Couldn't ride Tue, Wed, Thurs, but rode today. And I took my main commuter, the 2015 Charge Plug...my first commute since replacing the right brifter. It was a Shimano Claris 8-spped...now it's a Microshift 8. Besides the visual mismatch (the Microshift is chrome-plated, the Claris has a silver-gray finish) they operate differently. On the Claris the brake lever rotates to function as the upshift lever; the long plastic 'paddle' acts as the downshifter. On the Microshift the brake lever is just a brake lever and doesn't twist. The long 'paddle' downshifts and shorter 'paddle' upshifts although without seeing it, it feels and functions more like a button.

I tend to actuate the long 'paddles' with my middle finger, pressing inwnrd. And the Microshift's shor 'paddle'/button seems to fall under my index finger which requires just a minor squeeze, in contrast to the long travel of the long 'paddles', and also the pronounced rotation required of the brake levers on the Shimano Claris.

The Shimano Ultegra brifters on my 2006 Felt F65 work/twist in the same way as the Claris components, and my drop-bar Rockhopper setup (from my previous bike) is non-****/twist brake levers because that bike has bar-end shifters now.

While both brifters are convenient, and I'd be habby with both, I think I'd give a slight edge to the Microshift system. The upshifts are faster with less finger movement requires, and the brake levers feel more secure being non-twisters...at least to me.

All in all it was a great ride in. 48F to 51F with an unusually cold breeze. Wore shorts and a windbraker shell, plus longfingered gloves. I felt strong and well for the first time in 4 days. When I put the new brifter on I re-adjusted the brakes and derailler and the bike braked and shifted like new. And the mid-length wheelbase and relaxed geometry makes the bike just so composed, not fussy or twitchy like the other bikes...and fast, despite its slight heft.

The mismatched brifters feel the same while riding and my brain quickly adjusted to the two different shifting styles, although I now plan to replace the left shifter with the Microshift unit as well.