Ron Harry

Was planning to do some longer touring that never came to fruition last year, so the Long Haul Trucker I picked up has gotten virtually no use. It rides good, but I hate the shifters on it. So, when I go to choose a bike to ride on my daily jaunts, or even 2 or 3 day trips, I choose one with the sti shifters.

Had decided to sell the LHT and pick up a Jamis Aurora...or something with STI shifters. But I see all the touring bikes are going with the bar ends now and don't even see the Aurora offered at the Jamis website now [only a handful of brands still offered the sti's when I was shopping around last year anyway].

I never did get the argument that if 'sti's' FAILED, you would be 'stuck' while touring, thusly the argument for bar ends. That might be true if one is sojourning across Africa or some 'stan' country or maybe a forlorn desert somewhere to get their picture in National Geographic [or Adventure Cycling, ha]...but that's hard core. Most of us [I would imagine] are touring in civilized vicinities where bike shops are known to exist [along with the squat toilets anyway, LOL]. I've never heard of an sti shifter failing anyway [for real...just the possibility is thrown out there, like it's a common thing or something]. Maybe on another planet [the one I'm not from].

Ah well. I really tried to like the LHT...and I do. But I hate those bar ends. And that's why I'll probably use my steel bianchi when I do actually go on a longer self contained tour [it has sti].

350htrr

I too hate them, to me it's like going back 50+ years in technology... Wouldn't even consider one, even if given one...

Soody

5800 or 6800 group off ribble or merlin cycles is pretty cheap put it on any touring bike you like. With a 32 or 34 cassette and a compact double you could hack it if you're reasonably fit. A triple is cool though, & with friction its just easier imo. I've never had bar ends but downtube shifters are great for front shifting. I leave the rear alone more and just shift the front, use 2-3 close gears at either end for most riding and shift between 30(26 soon)/39/53 rings.

Biketouringhobo

I don't hate bar end shifters but I gone to Raceface ride XC mtn flat handlebars with Shimano XT thumb Shifters 9 speed and Avid speed dial mtn brake levers

gerryl

Bar end shifters would be my absolute last choice. When out the saddle my knees can't seem to stay away from them.

Doug64

When I put my LHT together, I put STI shifters on it.

You might explore changing over, It will be cheaper than a new bike.




My daughter did not like the bar end shifters on her LHT, and as birthday present, I changed her's to STI shifters.

No bar ends on this LHT! She thanks me every time I ride with her.

staehpj1

I didn't like them 40 + years ago when I first tried them and still don't. I liked down tube shifters better and in fact did the Southern Tier not long ago on a 35 year old Cannondale with down tube shifters and liked them fine. On my newer bikes I have STI and and very happy with them as well.

FWIW, given that I pack really light I don't like the typical dedicated heavy touring bikes all that well. I rode an LHT and it was way too much of a "truck" to suit my preferences.

shelbyfv

Easy enough to change to brifters and probably easy to sell the bar ends.

ze_zaskar

I used them for 6 years (Dura Ace 7700) both as bar ends and as thumbies, buying into the "ultimate reliability" stuff.
While the shifting fell is really good, like clockwork, I kept having problems with them, even more than my mates on regular XT triggers. Bolts loosing up even with threadlocker, plastic cap breaking, friction/index lever seizing, internal clutch rings breaking, etc.

Upgraded to 10sp with last gen XT 10spd shifters and couldn't be happier.
Mind that this is mostly offroad.

Maybe the old barends were fine, but the current ones don't impress me

MassiveD

I grew up with them back in the 70s, and I don't have a problem with them except the odd spearing. But they need to go. I'm as retro as the next guy but... While there is an argument about how much you should shift and how much you should ride the dang bike. Shifting like a monkey on crack may not be the best way, but if the dang bikes are going to take on all the troubles that 10-11 speed technology brings with it, bar end just can't take advantage of the benefits that technology also offers. I'd love to build a 7 speed freewheel Phil bike, and barends would be on it, but if one has to put up with 11 speeds, the bar ends need to go.

For the OP look at microshift on ebay. Good reputation and great prices. I have used their... barends, but you might like the brifters. Nashbar's shifters are apparently MS, so if they have some great price... I think it is all 9 speed though. Current LHT is 10. MS probably is also. Been a while since I looked.

fietsbob

Just You.. why Hate a little piece of metal ? unless it came as a Bullet, and made a Hole in You.

