Originally Posted by
bluehills3149
As for cost, downtube shifters up to 8 spd are cheap and easy to find. Go to 9 or 10 and you're limited to Dura-ace at $90+ or crappy suntour which ghost shift and last 12 months. My flatbar "pub bike" which I built largely from my parts bin, the downtube 9 spd shifters were the greatest cost.
I’ve used a 9speed freewheel with 6spd 105 downtube shifters set to friction and it worked great. I don’t know if they would have enough cable pull to get all the way across a 11 or 12 speed cassette. Maybe there’s a shiftmate that can be used for that?