Originally Posted by
Bacciagalupe
• work a little better with triples
My Tiagra brifters (which I like) work fine for my triple. They have a "half step" for trimming. (The other points are valid.)
Originally Posted by
Bacciagalupe
Also, keep in mind that a touring bike that comes with STI levers will likely have Sora shifters. These are both lower-quality and work differently than the Ultegra shifters. Any LBS should be able to show you the difference.
I think a lot of them come with Tiagra brifters. I can't attest to the longevity of the Tiagras but they function fine.
Originally Posted by
Bacciagalupe
On the plus side, as you already know STI's are a snap to use and are pretty robust. If you're touring in civilized areas, I'd view good-quality STI as fully usable for a touring/commuting bike.
I agree with this. A fair number of reputable touring bikes come with brifters. I think brifters shine when riding in faster groups.