Help me! Road Bike Part Grades for Dummies

[mimitabby]

Your pleasure or displeasure with the Campy Centaur is likely a personal preference. I had campy Veloce (cheaper) on my Bianchi and I never had any trouble with the way it shifted. Due to an unexpected deal at a bike swap, I ended up with Record (I was going to buy Veloce & Centaur for my new bike)
but it just isn't THAT different. I love the way Campy works. Before I had a campy geared bike, I had terrible problems shifting. It was just counter-intuitive to me.

Whatever you get (unless it's awful) you'll get used to it.

I LOVE the sound my bike makes when I am coasting down a hill.

[Starfish]

wait, so is shimano making new brifters that don't have two cables coming out of the tops of them (bug antennae effect) ?

I haven't been in cycling that long, so I am not sure what you are talking about?

I have Shimano 105. The brake cables don't come outside off the hood at all...they are routed under the bar tape. The shifting cables do come out of the hood, but on the side, on the inside (not off the top).

[alpinerabbit]

:
Originally Posted by Beane

wait, so is shimano making new brifters that don't have two cables coming out of the tops of them (bug antennae effect) ?

I haven't been in cycling that long, so I am not sure what you are talking about?

No, the shimano STI/brake-shift levers are still the same (actually have no clue why they don't ever make it better) - but Nokon makes these cable housings made up of little links, and you have a teflon lining and carbon cables that allow sharp turns without inhibiting them from working. So you get to hide both the brake cable and the gear shift cable under the bar tape.

It's not just for pretty - they say shifting is smoother.

[rij73]

Actually the new Shimano *electronic* Dura-Ace that is being tested in the Pro Tour has very tidy cables all routed under the bar tape. That might be what MelissaM is talking about, but I wouldn't hold my breath for that technology to trickle down to us mortals any time soon. There are some video reviews of it around the web. Fabian Wegmann rode it in the Tour of California. It looks very sweet...

[Idealmuse]

Argh!

I found a really really good inventory sale look you made me go by a campy type bike now.

Javelin Fara - Javelin 7005 butted aluminum frame with carbon seatstays and 11/8" Hammerhead integrated head tube. Featuring Campagnolo Veloce 10-speed Ergo shifting components, Velomax Vista wheelset, and carbon fork.
$600.00 (plus tax and shipping)

did I do good for someone on a budget?

[Bike Goddess]

Idealmuse- Here's what I know about Campy parts- they are expensive to replace!

I have a 10 speed bike and a 9 speed one. (I have Shimano parts) The 10 speed chain needs adjusting far more frequently than the 9 speed. My 10 speed chain also needs replacing more often than the 9 speed as it is a narrower chain. With that in mind, be sure that you get a chain tool that measures wear and tear on your chain and have the LBS show you how to use it. After chains have been used, they will stretch and eventually not work properly. If you wait too long to replace your chain the rear cassette and chain wheel might also have to be replaced!!!!!! (Maintenance is key here!)

Be sure that you keep your chain clean and lubed. I'm using White Lightning on my 10 speed chain at the moment to see if I can get more mileage out of the chain. I use Pro Lube on the 9 speed chain.

I suggest you keep track of how many miles you have on your bike when it is time to replace your chain.

Congrats on getting a road bike. May you have many happy miles!

[Idealmuse]

Do you think this one would have been better ($449) It has Shimano... and it's a tri bike (I'm doing 2 tris this summer)

Sizzano
Fork Zero Aero Carbon 1 1/8 Alloy Steer Tube
Headset FSA Orbit DL 1 1/8
Rear Derailleur Shimano 105 9speed
Front Derailleur Shimano 105 9speed
Shift Levers Shimano Dura Ace Bar End
Brake Levers TektroRX 4.0
Brake CalipersTektro423 AG
Bottom Bracket RPM ISIS 9400AL
Crankset RPM 36/50CassetteSram12-25 9speed
Chain KMC 9 Speed
Wheelset Alex DR13 32-hole w/ Sealed Hubs
Tires Kenda Concept
Handlebar Oval R700 Cowhornw/ Oval Slam Clip ons
Bar Tape Zero Carbon
Stem Oval R300
Seatpost Kalloy27.2
Saddle Selle Italia Onda

[mimitabby]

Argh!

