Which groupset to buy?

[ricross11]

I'm new to the road scene and looking to build up a Giant TCR 1 frame with a groupset (have a budget of around $1,500). I found this article comparing some different brands like campy and shimano. It seems that they are really all pretty similar in quality. Anyone have suggestions or recommendations? Here's the article: http://tourdefrance1.wordpress.com/2011/07/20/shimano-vs-sram-vs-campagnolo-groupsets/

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

For your budget, your choices are;

Campy Athena
Shimano Ultegra
SRAM Force

Personally I choose Campy. I like Ergopower shifting better than STI or Double Tap. I may be biased since I've been riding Campy for over 20 years, but ask any shop mechanic and most will tell you "Campy wears in over time, all others wear out". Another thing Campy has going for it is that the shifters are rebuildable, something Shimano and SRAM don't offer. If one of the "S" brands quit on you or you crash it, you can basically throw it away, not so with Campy, they're totally rebuildable.

 

[gregod]

For your budget, your choices are;

Campy Athena
Shimano Ultegra
SRAM Force

Personally I choose Campy. I like Ergopower shifting better than STI or Double Tap. I may be biased since I've been riding Campy for over 20 years, but ask any shop mechanic and most will tell you "Campy wears in over time, all others wear out". Another thing Campy has going for it is that the shifters are rebuildable, something Shimano and SRAM don't offer. If one of the "S" brands quit on you or you crash it, you can basically throw it away, not so with Campy, they're totally rebuildable.

i totally agree with everything here. if you plan on keeping the bike as is and not upgrading components in the future, Athena is an awesome groupo that will outlast your frame.

one small caveat, the giant is good, but it just seems weird (to me) to put campy on anything other than a european frame. and it is just wrong to put shimano on an italian frame. yeah, i'm looking at you, team sky.

 

[steelciocc]

evilBay

If you have some patience you can find reasonably priced Campagnolo components on theBay.

I would suggest Chorus 10 speed although Centaur (pre-2011) is really pretty good too. 2010 Centaur levers have the "new" shape/ergonomics and will work fine with any Campy 10 speed setup (2009 Centaur levers look the same but had a VERY light shift feel).

Although I don't know much about the other brands I can't help but think that 105 5700 has to be a good deal.

 

[titan_90]

Ribble has the best prices on groupsets out there.

Campagnolo and Shimano both make good products it all comes down to personal choice. I have used both and in all honesty you could ask me what I prefer and it would change with the mood I am in. Campagnolo can be rebuilt but Shimano is more wildly available.

 

[AeroAdvantage]

Shimano 7900 Dura Ace 10sp Double Groupset

http://www.totalcycling.com/index.p...sets_road/GR_7900.html?action=currency&id=USD

A little over Your budget but worth it for that little extra.

I would figure that Your Giant TCR 1 frame would require an Internal Press fit Bottom Bracket ? Which You would have to purchase separately.

Also :

http://www.totalcycling.com/index.php/product/parts_accessories/groupsets_road/index.html

Some good price reductions there.

Shipping charges :http://www.totalcycling.com/index.php/delivery.html

Group set weights :

http://www.totalcycling.com/index.php/component-weights.html

 

[Benotti69]

mix and match and buy second hand for certain items.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

I'm new to the road scene and looking to build up a Giant TCR 1 frame with a groupset (have a budget of around $1,500). I found this article comparing some different brands like campy and shimano. It seems that they are really all pretty similar in quality. Anyone have suggestions or recommendations? Here's the article: http://tourdefrance1.wordpress.com/2011/07/20/shimano-vs-sram-vs-campagnolo-groupsets/

Go see a bike shop and see what lever your hands like the most, get that one. If it doesn't matter, get Campagnolo, Athena or Centaur. If shimano, Ultegra or 105..stay away from sram.

 

[Wiesmier]

No one says Miche. Good enough for some pro-teams. I have used some of the track kit- serviceable stuff for the price. And the road kit has carbon cranks now

 

[gregod]

No one says Miche. Good enough for some pro-teams. I have used some of the track kit- serviceable stuff for the price. And the road kit has carbon cranks now

i looked around for some info on miche. it looks like it is rebadged campy. i found a japanese site that had a miche groupo similar to campy veloce with wheels, pedals and a seat collar for the yen equivalent of about US$1,450. it seems like a good deal, but probably can be gotten cheaper elsewhere. it would be cool be the only one on the block with a miche groupo, IMO.

 

[AeroAdvantage]

It's hard to beat Shimano components for quality and reliability.

 

[LugHugger]

Ribble has the best prices on groupsets out there.

