Simplex Retro friction Shifters Part 2

According to velobase the next available version of retro friction shifters were produced by Simplex for Gipiemme in 1982.  These shifters are the ultimate version of retro friction shifters.  Not only were they the lightest version (70 grams) of retro friction shifters, but also easily the most attractive.  Looks and weight aside, these shifters are almost totally sealed.  The entire spring mechanism is held within the shifter body, therefore making  the shifting mechanism almost impossible for dirt and grime to infiltrate. 

Profile view of Gipiemme Crono Sprint retro friction shifters.

Often referred to as "coke spoon" shifters, given their elegant, spoon like shape, these shifters were likely able to shave extra weight by incorporating shaved down contours and less bulky shifter stops than on the "tear drop" style, which can be seen in the photo below.  The production of these shifters appears to have been quite limited as they were only available for a very short period of time.  Likely the cost associated with the extra nice polishing and more intricate shape made these shifters too expensive to continue producing. 

Profile comparison of Gipiemme Crono Sprint and 3rd generation Simplex SLJ shifters

Also around this time, Simplex began producing a newly styled version of their shifter lever.  Simplex removed the original "S" encircled with a star and replaced it with a "tear drop" shaped handle embossed with the company name.  The reason for this change was more than likely to reduce the weight of the shifters.  

Exploded diagram of the 3rd generation, "tear drop", retro friction shifters.

The earliest example of these levers I could find was in a french Peugeot catalogue from 1983.  These new style shifters appear on what I believe was Peugeot's introduction of the carbon fiber frame (PY 10 FC), which would give further credence to the idea that the design change was a weight saving measure.

Image of Phil Anderson from a 1983, french Peugeot Cataglogue showing the "tear drop" style retro friction shifters.

Aside from the change in looks, the shifter was still identical internally to the second generation shifters.  The weight was reduced by 20 grams, from 95 to 75 grams.  These shifter were still available in clamp-on and braze-on models.  During this time Simplex also produced these shifters for Spidel, Mavic and Gipiemme.  Spidel shifters had their name embosed on their shifters.  Mavic and Gipiemme shifters were identical, varying from the Simplex shifters by the fact that they were unbranded.  The unbranded shifters were available in both silver and a black anodized version and were included in various Mavic and Gipiemme groupsets starting around 1984.

1984/85 Mavic groupsets including "tear drop", unbranded retro friction shifters.

The "tear drop" version of retro friction shifter were likely produced until the late 80s when Simplex began their demise by bankrupting for the first time around 1985.  There was one more version of the retro friction to come, which was produced by Mavic and included in their ZAP groupset.  The Zap groupset was first introduced at the 1992 Tour de France and later publicly available in 1994.  Only the left shifter was retro friction.

The last retro friction shifter released by Mavic (821) as apart of its ZAP groupset.  Only the left lever in this set was retro friction.

This concludes the history I was able to dig up on the retro friction shifter.  If I come across any more info I'll make an updated post with corrections and/or new info.  Next post will likely be on my selection of brakeset.

Friction Shifters

There are really only two shifters that I am considering using on this bike.  Rivendell silver (Based on Suntour ratchet shifters) and Simplex retro friction shifters.  Both of these shifters have their own benefits and detractors but I am pretty much set on the retro fiction shifters.  I have used Suntour bar-end and thumb ratcheting shifters for years, so I am very familiar with their feel and have no issue with them.  The Simplex shifters I am not familiar with.  I have used other Simplex shifters before, but not retro friction.  I basically want to just give them a try since they come so highly recommended by many bike aficionados and in my opinion they look much nicer than the Rivendell shifters.

above; Rivendell Silver shifters (Suntour ratcheting shifter copies)

So far I have acquired three different sets of the retro friction shifters.  The first set I found at a local DIY/used bike part shop.  They are first generation delrin (black plastic), which were a part of the Simplex LJ group.  I have been told by a fellow cyclist that despite the fact these shifters are made of delrin, they still function just as well as any of the other retro friction shifters.  Delrin components tend to have a bad rap which I feel came from the derailleurs Simplex was manufacturing in this same parts group.  I myself have snapped a rear Simplex derailleur made of delrin when adjusting the limit screws, but the derailleur was on a 1974 Peugeot, so I wouldn't exactly call a derailleur that has lasted for longer than I've been alive to be of poor quality.

left; Simplex LJ shifters. right; Simplex SLJ shifters.

The other shifters that I have to choose from are the aluminum, Simplex branded SLJ model and Simplex made for Gipiemme, GPM Crono Sprint 870BC, which I am waiting to receive in the mail.  The main difference between all of these shifter are looks and weight.  The internal mechanism is identical in all of these shifters, with the main difference being that the spring in the black, LJ model is upside down, which is the reason for the extra nub protruding at the bottom of the shifter.  Simplex likely made this change to save on material and a small amount of weight.  I think there was also a sort of inadvertent benefit to the original design as well, in that with the spring being somewhat shielded by the screw, less gunk was able to infiltrate the spring. 

Top; shows the first retro friction design with the spring wound into an extra nub 

on the shifter.  Bottom; shows later version with spring incorporated into the shifter lever.

Another note about the Gipiemme branded levers is that they have a separate shifter stopper which is clearly less bulkier than the one incorporated in the original Simplex shifters.  This will likely make the Gipiemme lever the lightest of the retro friction levers.  The entire shifting system also appears to be completely enclosed within the shifter.

above; Gipiemme GPM Crono Sprint 870BC

In a future post I plan on compiling a sort of history on the retro friction lever and all of it's incarnations.