One for the roadies - converting downtube shifters to...?

I have found a few threads about this online but wondered whether any forumengers had experience/ opinions about it. I want to build up a geared bike. I am looking at getting an old road frame with shifter bosses on the down tube. From experience I know this is not the best place for gear levels when travelling at speed and on busy roads. Has anyone converted such a frame to either bar-end shifters or the on-brake shifters (think they're nick-named brifters)? Is it easy? Will I have to remove the bosses and put on some other cable guides, or can the cables be run round them with adapters?

I want to build a fairly classic-looking bike and am worried that bar-end shifters would look out of place. Anyone know if brifters are available in 'classic' styles, or all they all carbon sporty numbers?

No you can buy an adapter which turns the bosses into a cable guide - i am no expert, but KINGCUTTER did what you want to do on his Bianchi

http://www.londonfgss.com/thread20398.html

adapter: http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/productdetail.asp?productcatalogue=CSNAGRSZ250

Could probably get it cheaper in shops.

£5 for Dura Ace ain't bad:
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Shimano-Shimano-Dura-Ace-High-Quality-Down-Tube-Cable-Stops-with-Barrel-Adjusters-416.htm

And the adaptor cleverly includes a cable tension adjuster so you can tweak your shifting as you ride along!

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Shimano-Shimano-Dura-Ace-High-Quality-Down-Tube-Cable-Stops-with-Barrel-Adjusters-416.htm

EDIT: Miles too late.

I'm not after a converter but a band on set of downtube shifter bosses, does such a thing exist or should I get someone to braze a set on?

You can get band on shifters, worth picking a set up cheap on the bay and seeing if you can dismantle them maybe?

If you get an old set of band-on down tube levers, either Campag or Shimano (or copies) and remove the levers, you will have exactly what you are after - a set of band-on shifter bosses.