Indeed they do and that's the problem if you live and ride in hills as I do and, particularly, when you ride a new route and don't know what's around the next bend or turn. Having been surprised by a sudden uphill more than once, I greatly value the instant access of either brifters or Genenalle shifters.


I see them as beautifully functional and certainly no uglier than most brifters, particularly those with exposed cables like pre-10 speed Shimano. I guess ugly is also in the eye of the beholder.