Skip, in my opinion Simplex Retrofrictions were the best non-indexed shifters ever made, regardless of what RD you use them with. Retrofrictions did come in a clampon version, though you're right that the brazeon version is easier to come by. Any Simplex shifter clamp will work with Retrofrictions with one caveat - I believe the female thread in the Simplex clamps was different from that in Campy brazeon bosses on frames. The Retrofriction brazeon fixing bolts were threaded to match Campy frame bosses, while the clampon Retrofriction fixing bolts were threaded to match the Simplex clamps. But not to worry. The Simplex clamp thread was standard metric thread, so you can buy standard metric (either M4 or M5, can't remember which) stainless steel socket head cap bolts at Harris Cycles, Bike Tools Etc. or better hardware stores to replace the brazeon Retorfriction fixing bolts and attach them to any model Simplex shifter clamp. I found that the clampon plastic Simplex Prestige levers like came on the Peugeot UO-8 actually had a very nice clamp - it is just the levers themselves that are crap. So I bought a bunch of these levers cheap from Mike Kone a few years ago, threw away the crappy plastic levers, and used the clamps to convert brazeon Retrofrictions to clampon. Just substitute the standard metric stainless steel cap bolts for the original fixing bolts. Works like a charm. Better still, the later Retrofrictions used a socket head cap bolt for the right side fixing bolt, so the replacement looks pretty original. The left side was usually a regular bolt head for an ordinary screwdriver, so the replacement doesn't look quite original, but it works better.
Since I believe Campy and clone shifter clamps, unlike Simplex, have the same female thread as Campy frame bosses, it is possible you could use brazeon Retrofrictions on Campy clamps without changing the fixing bolts. I've never actually tried this, however. Has anyone else?
Regards,
Jerry Moos
> Question for listmembers: what are the best shifters for this rear
derailleur? I have seen some of the Simplex retrofriction dt shifters, but
all the ones I have seen require shifter frame bosses. I have campy
shifters SR currently...will those work or can the shifter clamp be adapted
to make the Simplex Retros work.....any assistance would be appreciated.
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> Skip Sinatra, a distant cousin
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> Frog Level VA