Originally Posted by deadzone

If you had to use DT shifters, you would accommodate your shifting style to them and by planning your shifting better and in then end, like the other poster said, your performance would not be much different. I struggle sometimes with my DTs now because I've been using exclusively STI for 20+ years and still use them the majority of the time. But I also remember racing with DTs back in the early 90s (against racers who mostly had upgraded to STI/Ergo by that time) and I had no problems competing and even winning some races.

Also since you like to climb out of the saddle, I hope you are not one of the posters who was arguing with me over the merits of spinning up hills and use of compact cranks. For the majority of riders today who do "spin" up hills, that implies mostly climbing in the saddle with hands in the top of the bars. From this position I must point out, that I find reaching down for DT shifters is easier and more comfortable than reaching out to shift the STI.