Took me 3 years to admit indexed shifting isn't always better

I was absolute about friction shifters being the only way to go on older bikes. Then I helped a buddy rebuild a 1988 Cannondale with 7-speed indexed downtube shifters and it shifted perfectly every time down to the last click. Anyone else stubbornly hang onto old tech longer than makes sense?

2 comments

2 Comments

thompson.christopher14d ago

Right, because riding friction shifters is a constant guessing game of "did I hit the gear or did I just wish real hard?" I spent years swearing my old SunTour stuff was superior because it made me feel like some kind of cycling savant. Truth is, I was just compensating for the fact my shifting was sloppy and I was too cheap to buy a decent indexed set up. Then I finally tried a properly tuned 105 group from the late 90s and it was like going from a rusty manual transmission to a buttery automatic. Now I'm the guy with the 8-speed brifters and no shame about it.

barbaragarcia14d ago

Did I hit the gear or did I just wish real hard?" That line is way too accurate, I felt that in my bones. I rode friction shifters for years and told everyone it was "more precise" but really I just didn't want to admit my bike was outdated. Swapping to a basic 9-speed setup was like seeing in color for the first time, no more guessing or missing shifts on a climb.