Road bike groupsets for a MTBer.

[madbadger]

Can anyone summarise the different road bike groupsets in terms of MTB stuff. So what is comparable to LX, XT and XTR. Is there a similar progression or do the other options confuse things?

I have in my mind that I would like to get a road bike and I'm ok with frames and forks but I would like approximately LX / XT equivalent. Not real budget stuff but not XTR either.

Going road bike shopping is a bit like knowing Italian but being spoken to in Latin.

[Matthew_Eames]

Shimano: Sora > Tiagra > 105 > Ultegra > Dura-Ace > Dura-Ace Di2
SRAM: Apex > Rival > Force > Red
Campagnolo: Veloce > Centaur > Athena > Chorus > Record > Super Record

Pick from Ultegra, Force or Chorus to get roughly the same quality levels, Personally it would have to be Chorus but out of those 3 you will probably find it the most expensive, with Ultegra the cheapest.

Though bear in mind that aside from mabye Sora there is no really rubbish road groupset, all perform well and within each range there is a sweet-point (groups mentioned above) where you get 90% of the performance but at massive savings over the top ones (Like with XT and XTR)

Here are your choices:

Ultegra


Force


and Chorus (I saved the best till last)

Edited by Matthew_Eames on Tuesday 3rd August 19:09

[curlie467]

Shimano, 2300, sora, tiagra, 105, ultegra.
Campagnolo, veloce, centaur, athena, chorus, record, super record.
Sram, apex, rival, force, red.

Going from left to right is worst to best (if you can say it like that).




Too late! I have tiagra on mine and it shifts very smoothly, recommended.

Edited by curlie467 on Tuesday 3rd August 19:06

[B19GRR]

Well if you're looking at something naff like Shimano (flame suit on ) it goes something like this:
Dura-Ace
Ultegra
105
Tiagra
Sora
Shyte
Argos Bike

For a proper road bike you need Campagnolo (and lots of lycra!):
Super Record
Record
Chorus
Athena
Centaur
Veloce
Mirage

There's also SRAM but I dunno much about them.

Pro teams will be looking at Chorus/Ultegra and above depending on their budgets. The main difference between manufacturers though is the shifter mechanisms, and that comes down to personal taste. I like the clunky solidness of Campag. Campag do 11sp groupsets from Athena and above, Shimano will probably follow suit if they haven't already. I've always been quite happy on my old 8sp to be honest but my new bike will be 10sp to help with maintaining cadence really.

Cheers,
Rob

[madbadger]

Excellent. Good stuff.

Makes it all a bit clearer.

Been biking for 20 years but always on MTBs. Recently I've been using my Yeti hardtail far more on road than off so a proper road bike is looking much more sensible. From home there aren't many trails without travelling, but I have always like riding from home. If I'm packing the car up 99% of the time I'll take the Orange 5. I've always appreciated having reasonable kit and keep seeing loads of road bikes out and about but have no idea what is what. Could be time to expand the bike collection a bit.

[madbadger]

Budget is circa £1000, but I'm aware this is quite a common thread!

I do like the look of the Bianchis.

http://www.biketraks.com/products.php?plid=m15b0s1...

Via Nerone with bottom of the pile Veloce at £1045 compared to with mid range Shimano 105 for £50 less:

http://www.biketraks.com/products.php?plid=m15b0s1...

Ultegra is £250 more and I can't see a better Campagnolo on that frame.

Is Shimano really that bad? I've never gone wrong with XT in the past but obviously they do different things on the road.

They do look funny with no suspension and retro callipers!

[billybskoda]

If its a sunday bike, its gotta be Campag...

[Chris B.]

Campag is best for sunday use then you can spend the rest of the week getting ready for next sunday !!
although now 11 speed you will now have 10 gears that work ok !!
Regards
Chris.

[mrandy]

chorus is great value for money ,dura ace chainsets are yuck

[Roman]

Matthew_Eames said:

Shimano: Sora > Tiagra > 105 > Ultegra > Dura-Ace > Dura-Ace Di2
SRAM: Apex > Rival > Force > Red
Campagnolo: Veloce > Centaur > Athena > Chorus > Record > Super Record

Pick from Ultegra, Force or Chorus to get roughly the same quality levels, Personally it would have to be Chorus but out of those 3 you will probably find it the most expensive, with Ultegra the cheapest.

