Originally Posted by
m_yates
I'm in the process of doing a similar thing. I'm converting an old road bike that had a 6 speed freewheel and double crankset to a 9 speed freehub cassette with a triple crankset. I would suggest looking at Microshift groups. Microshift manufactures low cost brifters and derailluers that work with 9 speed triples. Here is what I purchased for my drive train:
I still have all the parts sitting in boxes, so I can't say yet how well everything works together. I'm waiting for my frame to be shipped back to me from the powder coater. Microshift seems to be the only company that still manufactures 9 speed and 8 speed groups with STI levers..
I run the Microshift 2x8 STI levers on my steel commuter/tourer with an FSA Omega compact double and a 12-32 8 speed cassette on Tourney derailleurs. In fact, I just got them buttoned up the other day and I'm just waiting on new fizik bar tape to arrive in the mail. I use Tourney because it has the integrated hanger and is very inexpensive, and it shifts absolutely perfect. A shimano 9 speed long cage road RD will work with a 34 on most frames (ignore the marketing BS, the B screw will go in plenty far for the pulleys to clear).
I had previously had Microshift R8 2x8 shifters on a lower end road bike and even though the rest of the bike was crap, the shifters stood out as quality built, comfortable, and easy to use and adjust. They work perfectly with shimano derailleurs, just make sure you match the cassette, chain, etc.
Suffice to say, they work great, and I actually love the ergonomics of them. They are a little wider than Shimano and the hoods have a nice grippy texture. The shifting is intuitive and has nice positive clicks, however the throw on the downshift is longer than Shimano, the button click for upshifts is really snappy and easy to reach from any position on the bars.