I found a really really good inventory sale look you made me go by a campy type bike now.

Javelin Fara - Javelin 7005 butted aluminum frame with carbon seatstays and 11/8" Hammerhead integrated head tube. Featuring Campagnolo Veloce 10-speed Ergo shifting components, Velomax Vista wheelset, and carbon fork.
$600.00 (plus tax and shipping)

did I do good for someone on a budget?

Yes, you did REALLY REALLY well if it's campy veloce. The fact is, you can rebuild all parts. If your shifter breaks, instead of having to buy a new one, you just replace the broken spring or whatever! I hope the bike fits, yes you got a really good deal!

[mimitabby]

and so far the only campy parts i have had to replace were in a wheel hub where the previous owner put in Shimano parts and almost wrecked it. The total cost was about 25 dollars, a lot cheaper than buying a whole new hub.

[Idealmuse]

Yeah I'm gambling on the fit a bit since I have to order it over the phone. When I do my own measurements I come somewhere between a 50cm and a 52cm and the bike is a 51cm. (I'm 5'5)

[Beane]

Actually the new Shimano *electronic* Dura-Ace that is being tested in the Pro Tour has very tidy cables all routed under the bar tape. That might be what MelissaM is talking about, but I wouldn't hold my breath for that technology to trickle down to us mortals any time soon. There are some video reviews of it around the web. Fabian Wegmann rode it in the Tour of California. It looks very sweet...

Ah, I see. thanks.

[mimitabby]

Yeah I'm gambling on the fit a bit since I have to order it over the phone. When I do my own measurements I come somewhere between a 50cm and a 52cm and the bike is a 51cm. (I'm 5'5)

well, hopefully you're young and supple and have a long torso.

good luck, we want to hear all about it when you get it.

[melissam]

wait, so is shimano making new brifters that don't have two cables coming out of the tops of them (bug antennae effect) ?

p.s. ditto on the inefficient motor thing, but, (according to my DH-- so this may be a "DH fun fact") something like 80% of the work you do biking is fighting wind resistance.

Actually the new Shimano *electronic* Dura-Ace that is being tested in the Pro Tour has very tidy cables all routed under the bar tape. That might be what MelissaM is talking about, but I wouldn't hold my breath for that technology to trickle down to us mortals any time soon. There are some video reviews of it around the web. Fabian Wegmann rode it in the Tour of California. It looks very sweet...

Kudos to rij73 for making some sense of what I was talking about -- sometimes it's hard for me to know what I'm talking about, never mind a third party.

I thought I'd read somewhere that Shimano's new brifters were going to change to the undertape/aero cable routing for brakes and derailleurs. Of course, now I can't remember my source, and a quick search on Google and the Shimano site didn't give me much help.

I probably saw a reference to the electronic Dura Ace that rij73 mentioned and mistakenly thought they were doing it for all of their new stuff.

Sorry for the confusion, back to your regularly scheduled discussion...

-- Melissa

[smilingcat]

Hi Idealmuse,

you did better with the Fara than Sizzano. Unless you are experienced rider, a bike with bull horn and clip ons (Sizzano) are going to be harder to steer and shift at the same time. You'll be much happier with the drop bar.

And I don't think you will be planning on racing TTs anytime soon. Also in many of the organized rides "fun rides" "fund raising rides" like MS150 and TNT rides, I don't think they allow bikes with clip-ons. It can be seen as showing up in bad form. Drop bar is definitly much better.

smilingcat

[tc1]

So, what's the component ranking based on the American car scale? Japanese cars say to me overrated, overpriced and too small.