^^^What he said.
If you just want a better shifter,try eBay for some NOS(new old stock,old parts that just never sold) 8spd shifters. SRAM also still makes Attack trigger shifters that are Shimano compatible in 8spd,they're very nice,and easy to work with heavy gloves/mittens to boot.
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C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Brompton S6L/S2E-X/M6L-X/S12 T Line
