Wow thank you everyone for your advice. I will try some of this stuff and see how it works out. I think I'm going to buy drop bars, new brake levers and shifters on my next pay check. My bike as it is now has totally straight across bars which doesn't give me much of an option for changing hand/arm/wrist positions while riding.

Now that I mention getting new bars and all that does anyone know anything about shimano 600 vintage levers and shifters from like the 70's? I'm looking to buy some sweet old vintage componants but haven't found any reviews on if they are good. they place I found them they are new old stock, so they haven't been used before. They sure are pretty fancy, but pretty fancy doesn't mean they work well. thanks again everyone!