Mr Blue, I mentioned once here about getting a more "fun, zippier" bike, and I would also mention that sti shifters (as you know) are way more fun also, and in my experience, really reliable also, so I wouldnt even think of bar end shifters, just because the majority of the life of the bike will be riding unloaded, so you'll appreciate the fun ness of a zippier frame along with zippier shifting.