June 25, 2025

Restoring my Peugeot PX-10 - Friction shifters

My bike is equipped with Shimano bar end friction shifters. I considered going back to shifters on the drop tube when I did the rebuild. I didn't and I have no regrets. I am clearly not aiming at an "authentic restoration" and don't even buy into that mindset.

The friction shifters work great with the 8 speed rear cassette I am using! My derailleur can't get the chain onto the big cog in the rear, but I rarely if ever care about that.

The biggest negative about bar end shifters is their vulnerability to damage. They are likely to be damaged in a crash. They can also be damaged by careless loading of bikes into vehicles.

Like everything, there are pros and cons. For a time I considered converting my bike to indexed shifting. I could probably have done this for $200 for the new derailleur and shifter. But then I would be locked into using only an 8 speed cassette, and I would have spent money. Now that I am actually using and enjoying the friction bar end shifters, I am very glad I didn't go down this road.

Going wireless gets into crazy money. And you have to worry about batteries and keeping the batteries charged. And just to eliminate a cable? I don't see the point, other than "bragging rights" having the latest cool thing.

I have always turned my nose up at nostalgia and the "retro" fads that boil up all round us. I am more in the camp of "sometimes the old stuff is better".

Towards a philosophy of shifting

I tripped over the following "ode" and really enjoyed it. Then was surprised to find that friction shifting has quite a following. It takes somewhat of a contrarian stance, which I find both interesting and appealing. I am entirely pragmatic in my use of bar end friction shifters. It is what I had on hand when I got busy with the rebuild.

But using those shifters takes me back many years to when I was enjoying and using this bike. And they work great. What is all the fuss about indexed shiftihg? The article in the link above makes many points that I would make. There is a "one with the bike" aspect of friction shifters that I enjoy. It is a close analogy to driving a vehicle with a manual transmission, which I have done most of my life.

The article mentions what is called "STI" format, which boils down to a system where the shifters and brake levers are integrated. Something my use of bar end shifters along with separate brake levers entirely bypasses, and I never even thought about it until I read the article. Here are some links he mentions:

When you think about it, there is something to be said about separating brake levers and shifters. Each system remains simple and probably more durable.
Have any comments? Questions? Drop me a line!

Tom's bike pages / tom@mmto.org