Bar End shifters
 

I have a Trek 614, and would like to switch from the down tube shifters to bar end shifters. Has anyone done this and what would the recommendations on doing this.

http://www.rivbike.com/products/show...hifters/17-098

or

http://www.rivbike.com/products/show...end-kit/17-089

I've got the silver shifters on two bikes, they work quite well. There's no indexing, which simplifies the adjustment process. It's basically a question of taking off the old stuff and putting on the new. Both the kits I link to include the cable housing end stops, which go on the braze-ons where your old downtube shifters go. If your bike doesn't have the brazed on mounting points for the down tube shifters then you'll need one of these:
http://www.rivbike.com/products/show...e-stops/51-020

Yeah, the Sliver or Dia Comp barcon shifters are pretty sweet for friction shifting. I wouldn't mess around with index shifting at all.

I had down-tube shifters on my commuter bike and switched to bar-end when I bought a new touring frame for commuting. I like the bar-ends better now that I have gotten used to them. They take a little getting used to because of the position and the direction you move the levers to shift up or down. It seemed backwards to me at first. You also might tend to swerve at first when shifting. My bar-ends are Dura-Ace and I have no complaints. One advantage they have over other bar-ends is that you can set them on either index or friction mode. If I build another bike, I will probably put bar-ends on it because they are much less expensive than brifters, more reliable and durable. They are easier to reach than down-tube shifters, although not as easy as brifters. A good compromise when you consider costs, reliability and ease of use.

I just did the bar end shifters from shimano (8 spd) but it was a drop bar conversion from straight bars on an 06 Giant. I ordered from Jenson, they were awesome and the shifters were incredibly easy to install (in my opinion) but I was a bike technician for a while.

Anyways, I like the ability from friction to SIS mode, if it gets all screwed on on the fly or since I am not using an SIS RD right now I use the friction mode. Very simple.
Good luck.

-X

I also converted an old Trek 520 from downtubes to silver shifter bar ends (from Riv). It was the best thing I did to the bike. You can shift with 1 or 2 fingers with very little effort. The shifting is very precise with a little practice.

I hate downtubes and recently converted a 92' Trek 1200 to bar ends. In the process now of getting some Paul's Thumbies.

I would also recommend the Rivendell bar-end conversion kit. When I got mine, it came with complete instructions, cables, etc. They even advised installing the shifter marked "R" on the Left side and the one marked "L" on the Right side for some reason (I forget); but in any case it worked great.

Here is a pic if you are interested.

They are not the riv. shifters but the Shimano bar ends. Same concept though. I really like the shift conversion.
http://velospace.org/files/HBconSideRed.jpg

Where would be the best place, cheapest best parts, to order bar end shifters and the cables? Or would I be better to get them from a LBS?

Follow the links above to rivbike.com

New Shimano 9speed (works in friction too) can be had for about $70 ish and comes with down tube stops, cable and housing. you'll just need some bar tape.

You did not say what your cassette/cog situation is, but there may be an easy upgrade path too

i got my dura ace shifters on jensonusa.com for $56
they came with everything necessary to mount & use.

My bike has a Sugino AT crank with a 28-45-50. The rear is a Suntour Mighty 6 14-30. It has Suntour derailleurs with Suntour friction shifters.

On the subject, i'm mid conversion on an diamond back sorrento mtb frame, just got my dia compe friction shifters today, how do you install bar tape on these guys? do you put the ends in first and tighten them up and then just start wrapping the tape from there? or, do you sort of put the ends in over the overlap of the tape, the way you do with putting normal bar plugs when wrapping normal road bars? does that make sense?

I start wrapping at the bar con and stop at the stem.

Good to know about the down-tube to bar-end conversion kit at rivbikes.com. I've started to really like my bar-end shifters and might convert my DT bike sooner or later. However, right now it has bullhorn handlebars with bar-end brakes, so I would need to swith to drop bars as well to make the switch.

Google bar end shifters. You'll find lots of 8 and 9 speed from around $50 (8 speed) to $70 (9 speed).