Doesn't matter much. If I found an old Miyata in my size, I'd ride coast to coast happily on a 7spd freewheel with friction shifters. Or not. If I found some 7spd bar-ends I'd use those, and if I got bored in Missouri, I'd switch them to friction to have something to do. Alternately, if I got a really sweet deal on a new bike with brifters and a 9spd rear cluster--that'd work fine as well. More important is that the frame is right, I got good heel clearance, and the thing handles nice and stable, so I can take downhill naps.
