One more thing about index shifting. In 1986 my wife and I got new road bikes. I found a shop that happened to have the 600 SIS 6 speed index system and had it installed on her new Univega. Even though she had used friction in the past, index shifting was so much better for her.
As for myself, 2015 was the year I retired my retro-friction shifters for the 7401 index shifters. While nothing is better than a perfectly seamless friction shift, knowing a downshift without pedal pressure was correct when coming up from an underpass was more than worth it.
If 1978 is the dividing line. There is a whole bunch of stuff that is being used by average riders.
Don’t even start on the impact of suspension on the sport of mountain biking.
John
Last edited by 70sSanO; 06-29-21 at 10:05 AM.