Originally Posted by Hopetoditchcar
a few bikes in my price range have sti, which seems like a wonderful idea, for the rest, where is the shifter located? Is it a grip shift style?
No grip shifters. Go to a bike store and check out the road bikes they have on sale. You'll notice that the brake levers swing inward which shifts the rear derailleur. There's a paddle behind the lever to shift the opposite way. Its pretty sweet and has been available for quite some time.