mount them on flat, and on drop bars?

CONTENTS:
00:00 Introduction
01:26 Thumb shifters - flat bars
02:44 How friction shifters work
07:10 Down-tube shifters
08:42 Bar-end shifters
10:50 Gevenalle levers
12:55 Cable stops

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Shifter and derailleur mix-matching (compatibility) articles:

How I fit a 7-speed cassette on an 8-9-etc speed hub:

Gevenalle website:

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If you have any questions, please use the BikeGremlin forum (I try to respond to every comment, but YouTube sucks at notifications, especially when it comes to any follow-up questions):

Relja

[billjackson]

Good video, I rode with down tube and bar-con shifters from 1975 to the nineties. Then went with the crowd. But you are correct they are the lightest and most durable and easy to use when you become skilled with them.

[-MacCat-]

Another great video with useful and clear information. As tough as it must be to source parts when in Serbia I think it shows that a bit of knowledge and thinking outside of the box can yield excellent results. Thanks for your hard work!

[stejarprietenos]

Sunt foarte impresionat de cunostintele tale mecanice, filmarile si postarile tale sunt foarte folositoare pentru biciclistii pasionati din toata lumea, esti de mare folos pentru noi imi permit sa-ti multumesc in numele tuturor ...am invatat multe de la tine si iti multumesc!

[k.johnzarzeczny]

I agree with you, I rather use friction shifters, expecially for the ease of adjustment, but you have to listen for gear/chain noise.

[MattFisher]

Great summary of friction shifters. I wish you could try Gevenalle. They are wonderful.

[davidcawthorne]

Built a bike recently chose bar end shifters on drop gravel bars. I enjoy using them. The bike was built for a specific purpose and is perfect for the job.

[kris]

This video popped up in my feed.
Subscribed.

[SuperOlds]

Around 30 years ago I bought a new Klein road bike that had the ergo-shifters mounted on the bike because they were the latest greatest fad, rode them once, removed the housing stops that covered the down tube shifter mounts and installed down tube shifters and bob's your uncle. Still ride the bike frequently.

[JM-jdyp]

Good video..thank you and I wish you well.

[oldpartsarefine]

You're missing out on great shifting with 10s/11s/12s cassettes, the shift ramps improved shifting by miles compared to what's available for 7s and 8s, also better chains. I don't like Shimano STI's either and only use Sram STI's but even with friction shifters the shifting is so smooth and quiet, that the only problem I can see is loud modern hubs which may be too loud to shift by ear and would have to focus more on feel. However, Sram STI's are very reliable and the shift ratchet inside can be removed and serviced in like 10 minutes. They also don't have the idiotic flappy side swipe on the brake lever, that Shimano is known for.

[jimk]

This is a great video! There is something very cool about friction shifting.. feels like you are really riding the bike. So simple and effective.

I have a downtube friction setup on a bike and looking to experiment with a bar end setup like on your Trek. Regarding the brake levers on your Trek, are they long pull levers (to suit the v-brakes)? Thanks for the great content on your channels

[krollpeter]

My previous bike still had them. They provide precision and quickness. But reaching to the downtube for gear change is not good, especially for city riding. The ones you have on your personal bike with the gear indicator seems a good compromise.

[chintanjadwani]

Thanks for the video Relja :) I'm slowly moving from index to friction, especially because friction is so much more convenient in the front and for the rear, I am not worried about what speed cassette I get. Still struggling with the rear shifts though as they sometimes end up incorrect and suddenly jump up or down - also have to pay much attention with the ear which is difficult with outside noise sometimes.

I wanted to ask you - how is your experience with compatibility of older 6-7 speed downtube shifters with 8 or 9 speed cassettes?

Thanks from India

[nowthenad]

You speak amazingly good English.
I like the look of the thumb shifters. I don't need it to work as an index shifter. Can you recommend a pair of thumb shifters that would work with most gear systems? Thank you.

[nedzadhasanovic]

Pozdrav gledam redovno tvoj kanal i sad ima jedno pitanje imam Scott kad mjenjam brzine u 6 ili 7 ili 8 lanac preskace a u 5 brzini nista se ne desava mjenjo sam lanac zupcanike nista Hvala unaprijed

[rhoelalvarez]

I still have my downtube shifters fr the 70 's both Campanyolo and Shimano. They last a forever.

[oldpartsarefine]

You're missing out on great shifting with 10s/11s/12s cassettes, the shift ramps improved shifting by miles compared to what's available for 7s and 8s, also better chains. I don't like Shimano STI's either and only use Sram STI's but even with friction shifters the shifting is so smooth and quiet, that the only problem I can see is loud modern hubs which may be too loud to shift by hear and would have to focus more on feel.
However, Sram STI's are very reliable and the shift ratchet inside can be removed and serviced in like 10 minutes. They also don't have the idiotic flappy side swipe on the brake lever, that Shimano is known for.