In the city I shift constantly, and the easier it is to do with the more increments, the more I shift. On tour I would normally shift less, but the conditions will dictate. I find bar-ends are adequate on touring bikes.

I do buy the idea that brifters are a risk relative to what happens if they breakdown, but they also should have high reliability developed for racing. So yeah, good quality tools will pay off. I think Microshift may fit that bill, but I guess I won't find out for a while. Most of the parts on my bikes are pretty expensive. With touring gear, I just never really figured the drive train needed to be that expensive. I spend a lot more money on wheels and brakes, and contact points. But I guess we are being dragged into the