This Shifter Works on EVERY (Mechanical) Drivetrain!!

Testing ‪@PathLessPedaledTV‬ Russ' UNO shifter prototype. Works flawlessly, shifts 12-speed, it's silver, and it's got a crispy ratchet. It's the shifter for the apocalypse.
Related:
Russ' video: • The Last Shifter You'l...
12-Speed Experiment: • You're Using Bar End S...
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#frictionisfunner

[@hectorcorona9536]

I'm in love of the way you use an engineering approach to bike problems. Your production values are awesome, I hope your channel receives the subscriber number that it deserves

[@dariuslankarian3282]

Love the collaboration between you two.

[@greggr1591]

I love the flexibility and adaptability of friction shifting (forget incompatibility, go fretless), and Russ's development of the UNO adds another option to the Rivendell and Microshift shifters. Thanks Russ & thanks for the review!

[@CarlinTran]

Love it! Russ has been really pushing things.

[@derrickb593]

I have friction shift on several older bikes that I enjoy riding. I also have 9-speed indexed downtube shifters on one of my bikes. When riding by yourself or just on a casual ride with friends they all work great and I don't miss modern brifter levers at all. Where it is noticeable is when you're riding with more aggressive riders on modern bikes. They brake hard coming into a corner, immediately shift into the right gear, and power out of the corner without missing a beat. Since I can't work the brakes and the shifters at the same time and have to take my hands off the bars to shift (since mine are downtube mounted), I typically come into the corners with my hands on the brakes but in too high a gear for the exit. Then after I've made the turn, I have to pause briefly as I reach down and make the shift as I come out of the turn. It's not a huge thing but just enough to leave you a bike length or so behind and sprinting to catch up. After a couple of hours of that you can be pretty worn out compared to the other riders.

[@PRH123]

When racing back in the day, everyone the peloton would pre-select-shift the gear that they would need coming out of the turn, when going into the turn... same thing when rolling into a climb, for example... it just requires a little looking up the road and planning ahead...

[@ayw5118]

@@PRH123 Even today.

[@bcc1955]

As someone who went from indexed shifters to friction shifters I can say that the experience gets better with time. After a while one gets used to the giving moving the shifter just enough. I would imagine the ratchet on this particular unit will make it even better for giving some feedback to obtain accurate consistent lever pulls.

[@amitkumar-wj8gn]

This is the stuff the market needs.

[@sepg5084]

Fiction shifters have always been available in the market, people can buy it if they want to. Microshift has an 11 speed friction shifter, among other brands. I don't want to and have no need to.

[@TheBikeSauce]

#whoosh

[@michaelschoenbart4538]

Getting back into cycling after many years. really enjoying your content. thanks !

[@the_derpler]

I have a friction shifter now on one of my bikes. A triple in the front and an 8 speed I think in the back. I actually really like it, it feels like driving a manual car or something. It's fun to get the motion right.

[@gusjeazer]

There should be a way to create a grip twist shifter that has the range to shift it all. Grip shifters are awesome imo.

[@Jasmine-zi2qh]

Lmao, I will admit that the fretted/fretless analogy is what *actually* explained this well to me for the first time.

[@TheAnon232]

Such a good explanation 👏👏

[@TheBikeSauce]

🥹🥹🥹

[@filmic1]

Neat. I had Suntour drive train on my 1973 Apollo Gran Tour with those shifters.

[@michaelviglianco6121]

The microshift works perfectly too

[@jeffandersen6233]

i can appreciate the ratchet mechanism having used bar ends without it and having to make adjustments after standing on the pedals. Friction shifting can be nice but so is indexed. I'd love to see this ratcheted friction shifter as a downtube design too, Thanks to Russ for trying to help us out of the shifter/derailleur incompatability conumdrum.

[@StanEby1]

Great explanations.

[@sci-fyguy7767]

If my shimano claris shifter broke on my gravel bike, I would definitely be interested in installing this. I also like the fact that your shifting would never go out of adjustment (I believe) like index shifting occasionally does. 🔥🚴🏻‍♂️🔥

[@coffeesocket2607]

I think I need some of these!

