The grammar police are always on duty. I try to avoid all inclusive statements by using the words usually, might, may or most often, but if I leave one out, I get jumped on. Even if I include one those adjectives, they sometimes get ignored and others read way too much into something I've posted. This forum seems to have more radicals than any of the other four that I post on regularly.

Well if this thread didn't just spontaneously combust into a life of it's own ...

To answer the original question

Shimano Ultegra STI-6700 and and Dura Ace STI-7900 are the only two that have concealed shifter cables. Both are ten speed. Anything prior to that has the cables coming out of the top side part of the lever including Ultegra 6500, 6600 and Dura Ace 7700 and 7800. I'm not up on what Campagnolo or SRAM offers as I only run Shimano gear.

We now return you to your regular flame war.

Sounds like you're already invested in Shimano with your 2 current bikes, so for simplicity, you should probably avoid Campagnolo. (I'm a Campy guy). I think Shimano & SRAM are interchangeable.

Have your questions been answered ? If you're getting a 3rd bike then you have a lot of choices. If your existing bikes are 10 speed, you could swap shifters for the new Ultegra or Dura-Ace shifters, and sell the old ones.

SRAM and Shimano only share cog spacing (3.95mm) and cassette spline patterns. SRAM uses the shallow depth 9 speed spline pattern, not the abandoned 10-speed-only spline pattern, so don't try a SRAM cassette on a DA hub or wheel from the two years of 10-speed-only.

The shifters and RDs are NOT compatible at all. Very different cables pulls. SRAM is the only brand using a uniform cable pull of 3.1mm per shift. Campy and Shimano both use nonuniform pulls and those pulls are not close to the same for 10 speed drivetrains.

Wow! I appear to have started a verbal punch up.... sorry about that. Basically, I'm toying with the idea of building a road bike - mainly so I can pick my own components. As we all know this is the most expensive way to go, especially for an old IE like me (I prefer Impecunious Enthusiast to tight git.)
I'm fairly proficient at working on older bikes, but newer - last 20 years - bikes have a lot of innovations that I'm not familiar with, which is why I love this forum. I've also just bought "Zinn and the art of road bike maintenance". However, to research modern bike parts when I've been out of the loop for so long is not that easy. However much research you do there's always an important piece that you miss. Being in the UK leaves me with the feeling that we don't see a lot of stuff in our bike shops that you seem to have in the States - I may be wrong. But asking in a decent forum brings in a load of answers which gives me a chance to sort out what is suitable for me.
Which brings me neatly to ask about the Nokon adapters. I looked at several sites, including Nokon, but could only find references to cable sets. My LBS looked at me blankly when I mentioned them. Does anyone know of a site I can check out?
Thanks for all the advice offered.

I've bought all on my latest Campy 11 speed parts from the UK or Germany, due to favorable exchange rates and Campy's inflated prices to US based dealers. Ribble or Shiny Bikes are both good sources.


https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/

https://shinybikes.com/

Don't do it.

It's a half assed, half baked hack job. Crappy shift performance due to excess friction. If you're building up a new bike anyways, just do it right and keep everything the same.