lol, so i pretty much need an intermediate forum. the issue with 7 speed brifters is they are ugly and i cannot source them as easily as what im looking into. Its not about returns and investment, its about the journey. I enjoy my hobbies and money i use on that is considered lost from the moment it goes into the fun fund. I have sunk thousands of dollars into my reef tanks and the most i have ever seen back was a couple hundred after selling equipment for dirt cheap. For me learning and spending the time wrenching on the bike is well worth the effort to others it might not and i understand that. I think i have enough info to continue to source my parts, aside from that robbietunes(centurion expert) has been helping me out a lot via pm. thanks again.