Bekologist, your replies are ripe with retrogrouch-ism. These threads are like winter entertainment, almost like eating Dorito's... They're too tempting to resist.

Here's a few contrapuntal remarks to ponder:

1) Fast shifting is not the same as accurate shifting. If you're on a club ride with veteran cyclists, I suspect that they'll know the ins and outs of being in the right gear for the right terrain, wind condition, drafting scenario, etc.. Sure there are a few times when you want to make multiple shifts at the same time, but I doubt that one rider's ability to go from one end of his cluster to the other in one sweep is going to make any co-rider envious of that rider's ability to PUT the HAMMER DOWN . Its a nice fantasy, but good riders know their own steeds whether you click through one or ten simultaneously.

2) Friction shifting can certainly be quick when you're riding solo on an open road, but when there's heavy traffic, its dark, the road is potholed, or other riders are better than you - you're keen ability to deliver perfection gets compromised. I can't tell you how many times over the years my surgically clean drivetrain with the perfect chain and fresh lube, etc... will malfunction in the real world just enough to assure that you will get dropped, or forced to miss a traffic light or ride into a ditch, etc...

3) STI has been around enough that you won't be lambasted for not being RETRO enough. I mean, this stuff has been around since the late 80's (or earlier). Shimano Downtube STI 6 and 7 speed indexed systems are VERY classic in my book. They work wonderfully, are cross compatible with a lot of contemporary and vintage componentry and they look sweet too. I mean Grant Petersen and Rivendell and some of these clones are interesting - but a lot of us have been around long enough to have our own style and our own FRESH interpretation on what it means to be older and ride classic equipment. I'm 44 years old and I've been humbled on group rides many, many times. Sometime the execution of my vintage bikes exceeds expectations, other times you're dropped out the back like yesterday's effluent... . I know, you'll say its the rider, not the equipment, and of course there is truth to that. I doesn't tell the whole story though. I mean there are some older fellas that come out for some of our group rides who will say, This (fill in the name of some tired 1980's era road bike) is just as great as the day I got it! I mean, sometimes you need to take a good look at yourself and some of your pragmatic (i.e. inflexible) notions, and move on man.

Just had to share,
so go ahead, light up the flames!
This is going to be fun.