67tony 

All of my bikes shift well, but only one shifts amazingly well.
It's my '92 Koga-Miyata, with a 3 x 8 Shimano 105 drivetrain and bar-end shifters.
Rear is indexed, front friction, and every exchange is lightning quick and smooth as butter.
(Sorry, friction shifting fanatics, but this thing is just so flippin' foolproof!)

I've never owned a paddle-shifter bike, but the ones I have briefly ridden cannot compare - especially when considering the throw distance some paddle setups require. I'm sure the higher-end paddles are pretty slick but, I reiterate, I just love the crispness and accuracy of this Koga-Miyata's setup.

Here's is a cool thing that bar-ends allow me to do. (Although I'm sure most of you already know this...)
When dropping or raising between the chainrings, I simultaneously drop or raise the rear gear - to moderate the dramatic difference of switching between chainrings. I can do this very easily, kind of with the pads of my palms, without taking my hands off the bars. Both levers down to downshift, both levers up to upshift...voila!

steelbikeguy

Indexed bar ends are pretty nice to use, as are indexed down tube shifters. I've got my indexed bar ends on drop bars and also shift both derailleurs at once.... this usually involves shifting by two cogs in the rear when I change between the 50T and 34T chainrings.

The only aspect that I don't like is that this requires me to get onto the drops to do this, which clearly isn't your situation. In this regard, I think that downtube shifters are better, as I can shift both derailleurs at the same time with my right hand.

Indexed bar ends or downtube shifters are quite reliable and easy to set up. I have a number of bikes set up with downtube friction shifting too, which I still like. For cases where you are working hard to keep up with your riding buddies or busy watching surrounding traffic, etc., indexed levers let you just whack the lever and make the shift, and not require more attention.

Steve in Peoria

RobbieTunes

Sometimes, sheet just works.

top506

Half step shifts with both levers are a great way to startle the kids, especially with friction DT shifters using one hand.

Top

OldsCOOL

I have a Shimano 600 on the Cannondale and love the smooth, lightning quick shifts of the 7sp DT indexed shifters. When you are blasting through a 1/2mi sprint with burning legs and lungs it's good not having to concentrate on more than a quick bump of the shifter. The other two roadbikes have non-index Campy and get a thrill out of the nostalgic pleasure they bring.

67tony 

On a side note, the Specialized Pro Turbos, 700x26, are about on their last legs.
But...I really like the thin red stripe on them.
Any replacement suggestions, in this size or slightly wider?

otg 

I use the same set up on my Trek 600, works perfect! I only have the one picture available.

Pompiere

I discovered that I could do simultaneous shifts with the Ultegra brifters on my Jamis. I just hit both big or both small levers at the same time. The compact double has quite a jump from big to small rings, so shifting both levers eases the transition.

Lascauxcaveman 

Basically the same setup as on my 1990 C-dale ST600, no muss, no fuss. Indexed, 8x3 sweetness. Ditto the Trek 2100 that was too small for me, so the stuff all migrated to where it is now, my drop bar tourer; an old Shogun.

Although I'm plenty fast on friction shifting, too. Unto the manner born, I guess. So I don't really notice any difference on gear changing speed, one way or the other. It's just that I don't have to think about or make little adjustments with the index barcons.