I was using some older Cinelli anatomic bars with Shimano 105 shifters (1998s) and couldn't reach the levers from the flats portion of the drops (not the ends, where the bar is flat behind the levers. I thought this was normal.

Last summer I put together a new bike with the 2009 Campag Ergo Centaur shifters and some shallow drop, traditional round Deda Newton bars. Wow, I can reach the levers! I also have some 2007 Centaur shifters with Deda Zero round bars. Same thing. I'm not all that big and have hands that fit my frame.

I feel like I've been given a key to a new world! The newly redesigned (09) Campag shifters with some shallow drop traditional bend bars work very very well for me.