I_Brad: I did check that the cable was sitting correctly in the shifter, and I can garuntee that it is. And with Shimano, shifter cables don't go under that bar tape, so even it that does turn out, somehow, to be my problem, I wouldn't have to take it off. Anyway, I wouldn't have put it on until I had the cables all set if I had had Campy or Sram shifters.

Thanks for helping me out guys...just want to mention that.