Originally Posted by
Retro Grouch
I kind of like the idea of bar end shifters on a touring bike. They give you a lot of flexability in choosing front chainrings so you can pick a really widelt spaced gearset. Also, as much as I like 'brifters', they aren't fool proof. If you happen to be someplace like Agra, Kansas when your's craps out, you're going to have a 2 day layover waiting for a replacement.
I love the brifters. I haven't done any unsupported long tours yet, but I have always figured I'd carry a spare set of downtube shifters. They are small anyway. If a brifter fails during the trip, I'd pull the shifter cable and mount the downtube lever.