[@schoetti73]

And now build somthing cool for the Rohloff!

[@testtest-ol3yi]

god we need to just go back to 7 speed

[@jemmgillies]

Will it work with 13sp Ekar though? 🤔

[@babyrabies]

best thing ever happened to cycling for a long while. Could it be mounted on the toptube with some kind of bracket? planned to use my dirtjumper to double up as a 3 speed light trail bike for goofing around.

[@medina1440]

problem solvers has some tube mount clamps, that may fit your bike, but I'm no sure

[@zoladkow]

wait... whats the ratchet for on a friction shifter? I ride a 9s casette, so range is not a problem with off the shelf Sunrace retro shifter, but it's how sprockets are spaced on a casette, ie.how much cable pull is required to shift. With 9s one needs to be more precise than with a 6s. in essence larger spacing - easier to hit that gear i'm looking for and not overshoot. I wonder if that Uno has some sort of pull ratio tuning...

[@milehighbiker]

The bass analogy! 😆

[@TheBikeSauce]

🤘🤘

[@stuartpotter4923]

haha love the fretless/fretted bass analogy ... is bass playing an riding a common thing? As a bassest myself, I'm always curious when I see bass content in the insta feeds of other cyclists I follow.

[@TheBikeSauce]

I think musicianship in general and cycling somehow go well together.

[@se9741]

Ekar?

[@vinnyl.canuel6172]

Simple curiosity 🤔 working on Ekar 13 speed ?

[@hardmtnbiker]

A little bit off topic but related. I’m planning on a flat bar gravel bike. A lot gravel bikes have direct flat mount rear brake but flat bar brakes are predominantly used with iso mounted calipers. I have been looking into options for using my parts bin old RX4 Hope/Shimano calipers and run Deore brake levers or just using Deore calipers and an adapter for the flat mount conversion

[@PaulBeiser]

Pretty cool, would be nice if there was a way to mount on the downtube (like my Campy SR 6 Speed from 1985 🙂).

[@trevekneebone369]

See my post. You can buy these already as Dia-Compe ENE 11 Spd Down Tube Shifters.

[@SMidberg]

Good question.We are a lot of 85- bike owners.

[@mountaincruiser817]

Not for me, that thing is going to hit my knees when climbing for sure.

[@herbertharris6406]

Hi there. QUESTION: Would one still require an inline cable adjuster with this shifter? Thanks.

[@BillSmithPerson]

I totally want a steer-tube shifter.

[@colincampbell4261]

Friction shifting is great on a 7-8 speed gears.

[@marvinschock5559]

How much cable does the right shifter pull? Enough for 13*3.65? Where can it be bought (out of stock everywhere)?

[@tonyg3091]

A solution to a problem that doesn’t exist. How often are your hands there?

[@kademan13]

The Uno is available now btw. Go buy it if you think that products like this should be supported.

[@tylerstumpf3319]

Does the Uno work with 22.2 bar ends (Velo orange granola bar)?? Thnx!

[@nizam_mr]

Will this shifter be the answer for 105 12-speed mechanical RD for TT bike? im interested

[@scummyd3226]

I know u said this would work anywhere from 8-12 speed but what about my old Diamondback 3x 6 speed???

[@johnp9650]

Marketing tag line: Works & Plays swell With Others! All Others!

[@troytaylor1913]

My BMX has 3 sprockets on the freewheel 16t 18t 22t I think. the Crank sprocket is 38t and 28t I got a new short cage Shimano in the back and a Shimano top pull in front. The top tube is 44 mm it's the only place I can reach I got a clamp with Shimano Z401 friction shifters, it's a flatlander bike with gyro so shifters on bars won't work. Those are inexpensive and cheap to replace if broken and look good on my BMX show bike or any bike with chrome, 6-speed with friction shifters no problem. Shimano Z401 comes in 2 versions one has cable stops the other doesn't, you want cable stops if mounting to the Seatpost "suicide style" or a top tube like mine.

[@troytaylor1913]

I'm doing the same thing to another BMX but it's a low rider with fenders, twisted sissy bar. 9 speed with friction shifters same ones. Friction shifters is the way to go. I would never find index shifters for my lowrider modifications.

