I can't help but to fret and wonder about the damage driving rain can do to my new Dura Ace's. Didn't care so much with the old 105's. I've heard so often how sti shifters can go kaput in an instant. I'd think being bombarded with rain could kill em just as well as anything else can.

Do I fret needlessly? If there's some possibility of damage by soaking rain, can anyone suggest a way to protect them.

Fenders.

Aren't they usually lubed in some way? Cleaned with WD-40? I'm just speculating. I've upgraded all my geared bikes to either downtube shifters or internally geared three-speeds.

I've got 8sp DA brifters that have seen some rain (~500 miles of it), have a number of years on 'em, and have no problems. DA is meant to last; i wouldn't fret it.

I suppose a guy from Seattle has to be regarded as the ultimate authority on all things wet!

Come to think of it, the way I often ride in my commuting mode is with my hands over the brifters. I suppose I am partly protecting them as it is.

Over a year of commuting on my ultegra shifters, 3 crashes directly on the shifters, driving rain, sleet, never cleaned them, several hundred shifts a day, still works like new.
Since we both live in brooklyn, if we ever go ride together, I'll show you how busted up they are and how they still work like new.

Really? I hate my bike getting wet but the brifters are the last thing on my mind. If Dura-Ace brifters can't handle a bit of rain then they'd be a bit stuck on the tours and even more so when Shimano started selling to the UK market!

Don't worry, just make sure you dry and lube everything after the rain. Water does nothing harmful as long as it doesn't linger.