Seems like the expensive bikes have those shifters but the entry level bikes don't.
Older road bike shifters may be down tube gear levers, mounted on the down tube of the frame. These have been available both indexed and non-indexed (friction). If the levers are not mounted on the handlebar, the rider would have to move a hand from the handlebars to change gear.
Newer racing bicycles have indexed gear levers integrated with the brake levers. These are sometimes referred to as brifters. The current competing standards are Shimano STI and Campagnolo Ergo.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/shifter_(bi...
Most newer road bikes have the integrated brake/shift levers. They can be found in a wide price range. The down tube shifters are lighter and sometimes work more precisely (theoretically should work better because cables are shorter) but the integrated brake/shift levers allow the rider to keep their hands on the handlebar for safety and more convenient shifting. Older bikes often had downtube shifters. There are other shifter setups too.
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