[@sandrochiavaro7831]

Friction Di2 coming next, stay tuned😜. Aja great stuff! Love your take on a great product. Does Me liking it make me makes a retro grouch ? #retrogrouchwanabe😊

[@peterwillson1355]

That is by no means the VERY FIRST STEER TUBE SHIFTER...

[@carlrichards9333]

I have been using bar end shifters, there Brilliant and need very little maintenence, however I use for rear and front mech on a triple chainset, really, still cant get me head around having one chainring, such limitation

[@billkallas1762]

What about a ratchet downtube shifter that can throw a 12 speed cassette? The last time I used friction was with a 7 speed freewheel (13-21) Not that many bikes come with downtube (or headtube) bosses, for cable attachment, anymore.

[@peterwillson1355]

You can use one with a clamp for the downtube. But not on a CF frame

[@rothgartheviking858]

Can you get this to mount on a down tube?

[@xerxoid9331]

Does anyone know what the insertion diameter is for this shifter? I can't find it listed on any product page.

[@davidross8233]

Just got mine. Really substantial and well made. Still trying to figure out how to mount it flat bar

[@FireandBikes]

Did you try a Paul Comp Thumbie?

[@jumperdriver1]

Where can I purchase an UNO shifter?

[@davidross8233]

What kind of adapter do I need to mount this on a flat bar?

[@FireandBikes]

Paul Thumbie??

[@Napanno]

After a lot of thinking, I decided to go with a end bar shifter on my Redwood, I’m converting from flat-bar so I don’t expect the learning curve to be too complicated at least no more that learning to ride on drop bars anyways, the only downside with the UNO is the color, my bike is green and black with soon to be gold so that silver accent doesn’t match; hopefully the people is manufacturing it will include a black version

[@TheBikeSauce]

Just get the microshift one. It’s black

[@justdude8115]

Don't even remember a single black dia compe component.

[@aznwierdone]

I'm building up a modern mtb but am seriously considering getting the uno as a thumbie a la Andrew major of nsmb and meatengines. Would eliminate any compatibility worries of 11sp 12sp, Shimano or SRAM. Thumbie though, not the steerertube craziness ;)

[@betenoirproductions6062]

+1 A thumbie configuration would make this a much more successful product. I hope Russ and his collaborators are thinking about doing this b/c as pointed out, barcons inhibit quick and easy shifting, not to mention mashing your knees into them if you're not careful.

[@TheBikeSauce]

😂

[@briand8862]

Thumbie is already available per Russ' video.

[@betenoirproductions6062]

@@briand8862 an *11-speed* thumbie is already available per Russ' video; the UNO is a *12-speed* bar-end shifter. It's not crystal clear from Russ' video but it sounds like you'd have to buy a set of Dia Compe ENE Ciclo thumbies (11-speed) and transfer the UNO 12-speed mechanism over to the thumbie mount. So that's $160 for the ENE Ciclos plus whatever the price will be for the UNO plus having to perform a hack with (presumably) no warranty. Just make a thumbie version of the UNO, please.

[@briand8862]

@@betenoirproductions6062 My understanding was the lever is identical. It has been quite a while since I watched that video though.

[@robroba10]

Has this been confirmed to work with Ekar?? I could use this...

[@Brandonyc123]

wish these were available 😢

[@TheBikeSauce]

Soon I think

[@Brandonyc123]

@@TheBikeSauce couldnt wait 😭 bought a microshift

[@peterwillson1355]

You can use a downtube friction shifter instead. They have been available for decades. I use them for 9 speed cassettes and they work fine. I wouldn't want pointy stuff on the ends of my handlebars

[@davyhaynes6716]

The silver shifter will shift 10s. At least if it can't, nobody ever told mine that it couldn't.

[@AJXOXO-vz1pn]

Index shifting didn’t come about until the late 80s, not the 70s as was stated in the video. Shimano indexed shifting killed off friction shifting in the high end racing market,and along with STI really put Shimano ahead of Campagnolo. Having grown up with friction shifting, I much prefer indexed shifting.

