Hey guys, today I'll show you what downtube shifters are and also the
differences between index and friction shifters
Downtube shifters are shift levers mounted on the downtube on the bicycle
In order to shift a gear, you need to take one hand off the handlebar and push the
levers from the downtube. It might take some time to learn at the beginning, but once you
get used to it, you will benefit from having shorter cables and housings, least
resistance with a moving handlebars and minimal adjustments.
The installation is simple, all you need is to make sure that cables are tight and the limit screws
are all set so that the chain doesn't fall off the drivetrain
Index shifting has a click in the shifter for each gear selected, each pull or push
moves a fixed amount of cable to the derailleur, with that accurate
positioning, the shifting can be persist and consistent once you have it adjusted
properly
Friction shifting doesn't have any notches or clicks, you move your derailleur
exactly as much as you push the shifter, they are compatible to all speeds
No matter from 5 to 12 speeds or even 13 speeds, you simply need to learn how
far to move the lever for each shift
Once you have control of it, it becomes
faster, quieter and you just hit the gear you want with less effort
So which one do you think is better?
Index or friction shifters?
What do you think about downtube shifting? Are they any good or shifters
should better be located on handlebars?