First bike had SRAM.
Current bike has Deore shifters and I cant get used to shifting with my index finger. So Ive started nudging the back of the (longer) finger shifter with my thumb. Anybody else do this? Or has the current shamino shifters been designed for use with finger or thumb.

No big deal – just curious.

You mean you are pushing the top lever forwards with your thumb? Yes they are meant to do that, it is called 2-way release and is a standard feature on all new shifters from Deore upwards.

Actually it is on the new 9 speed Alivio levers as well.

It makes transitioning from SRAM to Shimano that much easier…

Bike 1 has SRAM X9 and bike 2 is SLX/XT. Thankfully, I now don’t have to reprogram my brain each time I swap bikes. Interestingly, shifting my SLX gears with my trigger finger feels plain weird.

No not the ‘shorter’ leaver

I mean the ‘longer’ front leaver that I usually draw towards me with my index finger.

Its a 2007 bike so not sure if I’ve got 2 way release. But a great idear though.