Originally Posted by
jon.sa.km
I bought a bike with downtube shifters from bikesdirect. At first I thought would be fine but due to my lack of coordination and the constant fear of crashing into stationary objects I have decided downtube shifters are not for me. I can return the bike to bikes direct but that would be a $50 shipping fee plus another $100-150 to swap the bike.
Brifters will run you $80. New cables and housings, another $10-20. Cable stops to mount on your downtubes; $15-20. New bar tape after you mess up the stuff on your bike; $10+, etc etc. You will probably end up spending well over $100 upgrading to brifters anyway.
May as well either get the new bike, or else just learn to love the DT shifters.