Help me! Road Bike Part Grades for Dummies

[VeloVT]

If you are trying to keep to a budget **BUT** you are hoping to keep the bike you buy for a while, I'd say 105 would be a good balance of value and quality. There is some difference in shift quality between the groups (I've never ridden anything below 105 -- I have a 105 bike and an Ultegra bike, and I've test-ridden, but never owned, Dura Ace bikes), and I've read anecdotal reports that the lower groups (below 105) are less durable and reliable, though I have no personal experience to verify that. There are significant weight differences and that's a lot of what you pay for honestly.

[tulip]

+1 Liza.

Think of it like cars.

Shimano = Toyota

Sora = Yaris

Tiagra = Corolla

105 = Camry

Ultegra = Avalon

Dura-Ace = Lexus

[F8th637]

+1 Liza.

Think of it like cars.

Shimano = Toyota

Sora = Yaris

Tiagra = Corolla

105 = Camry

Ultegra = Avalon

Dura-Ace = Lexus

Where does Deore fit into this? Putting it like this is very helpful, tulip. Thanks!

[Zen]

Where does Deore fit into this? Putting it like this is very helpful, tulip. Thanks!

it doesn't. That list is road bike .
Deore is MTB (Toyota Truck.

[F8th637]

it doesn't. That list is road bike .
Deore is MTB (Toyota Truck.

Oh, very interesting! Had no idea! Thanks, Zen!

[Andrea]

Don't forget about SRAM! SRAM Website

Rival
Force
Red

The main difference is weight/material that the parts are constructed out of. As with Shimano, there will be some difference in durability and shift quality as well. Personally, I think that for a person looking for the best quality at the lowest price, it doesn't get much better than Rival! I am building an all-out race machine, so I've got Red ordered, but before that came out, Force was the top of the line choice for SRAM.

Now, any Campy lovers want to speak up?

[mimitabby]

I was thinking of speaking up but didn't know how to grade my sports cars...
maybe later

[Idealmuse]

2200 = Matchbox?



Thanks both of you. That was helpful. Going to try and find a good book and read read read.

[Fredwina]

Where does Deore fit into this? Putting it like this is very helpful, tulip. Thanks!

let's try this (and I may get it wrong )
Dura-Ace XTR
Ultegra deore XT
105 deore LX
Tiarga Deore
Sora Alivo
2200 Acera
? altus
? Tourney(*mart level)

[Zen]

i like that, Fredwina.

I think I'll clip it out and carry it around for quick reference

[alpinerabbit]

Then there's the new Ultegra SL.

Which I am getting on my new ride. That would be the "turbo" version of Ultegra/Insert car of choice, with metallic paint or summat.

Except that I'm installing an SRAM cassette. So I am, GASP! Mixing brands!

Shimano only provides road cassettes up to 27 cogs.
Campy up to 29. What I had so far.
SRAM cassettes go up to 28 and that's what I'm getting.

So other than weight, I guess gearing options will be something to look out for?

I always thought or Record/DuraAce = Porsche and Chorus/Ultegra = BMW (although Chorus a higher series BMW than Ultegra).


Now what is Triple vs. Double vs. Compact???


May I also add that I visually detest the dial thingy on XT shifters?

[tulip]

And the BEST thing is that they are all NO EMISSION vehicles!

[Andrea]

^Alpinerabbit- If you're not planning on sprinting to win races or achieving break-neck speeds on descents, I'd say the compact is the way to go! The crank I'm replacing on my bike this afternoon is a compact, and I really liked it except for when I'd max it out in either of those previously mentioned situations

Just to widen your options, FSA makes a 52 tooth chainring that will fit a compact BCD (bolt circle diameter- the part that attaches the crank to the rings). So, if you wanted a huge range of gears, you could go with a 52/36 compact in front (rather than the typical 50/36) and the gearing of your choice in back (personally, I'm a fan of an 11/26). I was going to go with that setup until I fell in love with the Red group & got a killer deal on a build kit.

[Meaux]

I've read anecdotal reports that the lower groups (below 105) are less durable and reliable, though I have no personal experience to verify that. There are significant weight differences and that's a lot of what you pay for honestly.

My Giant is Sora-equipped. I love the bike but Sora is no good. The shifting was, to put it nicely, less than fun. I have an all 105-equipped bike and the difference is like night and day. It shifts like buttah, baby, buttah. Spend the extra money if you can.

[KnottedYet]

Love my Campy Athena (old stuff, equivalent pretty much to Centaur) Campy just keeps going and going and going...

Not that I'm a Campy-only kind of gal, oh no! I've got mixed Shimano and Campy on both my road bikes.