[@TheBikeSauce]

I think suntour had something in the 70s before shimano sis

[@peterwillson1355]

Indexed downtube shifting didnt kill off friction shifting because those shifters gave you the choice between the two. The new bike I bought in 1996 had brifters but as soon as I found a nice pair of downtube shifters, i stopped using the brifters. Simplicity of set-up, no broken cables and brifters are not good for people with short fingers. I prefer riding in the drops for 99% of the time and its easier to use downtube shifters . I'm not afraid to take a hand off the bars.

[@daniellarson3068]

The thing I notice is that nobody puts the shifters on the down tube like my old Schwinn Continental had. Even the handlebar center position you concocted seems like it makes for safer riding.

[@peterwillson1355]

Why safer?

[@daniellarson3068]

@@peterwillson1355 I would be inclined to take my eyes off the road to move my hands to the downtube shifters. My hand would be off the handlebar longer. I don't remember shifters on the downtube of my Continental being a hassle, but that was about 40 years ago. I think having the shifters by the hands is more ergonomic. Less human error, less mistakes, safer. Opinions will vary.

[@Metal-Possum]

If you want to be a retrogrouch, just use the latest version of Acera 8 speed and be done with it. All these people who think 1984 was the glory days of drivetrains are forgetting that hyperglide cassette hubs, ramped/pinned chainrings, and wide range cassettes, and compact or subcompact chainrings weren't available until the very late 80's or early 90's. Why in gods name do you think you need 12 speed when there's an absolute abundance of old stuff that still has plenty of life left in it?

[@ashurany]

Having to move off the hoods to shift and settling for a "wrong" gear is not "here nor there" but a key point you make. Never road a bike with friction shifting, but it seems much more inconvenient than index shifting, ntm giving up some handling control over the bike to shift is for me at least a no-go.

[@michaelviglianco6121]

It's really not difficult whatsoever

[@peterwillson1355]

You get better handling control riding in the drops. Using brifters is not comfortable for people with short fingers/ small hands. Funny how previous generations were not afraid to take a hand off the bars to shift. How do you make hand signals, or drink?

[@trevekneebone369]

As far as I can see, these are the same levers as the Dia-Compe ENE 11 Speed Down Tube Shifters that I bought 3 years ago. They have just added a bar-end mount. You could do the same right now.

[@TheBikeSauce]

The barrel diameter on the uno is large enough to shift through 12 speeds. I don’t think the Ene 11 can do that?

[@trevekneebone369]

@@TheBikeSauce Are you sure that the 11 and 12 speed diameters are different? I don't know 🤷‍♂️ Despite having ridden with Simplex Retrofriction levers in the 80's, I couldn't get on with friction shifting 11 speeds.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Can’t say for sure. Takes more finesse on 11 and 12 speed for sure

[@froseph85]

There’s a few things going on here. Some of it has to do with how “wide” the cassette is, ie distance between big and small cog on a cassette. When upgrading a cassette, you sometimes need to install a spacer to account for that difference. The other part is how much cable pull a derailleur needs, ie how much cable needs to be pulled to shift between cogs. For indexed shifting, the shifter pulls the right amount per click to get between cogs, where as in friction the rider “figures it out”. For 7,8,9 speeds, the cable pull remained the same, the width of cassette remained the same, but the distance between cogs shrunk down. The shifters just pulled less per click to move the derailleur less distance between cogs, but the total for dance pulled between the smallest and largest cogs was the same. A lot of the incompatibilities between speeds and MTB / road came after 9 speed to address a specific issues with the amount of cable pull. As the distance between cogs gets smaller, the amount of cable pulled by the derailleur to shift one cog up/down typically gets smaller. At some point, it get so small that consistent shifts become impossible. Some of this is addressed by changing the space between cogs in a cassette, but most of this was addressed by changing the cable pull so that derailleur requires more cable pulled by the shifter to shift between gears. This generally means a larger diameter ratchet is needed to pull more cable. Road bikes are limited by the space in the hoods, so they only increased the cable pull a little bit. Mountain bikes have no such limitations, and because they often get more dirt and grime into the drivetrain, they generally have a larger cable pull than road drive trains. Uno was designed for 12 speed mountain bike derailleurs so it uses a larger ratchet to pull more cable than other friction shifters which are often designed for road bikes. TLDR; If your 11 speed friction is designed for road derailleurs, it might not work for mountain bikes because mountain bikes need more cable pulled per shift.