Though bear in mind that aside from mabye Sora there is no really rubbish road groupset, all perform well and within each range there is a sweet-point (groups mentioned above) where you get 90% of the performance but at massive savings over the top ones (Like with XT and XTR)

Here are your choices:

Ultegra


Force


and Chorus (I saved the best till last)

Edited by Matthew_Eames on Tuesday 3rd August 19:09

Agree with the points made but Chorus is pitched above Ultegra and below Dura-Ace.

10 speed Carbon Centaur or 11 speed Athena are the direct competitors to Ultegra - in terms of price/weight/heirachy/quality/performance. For a very similar RRP you get carbon levers and either carbon chainset or 11 speed transmission. Pretty good when you consider Campagnolo is a much smaller company and the more time consuming process of manufacturing carbon components.

Having used plenty of both I prefer Campag but it's all down to personal preferance really, though far fewer 'off the shelf' roadbikes are specified with Campag or Sram and consequently many people feel happy sticking with Shimano having used it on mtbs & hybrids.

[Nick_F]

Blimey, all the weirdos are out today.

Italian groupsets are for people who think steel is a better frame material than carbon.

Top-end Shimano stuff is as good on-road as it is off-road. SRAM is its equal but expensive. Campagnolo is all about being different for the sake of it.

[mrandy]

Nothing weird ,campag is far better quality and as a result lasts longer,the materials campag use have always been better quality than Shimano.Shimano are probably better innovators when it comes to technology though

[Parrot of Doom]

I always thought that these were particularly beautiful:

[Nick_F]

Gorgeous.

[Raven Flyer]

Ah, they were produced in the days before weight saving was fully understood. I am old enough to remember shifters on the down tube.

I answer to groups, Nick is spot on.

I would get a ride on something with SRAM double-taps. I have Rivals and think they are way better than Shimpagnos.

[Roman]

Nick_F said:

Blimey, all the weirdos are out today.

Italian groupsets are for people who think steel is a better frame material than carbon.

Top-end Shimano stuff is as good on-road as it is off-road. SRAM is its equal but expensive. Campagnolo is all about being different for the sake of it.

Weirdos - you're not joking, it's really weird saying that about a company who've pioneered the use of carbon (& plenty of other innovations) in the manufacture of their products (fitted to many high end carbon bikes too)!

I like and have used plenty of components from Campag, Shimano & Sram but some of the anti Campag comments really make me laugh. They're seemingly based on some purely subjective and strange perception that Shimano is 'cooler' or better because they sell more or because lots of roadies like Campag.

I haven't heard a single argument based on experience of current product or technical merit.

Edited by Roman on Wednesday 4th August 10:41

[madbadger]

So of the two Bianchis I posted up the page I might as well save £50 and get the one in the nicer colour?

[itsnotarace]

madbadger said:

I would like approximately LX / XT equivalent. Not real budget stuff but not XTR either.

LX = 105 = Rival = Centaur/Athena
XT = Ultegra = Force = Chorus
XTR = Dura Ace = Red = Record

That's about how the prices for each groupset match up.

Obviously each groupset has it's pro's and con's. Buy what you prefer using yourself.

I don't like SRAM double tap personally, doesn't mean it's st and you shouldn't buy it though.

I prefer Campag hoods because they fit my hands nicely but the gearchanges are a bit agricultural for my taste, so I ride Shimano 105 even though it's heavier than Rival and not as pretty or comfortable on the hoods as Centaur.

[Roman]

madbadger said:

So of the two Bianchis I posted up the page I might as well save £50 and get the one in the nicer colour?

The Veloce version has an upgraded alu/carbon frame with carbon wishbone rear seatstays - so worth the £50 extra but if you prefer the blue 105 version just get that!

[mrandy]

Parrot of Doom said:

I always thought that these were particularly beautiful:

they looked great but never stopped you properly ,nice frame