We often talk about "being one with the bicycle" when riding a fixed gear, but there is a trick to apply that mechanical control to a geared bicycle: friction shifters! It doesn’t get simpler or more reliable than this. The pawls (power ratchet) give you a unique feeling when shifting, and over time the gear positions will settle into muscle memory; they demand a bit from you but reward you in the long run. The Dia-Compe levers have a solid metal construction that won’t let you down; for long-distance bicycles, these are the ones you want. If you are somewhat of a bicycle rebel and want to break free from the big manufacturers’ compatibility charts, friction is the best solution.

Designed by Rivendell Bicycle Works in the USA. They are part of their non-racing component series called Silver.

Sold in pairs: front and rear shifters. The left controls 2/3-speed front derailleurs. The right shifts up to 10-speed cassettes together with most rear derailleurs. Remember that your frame needs to have mounts for frame shifters, for example Brother Cycles Mr Wooden has this.