Quote Originally Posted by Trek420 View Post
I've seen them with brifters built in. Could you do that with any aero bar or do you have to get a specific make/model?

Stuff happens, sometimes you can't think ahead to when you'll need to brake especially on a century or charity ride with mixed rider levels. If I wanted to go aero that is the kind I would get.
Usually you'll see shifters on the aerobars on dedicated tri bikes. I've never seen brakes on the aerobars, only on the base bars. You don't want to brake in the aero position. Your weight is too far forward. You'd pitch over the bars as the front wheel caught.

Unless you're riding in a team time trial, you don't use the bars in a crowd. Most group rides don't allow you to use them.