>>1924193>The point is that even the shittiest friction shifters will perform perfectly.I don't agree. Pic rel, the aliexpress cheapies, are just too flimsy. There's quite a lot of flex when you use them. You need to have them really tight for them not to slip and you need to adjust semi-frequently. The ratcheting is meh. Ergonomically they're too small.
Personally I find them tolerable for a beater but other people who have ridden them and aren't used to friction shifting find it pretty difficult.
XT thumbies are absolutely night and day especially because of the 'light action' return spring. Nice stem shifters are quite a lot better. Even the bottom end plastic shimano thumbies are better, those also can often be salvaged. I wanted to like pic rel but I would not advise buying them unless no other option is available. They would still be an improvement on a fucked triple setup like he has to go from 'doesn't work' to 'works but you don't shift often' but still.
>And yes, they realized the only people buying aftermarket friction shifters will pay retarded amounts just to be differentI can't see myself ever buying new paul or even dia compe shifters but the demand way outstrips the supply of the good vintage stuff and it is better. I'm glad they exist. I'd buy some used.