Originally Posted by
Drew Eckhardt
While bar-ends on a flat bar provide a similar position, they don't let you work the brakes or shifters without moving your hands which means they're not as good for urban environments.
This is a little overstated. When my hands are on the bar ends, I can get them on the brakes in an instant, and then have much greater stopping power with hydraulic disc brakes, which isn't an option for most road bikes (although this is changing). And with shifting, not a significant difference. Reach over with a finger and shift. This assumes you are riding on the hoods or drops. Hands elsewhere on drop bars, you'll have to move them, as well.