Originally Posted by Kuromori

I suspect it has to do with how clunky shifting from the cassette/chain combo is and personal tolerance for clicks is. A very slick shifting chain/cassette combo shifts quietly and shifts easily, then wants to shift out of gear easily at the shift gate, and overall doesn't give very positive feedback. Some people also don't notice the ticking every wheel revolution when the chain moves off center slightly at the shift gate and touches the next cog and don't feel it's worth trimming if they even notice. Even on index systems you see a lot of people that need a half turn of the barrel adjuster but they don't notice the ticking.

Curious what the lever throw in the biggest cog is though.

Originally Posted by Kent T

I have a musical ear/recording engineer ear/trained ear. I have physical challenges, my cadence is very unusual, and I own one bike with indexing, one without. I listen to my body, my bikes. My legs move imperfectly. I never miss a shift with friction shifting, I sometimes miss one indexed (even adjusted to the nines). I never forgot how to friction shift. Friction shift, I can get it to work at the right moment, and around how I pedal. SIS muffs the low gears unless I'm moving in sync. Maybe, I am a spastic retrogrouch. If so, then I may get a second C&V and be done with life. Your mileage and legs will vary.

Originally Posted by shoota

Ha! Drives me nuts. I'm not old school enough to like friction shifting. It's hard to use di2 and then use friction lol

Originally Posted by ridingfool

For the front di2 can't be beat but for the rear have a friction bike and like it it's almost flawless just sucks having to reach down over having it on the bars but the shifting on friction is nice on hills give a little tug and u shift 4 or 5 cogs if u want

Originally Posted by shoota

You can do that with electronic too. And still not have to reach down.

Originally Posted by ridingfool

Don't think mine does I need to hold the button down and it will shift one at a time but not 3 or 4 at a time maybe there is a way to set it but I don't know how to do it

Originally Posted by JaccoW

As many have said already, don't use vintage shifters with modern 9+ speed cassettes. Modern shifters have a larger diameter barrel so they both pull more cable (for the wider cassette) and often have longer levers that make precision shifting easier.

Originally Posted by Kuromori

Are you talking about friction shifting with modern index chain and cogs, or friction shifting on older equipment? Because my point is that shifting aids that help with indexing also have some drawbacks with friction.

Originally Posted by ridingfool

Don't think mine does I need to hold the button down and it will shift one at a time but not 3 or 4 at a time maybe there is a way to set it but I don't know how to do it