Originally Posted by
Noun
So I guess I have to decide between STI and bar end shifters... Whichever one you choose does it change what derailleurs you are able to have or anything of the sorts?
Don't get overwhelmed by all of our bantering.
Either type of shifter will work with the same derailleurs-- up to a point. The bar-ends will handle mountain and road front derailleurs, but the STI will not handle a mtn. FD. However, if you can find a Shimano 4503 FD, there is no need to go with a mtn FD regardless of the type of shifter or crankset used.
My daughter's LHT presently has bar-end shifters, Tiagra 4503 FD and a Shimano XT RD. They work OK, and are about a third of the cost of STI levers. It is not an irrevocable decision. If you put bar-ends on initially and find that you do not like them, they can be changed.