[@bryanflo4500]

@@froseph85 What a thorough and thoughtful explanation. Definitely helped me understand the problem the Uno is trying to solve over the existing Ene. Cheers, froseph!

[@Goenzelsen]

Has anyone been able to get it as a set? The „old ones are sold as a set only

[@djkenny1202]

I love feel of index. Never really enjoyed shifting a friction that much. Steer Tube Shifter looks like a great way to Stab yourself crashing. 😆

[@colnagocowboy]

And I've hated index shifting since the early 70's

[@hugobci]

Where can I buy one of these?

[@TheBikeSauce]

www.somafabshop.com/shop/590713-ene-ciclo-uno-bar-end-shifter-rear-only-12-sp-8272#attr=

[@hugobci]

@@TheBikeSauce thankyou!!! But Temporarily out of stock 🥲

[@wandae6352]

@ thebikesauce dont get me wrong, I like your content about experimenting with different set up which is not budget nor brand restricted Buuuuuuttttt...... For me, stem caps are flushed for a reason, And having a shifter protruding where the headset cap should be is not something I would want during an "over the bars" incidents😅 I think for me, the better way to install that is to make a custom stem to support friction or thumb shifters. Like the old road bike set ups before. 1. its reachable at arms length 2. Its keeping you upright when shifting hard 3 you can see your available gears by looking at its angle position. The downside is it also left you one handed And short stem and slammed stem might be an issue😅

[@breathestrongcycling3672]

Still use friction, suntour was standard on my trek560. It's simple, bombproof and with only 7or 8 gears out the back you don't shift that much anyway. Riders of modern bikes just shift too much I reckon...just pedal harder FFS 😉

[@peterwillson1355]

100%!! Bought a new bike in 1996, with brifters. Disappointed.

[@markifi]

the only thing i don't like is how exposed it is. seems like it wouldn't fare too well in any crash

[@55whiplash]

Honestly after a while I'm faster on my friction shifters, I'm still using old Suntours and Rivendell's Silver shifter, which is very similar to the UNO shifter, but only handles 9 speeds max.

[@Jack42Frost]

Do they come in a downtube model?

[@SMidberg]

Also like to know that.

[@amonynous9041]

i'd never put shifters on ends of handlebar, it just feels wrong.

[@bcc1955]

Actually not sure you stem shifter looks so bad, particularly is position for forward-aft movement.

[@bobwilliamson5574]

It looks very user unfriendly.

[@jimbrittain402]

WHEN ARE THEY GONNA ACTUALLY SELL THE GODDDAM THINGS??!!!

[@raysmith9324]

Available at the end of the month!

[@Dobaspl]

Non-indexed derailleurs were invented a long time ago. And with the option of attaching it conveniently under the thumb without the need to take your hand off the steering wheel. Where is the revolution here, where is the innovation here?

[@jonathancrincoli6263]

Everything that is old will be new again.

[@bikepackingadventure7913]

It’s good - however Drop bar bike with hydraulic brakes, you already have a shifter combined with the brake hood 🤔 Flat bar bike with hydraulic brakes, you would just get thumb index shifters with groupset The only time I can see this used is if you have mechanic brakes such as rim brakes or mechanic disc brakes Thoughts 🤔🤔

[@briand8862]

Or you need to shift a derailleur/cassette that your current levers can't shift properly. Say, you need to replace something, but what was original isn't available, now you can shift anything.

[@chazwarpdrive5171]

with most groupsets, yes, but non-shifting hydro levers for drop bars do exist

[@Excelbrains]

Mounting the friction shifter at the end of the handlebar? Never understood this. As you indicate yourself this requires moving your hands off of the handlebar. This simply is neither efficient nor safe. Same thing with Trek and their Truskew system: why not simply use a thru axle?

[@markthomas741]

Friction shifting sucks.