Campagnolo and Shimano both make good products it all comes down to personal choice. I have used both and in all honesty you could ask me what I prefer and it would change with the mood I am in. Campagnolo can be rebuilt but Shimano is more wildly available.

Actually Ribble do not have the best price on groupsets (even if they did happen to have them in stock, which is rarely). Shiny Bikes has the best prices that I have found on the web. £819.97 for Campy Chorus is a steal.

 

[kiwirider]

I'm new to the road scene and looking to build up a Giant TCR 1 frame with a groupset (have a budget of around $1,500). I found this article comparing some different brands like campy and shimano. It seems that they are really all pretty similar in quality. Anyone have suggestions or recommendations? Here's the article: http://tourdefrance1.wordpress.com/2011/07/20/shimano-vs-sram-vs-campagnolo-groupsets/

I'm another who'll tell you go Campy - although I'd also add the caveat that Bustedknuckle does that you should see what feels most comfortable for your hands first. But the comments about reliability and Campag wearing in while all others wear out are way true - a friend of mine is still using my 1998 Record ergolevers on his bike and they are still completely original.

As for your budget - if you go the Campag way, before you go all out on a groupset, go on-line and check out their spare parts manuals. Look at the parts that go into the shifters and derailleurs and you'll see that a lot of the same parts are used throughout the product range. (You may have to go back a year or two in the spare parts to get the shifter parts as they've started selling all the internals as a single SKU now.) Point of this is that you will find that with Campag you can actually get a relatively low level groupset and still get similar quality as one that costs a fair bit more. You can then use the cash that you save to do something like putting towards building yourself a good quality set of wheels.

I've taken this approach for years - so have things like Record shifters and Chorus rear derailleur on my roadie because I didn't think it was worth paying the 75% premium for Record rwhen the only difference was a titanium fixing bolt that saved 9 grams! Similarly, I am running a Veloce groupset on my cyclocross bike because the internals are the same as Record - Veloce just weighs a bit more - and I still wanted good functionality but didn't want to spend $$$ on a groupset that I was going to beat the crap out of.

Sure, it takes a bit of time and printing to work through this, but when you've been used to being on the ****ty end of exchange rates like it always was back in New Zealand, it became worth it ...

 

[42x16ss]

I would take a hit with the groupset and go 105 and a better frame if possible. Look around and see what price you can get for a TCR Advanced.

The current 105 is a very servicable groupset, if the prices are close enough I'd take 105 on a superior frame over Ultegra on an inferior frame any day of the week.

If you don't like Shimano then go for either Sram Rival or Campy Centaur. Remember the frame is the most important part of your bike, if you aren't happy with your frame, you won't like your bike.

 

[karlboss]

Go see a bike shop and see what lever your hands like the most, get that one. If it doesn't matter, get Campagnolo, Athena or Centaur. If shimano, Ultegra or 105..stay away from sram.

Stay away from SRAM because?

My experience is positive, I have SRAM rival as it came on a 2nd hand bike, and have had no problems, must be at about...10000km and in my 3rd year. However I acknowledge the difference between an individual and a guy who works in a bike shop and has constant complaints of bearings wearing out in BBs etc

 

[180mmCrank]

Lots of good advice here.

Everyone has their preferernces - I am a Campy man - just love the stuff. And I would say these days its hard to far wrong if you get a mid range group set.

Like others I suggest you try it out before you buy as they do feel different... although having riddend both you get used to any set quite quickly.

Have fun

T

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Stay away from SRAM because?

My experience is positive, I have SRAM rival as it came on a 2nd hand bike, and have had no problems, must be at about...10000km and in my 3rd year. However I acknowledge the difference between an individual and a guy who works in a bike shop and has constant complaints of bearings wearing out in BBs etc

Yep, mediocre stuff that's light and cheap. I warranty sram stuff almost every week, even tho I only sell the MTB range of sram. Because going back to the shop where they bought the bike means long wait time and in one instance, they said they had to send THE ENTIRE BIKE BACK to warranty a shift lever...sigh....

 

[kuoirad]

I'm another who'll tell you go Campy - although I'd also add the caveat that Bustedknuckle does that you should see what feels most comfortable for your hands first.

I'll third this - I'm someone who would probably never opt for Campy stuff because I'm not a fan of their shifter setup w/ the thumb button. My first road bike had Sora shifters, and I didn't like that paradigm. Much happier (now) with the "regular" Shimano paradigm.

But that's a personal preference. And I'm not a diehard rider/racer like others here.

 

[altermod]

I vote Campy. I've had Campy Chorus on my bike for 10 years and just now replaced the rubber hoods on the shifters. My Campy groupset has had a virtually trouble free life. I don't have the heart to sell the bike because there is literally nothing wrong with it except for the wheels. But wheels come and go.

