Originally Posted by
Myosmith
My only complaint with Surly is that they use bar end shifters to keep the cost down. I don't have anything against bar end, but if you prefer brifters it is a fairly expensive upgrade that is standard on many competing bikes. That said, I think the Surley framesets are top notch.
The bar ends might reduce the price but many people als think they are more appropriate for a touring bike than "brifters".
There are many LHT purchasers who would not have considered the LHT if it had brifers. (That is, you can't please everybody.)