NO, Quite the Opposite .. I just got off the upgrade gadgeteering bandwagon long ago .. but the industry marched on ..

I was out of the 18-35 target marketing age range to sell to long ago..

all my bar end shifters are not Even indexed , Sun Tour already a veteran of several multi month tours
Many countries In Europe, for well over 2 Decades.

and even older Campagnolo.. C&V stuff..




The New bike in the collection is featuring a Rohloff Hub. It sorts out all the gear combinations, Internally

so you just rotate the shaft on the left end of the hub to go thru the sequence, with one of the many types of shifters
produced by them or 3rd Parties.

mstateglfr 

I love em.
Like most everything else in cycling, how to shift is a preference.
I have old SunTour ratcheting friction barcons, I have SunTour Accushift barcons that I currently run in friction, and I have some Shimano 9 speed DuraAce index/frictions that will be added to a bike I'll build this winter.

They aren't for everyone, just like grip shifting or trigger shifting or sti isn't for everyone.

I don't ride shifter happy. I don't constantly shift to account for every slight change in elevation. I don't need sti. Actually, I like riding on the ramps the most, so sti would still make me move my hands, just like bar ends.

Again though, it's all preference. To each their own. My friends and relatives all use sti. It's what they like the most and it works well for them as a result.

One thing to mention- I like having friction front shifting regardless of shay type of shifters I use. I like being able to infinitely trim the front derailleur. I like being able to shift easily, regardless of what chain ring sizing I have up front. I can do that with bar ends.

manicmike

Nope, I love them!

alan s 

I shift way too often to use bar end shifters. I hate being in the wrong gear for more than a couple revolutions.

azza_333

Hate is a strong work, I would say that I dislike bar ends and id much rather ride with STIs, its just something about being able to shift with out having to move my hands about on the bars

saddlesores

really?

i bought a ferrari and i really love it, but i hate the gearshift knob. guess i'll have to sell it
and drive my yugo instead.

just change the damn shifters!

SalsaShark

I love the bar end shifters on my 520, they are super quick and easy to use, and I can trim the front derailleur with ease. I also like the fact I can use them easily with cold weather gear on my hands!

Doug64

I have LHT with STI shifters and a Bianchi Volpe with STI shifters, and I still prefer the Bianchi for loaded touring. It has nothing to do with the shifters

ThermionicScott 

This. Life is short -- treat yourself to shifters that'll make you happier.

andr0id

I have some... On my TT bike where they belong.
I can't imagine using them for touring, that would drive me bonkers.

I'd just go with STI in any civilized part of the world and some sort of MTB shifters if I were off road touring.
The only STI shifters I've had trouble with have been 5 or more years old and the grease kind of dries up if you leave them in the garage in the heat. So just don't use 5 year old shifters.

Before STI, I was totally down tube shifters.

B. Carfree

I've never liked bar ends. In fairness, I haven't used a bike with them since the late '60s, but that was enough to convince me that they weren't for me. I finally switched over from downtube shifters in 2009, after about 400,000 miles, to Campy ergo. It took a little getting used to, but now I like them a lot better than downtube shifters. My wife is going to change her vintage Trek 720 over to Campy ergo (10 speed ergo paired to Shimano nine-speed cassette; yes this works with the proper derailleur) this winter as well. We're so impure.

jan230

Retroshift/Gevenalle are another option.
Repurpose the barends.
Very durable

catgita

Last time I used bar ends as bar ends was on a bike with 12 speeds, friction shifting, and a non-slanting parallelogram. STI hadn't come out yet. It was better than down tube shifters because I am 6'6", so down tube shifters were a LONG way down.

All the bar ends I have used since then we're not drop bars, and I changed them over to thumbies, but even used that way, I still don't like them. For drop bars it is double tap all the way for me.

One cool thing: since I got a front D with Sram's Yaw feature, I have not once had a hint of chain rub.

Steve0000

Quite like them now after using them for a couple of years. Used to have grip shifters and thought they were good for quick gear changing and was rather skeptical about bar end shifters. After trying them, I wouldn't change.

veganbikes

I like bar ends. I really dislike STI and have issues with Double Tap because of how it works but I like it for the fact the brake lever is just a brake lever and it is quite comfortable. I haven't had much time with ergopower but not keen on their button and don't want newer Campy.