Originally Posted by banzai_f16
Here's a follow up query: Bar Cons are another option I'm considering, in addition to STI. I mainly commute, but I'm also looking into doing group rides. Would you, by this logic, also say that bar cons are too far of a reach?
Funny; I spent a great deal of effort building up a pair of flat-bar road bikes for my wife and me (an Orbea for her, a Curtlo for me).
I used bar-cons for years; first Campy friction (on a Crescent Pro) and later 6-speed Shimano Ultegra (on a custom Gilmour). I got so used to it that shifting became an unconscious motion, but I really do like my Curtlo (XT drivetrain w/ a Dura Ace triple crank; yeah, I know the chainrings are weird, but I like the way it looks and it works
great).
The bar cons take a bit of getting used to but if you set them up right they work well.
Let us know how it turns out!