I have a cross-check with the bar-end shifters that I'm planning on racing this fall. Anybody ever race with one of these? Is STI a "mandatory" upgrade for recreational racing?

Wasn't old school CX always with bar-con shifters? That is, before brifters were invented.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_Liboton

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UCI_Cyclo-cross_World_Championships%2C_Men

http://users.pandora.be/webmasterlvst/SP/img/foto5.jpg

IMO the real advantage of STI is when you're on the hoods, climbing, out of the saddle, and you want to shift without sitting down. That kind of sustained climbing doesn't happen in a CX race.

I built up my cross bike with a bar-end shifter because each time I had crashed my singlespeed I knocked the levers around, and was glad there weren't shifters integrated with them. There was that "aha" moment and the way Surly builds up the cross-check made a lot of sense.

If you were used to STI, bar-ends might drive you a bit nuts, especially if you were still using STI during the week. My wife thinks I'm a bit silly for choosing bar-ends, but obviously there are many people out there who see advantages to them.

I am planning on using bar-ends because I plan on thrashing the bike around and STI is expensive to replace. I road raced with down-tube shifter so it is all what you are used to.

it is all what you are used to.Amen.

I raced with bar-ends for 1 season. There are pros and cons. Pros - set up, clean up, cheaper, lighter, tougher. Cons - tough to shift when the going gets technical, hitting the front shifter during transitions. All things considered, I'm glad I run STI's now.

I run a single ring set up with a barcon. I tried STI last year and did not like it at all. My road racing bike has STI and it's not really hard to get used to. I run an 8 speed in friction mode which will work on 9 and even 10 speed. I find my self mostly on the bar tops or in the drops when racing cross. Riding the hoods bothers me, in fact I am thinking of just getting rid of the hoods all together since I brake with the cross levers 97% of the time.

I run a single ring set up with a barcon. I tried STI last year and did not like it at all. My road racing bike has STI and it's not really hard to get used to. I run an 8 speed in friction mode which will work on 9 and even 10 speed. I find my self mostly on the bar tops or in the drops when racing cross. Riding the hoods bothers me, in fact I am thinking of just getting rid of the hoods all together since I brake with the cross levers 97% of the time.If you don't ride hoods much, have you considered flat, moustache, or midge bars?

Look at Soma Sparrow. You'd need a different stem tho, I think.

I have been using bar-cons since I got my bike back in 2003.