I'm doing a few triathlons this summer, and I'm getting an aerobar for my bike. I'd like to be able to shift while in the aero position.
I've currently got ordinary road bike bars. On these bars are mounted a pair of '05 Campagnolo Ergopower shift/brake levers. The groupset in this specific case is a Campagnolo Centaur, the rear derailleur is a 10-speed, while the front has 2 speeds.
I'm riding with a pair of clamp-on Profile Design aero bars. I'll be riding solo, so I don't need (or want - my weight is quite far forward!) brakes on my bar ends. Instead, I'd like to be able to shift from this position. Currently, my Ergopower shifters are still hanging in front of my drops. I no longer ride in the drops very often; I'm either on the aerobars or on the hoods when going up a hill or in a group ride.
How do I select shifters for the aerobars? The photographs I've seen look like the old friction shifters that go on a downtube. As suggested here, friction shifters would be difficult with a 10-speed for the rear. Also, I rather like my indexed system: I can adjust at home, and then click and forget while on the road. Must I use:
- Shifters of the same brand as the rest of the groupset? (Shimano/Campagnolo/SRAM)
- Shifters of the same product line as the rest of the groupset? (Dura Ace/Ultegra, Record/Centaur)
- Shifters of the same model year or generation as the rest of the groupset?
- Shifters with the same number of indices? (10 speed, 9 speed, 8 speed)
- Indexed or friction-type shifters?
I'm having a hard time finding the shifters for my system at a reasonable price in an exact match. I've found other Campy bar-end shifters, but they're all of the higher-end Record series than my Centaur system and they're usually a newer model.