And I personally think the Campy will look nice on your TCR. Remember ONCE was riding the TCR with Campy Record. Its a winning combo.

 

[dsut4392]

Yep, mediocre stuff that's light and cheap. I warranty sram stuff almost every week, even tho I only sell the MTB range of sram. Because going back to the shop where they bought the bike means long wait time and in one instance, they said they had to send THE ENTIRE BIKE BACK to warranty a shift lever...sigh....

I've thrashed my RAM MTB group (X9) and it hasn't missed a beat, I find it hard to believe their road groupsets are so inferior...

 

[Bustedknuckle]

I've thrashed my RAM MTB group (X9) and it hasn't missed a beat, I find it hard to believe their road groupsets are so inferior...

Believe what you wish. I warranty levers(lots), rear ders, BBs, even Avid mech disc brakes, canti brakes, not impressed with sram in general and their road stuff particularly. Sell and like their MTB 9s shifters, rear der, don't sell their cranks(road or MTB), cogsets, chains(except 9s and pista). Nor any of their wheelsets(restickered Zipp-crappola).

 

[richwagmn]

mix and match and buy second hand for certain items.

I agree completely with this. I guess it depends if you want it all at once or can pick it up over some time.

Also, go try out some bikes with different groupos and find what works for you. Shimano finally has a decent hood shape with it's latest generation. Campy and SRAM have had good shapes for years.

And yes, I've been a through a few Shimano brifters. And man does it hurt if you crash and have to replace the whole thing. But I do like their shifting (especially their front shifting).

 

[Juicy McDrip]

Buy the best Campy group you can afford.

 

[Notso Swift]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Benotti69 View Post
mix and match and buy second hand for certain items.
I agree completely with this. I guess it depends if you want it all at once or can pick it up over some time.

Also, go try out some bikes with different groupos and find what works for you. Shimano finally has a decent hood shape with it's latest generation. Campy and SRAM have had good shapes for years.

And yes, I've been a through a few Shimano brifters. And man does it hurt if you crash and have to replace the whole thing. But I do like their shifting (especially their front shifting).

Me three
Something like this for a base
http://www.excelsports.com/main.asp...d+Upgrade+Kit&vendorCode=SHIM&major=1&minor=5
New Chain and Cassette (say 105 or something like OMNI if you want super light)
You will be hare pressed to find better brakes ANYWHERE than Dura Ace 7700 (9 speed) Campy as so far behind in brakes, but then Shimano have regressed as well. Otherwise, if you don't really care there is plenty of stuff like TRP
Heaps of crank /BB options at reasonable prices

If you want a full Group US$900 for full Ultegra is pretty hard to beat (Chain reaction or Ribble)

SRAM, I have only riden on Force, but I wouldn't recommend, subjective... but the are lighter for a reason

Campy does have an allure to it though, and if you ever want to re sell you bike you are going to get more for it! Chorus @1300 is pretty good

 

[Parera]

If one of the "S" brands quit on you or you crash it, you can basically throw it away, not so with Campy, they're totally rebuildable.

So I'm up late and bored, again, just browsing through old posts and this is something that troubles me about the bike industry as a whole; everything seems so wasteful. I will qualify that I ride carbon fiber bikes, so take what I say with a grain of salt: I'm no angel myself.

Anyways, there just seems to be a lot of waste in cycling...at all levels. Pro cycling is an eyesore, let's be honest; how much fuel do the team cars burn up supporting what is supposed to be an "environmentally friendly" sport? This trickles down to regular users, too; one thing that dissuaded me from pursuing SRAM was their extremely liberal, wasteful warranty policy. They know they make cheap components, so cheap they can just throw away supposedly "high end" componentry on a warranty service. What's up with that? What happened to fixing/rebuilding something when one part goes wrong? I wouldn't throw away my vintage Fender pickups simply because they stopped working; I would investigate why, and if I couldn't fix the problem I would pay someone to do it for me. Learning about SRAM's "warranty" service, that is, they simply throw their crap away because it's literally that cheap to produce is problematic for my own personal ethics.

I know I can't be the only one that has this apprehension; I was mortified at the pile of just food related waste that built up in the trashbag in my car; gels, bar wrappers, energy drink powders/bottles, etc. Makes you reflect that if you are doing it, so too are thousands of others and when taken as a whole, it's just a lot of damn waste. So trying to switch to baking my own food for cycling, using reusable containers, etc to cutback on gels. Saves some money too...but there are times I find myself crawling back to the prepackaged crap for the sake of "convenience." Sigh.