Shifter question

[VeloVT]

Do shifters really make a bigger difference than derailleurs? I thought it was the other way around. Why do the levers make so much difference? (I'm asking this sincerely -- I really didn't know).

However, switching out to Ultegra shifters for $75 seems like a good deal. You might ask what they would charge to swap out the front derailleur too -- they're not a terribly expensive part to begin with (at least compared to shifters), so it might be worth an extra $35 if you could do it that cheaply...

ETA: FWIW, I have read that Ultegra brakes *are* considerably stronger than 105s. I have never used 105 calipers -- my 105 bike has cantis, so I have no personal opinion on this -- but given your impression, it might be worth googling for some reviews.

Also important to remember that how well the bikes are tuned makes a big difference in how well they shift -- I can remember test-riding an Ultegra bike that had buttery shifting, followed immediately by a Dura-Ace bike that had OK, slightly rattley, slower shifting... Sometime the bikes on the floor aren't kept perfectly tuned (and sometimes the mechanics who put them together do a sloppier job than one would hope the first time).