Some opinions please: bar end shifters

[geordieracer]

Bar end shifters; who's used them, what do you think of them, anyone got any to get rid off?

So I've acquired a road frame, and its ancient, but I'll enjoy tidying it up and trying to make something ride-able of it, so no ridicule for the time being please!
The downside of it is the downtube gear shifters, I'm not keen on them at all, having had several bikes in a past life with these shifters and not wishing to ride this bike as a single speed, so I'm thinking of going the bar end gear shifters route, but I've never had the pleasure of riding with these shifters so am after some opinions please.

And if anyone has a pair of shifters they'd like to move on, let me know.

Cheers, Kez

[geordieracer]

Cassette - this is the fun part; its a 5 speed cassette, or will be as its an old frame; and I reckon I'll struggle to get shifters for a 5 speed; so there's going to be some fettling regardless.

[geordieracer]

It's 126; I'm not actually looking to have the frame stretched; well, not at the moment.
It's an 1980s frame, definately a project for the winter!