I'm a new triathlete (just finished my first on a borrowed bike) and I'm looking to get my own ride. Is it better to get aero bars with bar end shifters or drops/bull horn with shifters and aero bars without?
Thanks.

You're talking really about two different kinds of bikes, unless you place bar end shifters on clip-on aero bars on a road bike. IMO, it completely depends on what kind of rider you are and what bike you are comfortable on. I own both and have raced my road bike with clip ons. It is easier to shift while in the aero position with bar end shifters, but I dont like riding my tri bike in the mountains. I do not ride with aero bars on my road bike anymore.

Want to maximize time in the aero position?
Aero bars with bar ends.

Want a bike that's more versatile than a dedicated TT/tri setup?
Bike with bullhorns bar ends or drops and some kind of brake-shifter; add clip-ons for tris.

Want the worst of everything?
Non bar-end shifters on bull horns, plus aero-bars.

Just be smart about what you buy--go full out TT/tri and get a dedicated bar setup (ideally on an aero frame if you have lots of pennies to toss around) or adapt a great-fitting road bike to let you be aero when you race.

Nice article here:

https://bethelcycle.com/articles/are-...bike-pg176.htm

See, I was all set to be excited and buy the bike I'm looking at tonight with bar-end shifters but now I've got the bike angst and I think I should wait until this weekend to look at the other bike with no aerobars but STI setup and just use the saved money to buy aerobars.

Good call. STIs are considerably more functional in other riding settings as well so this other bike could just be a fun new sled outside of tri work.