I’ve finished my first of three ambitious group rides this year: the Hale’iwa Metric Century, sixty two miles, which is the easiest of the three. Next up is the Livestrong Challenge in Philadelphia, followed by the Honolulu Century Ride.

Yet, while I’ve come to terms with the Bianchi which replaced the stolen Cannondale last year, it’s not 100% thrilling me. It’s time, with a few bucks, to make things different.

The biggest issue I have on this bike is the controls. I’ve never owned a bike with Shimano Total Integration and I actually prefer bar end shifters–in friction mode of all things–for my road bikes. And to top it off, the current set up with Campagnolo Ergopower has never shifted all that well.

So I think I’m going that way–back to what I really like.

On the want list: Dia-Tech Silver Shifters, sold by Velo-Orange or Rivendell:

and Tektro R200A brake levers.

This’ll end up costing me under $100 and hopefully make me a lot more thrilled on the Bianchi, which otherwise is solid enough and fits well enough that I could keep riding this for another decade, even if I do want a Serotta someday.

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