Ergo brifters with vbrakes?
 

Hi. I have my hybrid Marin Muirwoods set up with drop bars. Currently I have the original linear pull brake levers and thumb shifters, pic below. I want to put brifters on it, either sti or ergopower levers. Is it possible to use them with v brakes? Also I know that the ergo's are more customizeable and easier to use with 3 chainrings...and 8 speeds...but can I use them with shimano derailluers? I hope so because I really want to clean the bars up and have more hand positions, including the drops.

http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/q...7/marin002.jpg

If you had a bare frame with no components, what would be your vision for this bike?

What you have now is a hodge podge of stuff that doesn't go together. What you are proposing is more of the same. If it was my bike I'd start over with parts that match.

Is cost a concern?
If you're going to get brifters it will be more cost effective to go with Shimano to match at least your current rear dreailler and cassette. You will still need a new front derailler, mountain and road fronts have different cable pull.
If you want to go with Ergopowers, you need to either use a Shiftmate or get new rear derailler, cassette and rear wheel to put it on. Campy 8 speed has been discontinued, so you'll be going to 9 or 10 or 11 speed there.
Either route will still leave you needing to something about braking. Travel-mate cable pull adjusters will adapt the road brakes to V-brakes, or you could go with cantilevers instead of V's, they have the same cable pull as road brakes.
May be cheaper to get a new bike!
Good luck.

Actually the only thing that doesn't match is the drop bars. Everything else is original off the flat bars that came on the bike.

The whole reason for wanting to do the brifters was to clear up the dashboard and give me levers with hoods. Now I am thinking that bar end shifters and a set of Tektro R200 levers might be better, but putting the two together I might be at the cost of a set of STI levers....so ugh.

I really love the bike that I have, it fits me perfectly and it is a good bike. I also really want drop bars on it, so it is just a big dilemma.

Go with the bar end shifters and a pair of Tektro RL520 brake levers. You can probably do it for under a hundred and everything will work properly.

+1. This is the cost effective way to do it and will still cost WAY less than a set of new brifters. Its hard to even get second hand brifters on eBay for less than this and if you went this route you would need to get items called Travel Agents to match the brake levers to the v-brakes because they don't match.

Anthony