friction v thumb shifters

[HJ]

I've seen a number of what look like decent bikes on ebay, with friction shifters.

I've only ever used thumb shifters and have been told that friction shifters are tricky to use, particularly when they're old and worn.

Is it best to avoid these bikes and stick with something more modern?

I used them for years, they are fine, once you get used to them...

 

[snailracer]

No, not 'all' : Lance used one on some of the climbing days on some of his earlier Tour wins.
On flatter days in the same race, he used a lefthand STI brifter

Whether it actually made much difference is moot - may just have been publicity or out-psyche-the-opposition stuff.

In later Tours, he used STI's both sides even on climbing bikes, as Trek had by now made a bike under the minimum weight limit, needing to be ballasted-up rather than weight saved, and STI front-shift and trim technology had improved by now.
...

Aslo, frames were probably a bit more flexy in the early days of STI, and more flex = more chainrub = more trimming.