Originally Posted by
cnickroot
I realize this is a years old thread, but the same problem exists now. I'm thinking I might shift my setup to 9 speed STI rear with the Deore line and friction on the front derailler.
I have a question for those using friction on the front and a brifter on the rear - where do you find matching brake levers - brifters? Do you just get a set of STI brifters and ignore the left shifter or does someone sell something else to use?
I am using a Campy brifter, not Shimano or Sram for the rear on my rando bike. It is the older Ergo version and the older Tektro brake levers are almost identical, using a Tektro brake lever on the left side for front brake. Running a friction downtube shifter for front derailleur. See photo.
Above photo does not show both brifter and brake lever very well, found a five year old photo that does, below.
If you have a pair of brifters, you should be able to use the left side for brake only and then use a different shifter, like either a bar end or downtube friction.
I use bar end shifters on my derailleur touring bikes, not brifters.
Until I compared this recent photo with one five years old, I had no idea that my handlebar tape had faded from the sunlight that badly.
Generally, it is preferable to start a new thread on this sort of thing instead of resurrecting a half decade old thread.