New Drivetrain advice

[bubblegum]

Any one know where the best place to get new shimano drive train parts, especially chain rings and chains is? Also is there any point in getting dura ace or is 105 or ultegra better value for money?

 

[Boeing]

Best bang for the buck is probably Ultegra. Bomber and will last you years

a good mix might be DA shifters and front DR with Ultegra everything else

DA has a wider range of crank arm length

for what it is worth

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Any one know where the best place to get new shimano drive train parts, especially chain rings and chains is? Also is there any point in getting dura ace or is 105 or ultegra better value for money?

New 5700 is almost indistinguishable from 6700 and 7900. little heavier but same function, etc...

 

[Boeing]

New 5700 is almost indistinguishable from 6700 and 7900. little heavier but same function, etc...

you aren't suggesting that 5700 cranks are on par with the 7900? are you?

child please!

 

[Bustedknuckle]

you aren't suggesting that 5700 cranks are on par with the 7900? are you?

child please!

The cranks are, DA big chainring retails for over $400..expensive , not sure that's 'worth' it. What makes a $800 DA crank 3 times
better' than a 5700 crank? Not stiffer that a rider can tell, big ring is very stiff mostly for Di2, but the 5700 crank and rings work just fine getting you down the road. Not as many coffee shop points for sure.

 

[Notso Swift]

It is the law of diminishing returns
Ultegra probably has the best balance in cost/performance. But new 105 is probably better than DA 7700 (apart from the extra gear)

 

[karlboss]

SRAM? or do people have bad experiences?

 

[dsut4392]

Any one know where the best place to get new shimano drive train parts, especially chain rings and chains is? Also is there any point in getting dura ace or is 105 or ultegra better value for money?

"Where" probably depends on what country you live in, and "best" also depends on your own wrenching skills and access to appropriate tools.

If you're happy to fit it yourself, Wiggle and Chainreaction are consistently among the cheapest online. Chainreaction prices are sometimes a little lower, but you need to spend a lot more to qualify for free shipping. Both of them are UK based, but ship fast and free all around the world - typically things arrive in Australia within 4-7 days.

If you live in the US, places like Nashbar, jensonusa, greenfish or one of the many stores listed on the "hot deals" section of roadbikereview can be worth checking out.

"Is there any point in buying Dura Ace?" Have you no shame man? Could you honestly walk into the coffee shop and order that macchiato knowing you had <gasp> 105 on your bike?
Seriously, what everybody else said. If the money is no problem, why not treat yourself, but if you're changing from any drivetrain pre-2007 then even 105 (5700) will be an upgrade in performance.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

SRAM? or do people have bad experiences?

Broken shifters, short life BB bearings(Red), pulley bearings and chainrings. Poor FD action, noisy cogs, a few broken chains(early on, 1090 series). Overall this bike shop guy not impressed. Cheap, light and easy to get sponsorship, bro/pro deals on it. Sram has deep pockets but functionally and reliability wise, sram pretty distant 3rd place. Their MTB stuff is much better, more refined, more functional, more reliable.

Campagnolo and the latest shimano is very nice.

 

[bobs nob]

I like 105. If you have a mechanical miles from a city, a small town shop is going to have 105. It's durable, it's cheap(er).

I am not sure what your usage is, but if you race even just among friends, perhaps 105 could be less performance than you need. Also, weight, if you carry a few extra pounds around your middle, the weight penalty of 105 is meaningless, but if you are light, then ultegra may be noticeable.

Just my .02.

I have HEARD (rumors are pretty worthless, so let me perpetuate it, ) that SRAM is a little inconsistent as to build quality and reliability.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

SRAM? or do people have bad experiences?

Nope, shifts perfectly (I use RED) quick but sudden shifting, not as fluently as Shimano. Yet I like it that way, especially when racing, less when training.

 

[buckwheat]

My mix of square taper Record , old Record frt der, centaur shifters, rear der, and cassette, and brakes is not that distinguishable from my Record 10 ultra torque cranks, record shifters, chorus frt, rear ders, and chorus brakes.

Isn't a centaur ultra torque group from PBK pretty cheap?

 

[Hmmmmm]

I absolutely love the Chorus group on my bike. Thousands of miles and absolutely no issues. For what it is worth

 

[titan_90]

Isn't a centaur ultra torque group from PBK pretty cheap?

I have Centaur and Ultegra 6600 groupsets. Both shift good and are of good quality. I prefer Campagnolo because their components are rebuildable and their shifting is seaparte from their brake levers. I have never used SRAM expect for chains so I can't comment on their groupsets.
Campagnolo Veloce Groupset from Ribble $442.37
Campagnolo Centaur Groupset from Ribble $650.57
Shimano 105 5600 Black or Silver Groupset from Ribble $546.45
Shimano Ultegra 6700 Groupset from Ribble $780.71

 

[macrylinda]

Broken shifters, short life BB bearings(Red), pulley bearings and chainrings. Poor FD action, noisy cogs, a few broken chains(early on, 1090 series). Overall this bike shop guy not impressed. Cheap, light and easy to get sponsorship, bro/pro deals on it. Sram has deep pockets but functionally and reliability wise, sram pretty distant 3rd place. Their MTB stuff is much better, more refined, more functional, more reliable.

Campagnolo and the latest shimano is very nice.

I like 105. If you have a mechanical miles from a city, a small town shop is going to have 105. It's durable, it's cheap(er).

I am not sure what your usage is, but if you race even just among friends, perhaps 105 could be less performance than you need. Also, weight, if you carry a few extra pounds around your middle, the weight penalty of 105 is meaningless, but if you are light, then ultegra may be noticeable.

Just my .02.

I have HEARD (rumors are pretty worthless, so let me perpetuate it, ) that SRAM is a little inconsistent as to build quality and reliability.

 

[steelciocc]

Ribble

titan_90 nailed it. Ribble has the cheapest groupset prices I've found on the net.

 

[TheDude]

If you live in a small town and use local mechanics, then 105 or Ultegra is the way to go. If you want a great deal on NICE components, Campy Centaur 2010 carbon. Get it before the 2011 model dumbs-down the action.