Originally Posted by donalson

bar end shifters are great... still stick with 9spd if you can... because the front shifter is friction only you can get away with what derailleur you use easier... you can also turn them into MTB style thumb shifters with "pauls thumbies" or even use them as downtube shifters like on old school racing bikes... if I ever move away from the MTB build over to road bars on my touring bike barcons will do my shifting.

for brake levers... tektro RL520 is the one you're looking at (look for the words "Long pull" or "linear pull") cane creek has a very similar pair... I believe they are made by tektro but have some nicer hoods and graphics... I'm not fond of the shape and for that reason alone I would stick with canti's and one of tektros other hood shapes (R340) as I spend a lot of time in the hoods... I used them a few years back when I updated some things on a vintage trek and really liked the wider/smoother shape.