Groupset Differences

[Slave]

And that Kona, is the absolute truth, except when the bike budget interferes with the nail budget.

 

Jap stufff can't be all that bad when you look at the popularity of jap cars and take into account their reliability.

 

Value for money is the key.

[Spinnekop]

 

All I want is a 3 hr 94.7. Winning it is just not within the realm of reality for me' date=' no matter how much I delude myself.[/quote']

 

For once Konafan is talking sense.

Buy according to your budget.  No one out there makes too bad a product.

Not ONE of the manufacturers, Campagnolo/SRAM/Shimano (In that order) are going to get you a sub 3........train, train, train.  Harder, longer, stronger.  That is the key.......

 

Everything else is just for bling sakes......

 

  

We get all specific about weight and grams her and there' date=' but like I said, A few grams here and a few grams there, no biggie for me. [/quote']

 

I don't think it is grams you are going to have to look at.

The differences across the board is so minute........

 

Shimano:

Alu look

Everyone rides it.

10/Ultegra/DA functionality is good - two lever shifting  No carbon bling

Personal experience:

STI's CANNOT be repaired and not all warranties have been honored.

So, it breaks, you buy a new SET!!

 

Campy

 Carbon look

Not everyone rides it - drawback is the shop in Phalaborwa might not have a part when your bike brakes on holiday

One lever shifting with a separate lever at the thumb for down shifting

Expensive

Personal experience

STI's can be repaired.  I have ridden Campy for about 8 years now and have had NO issues to date.

 

SRAM

Carbon/ALu

One lever shifting - two click for down, one click up

Reasonably priced

Low weight

Inter operable with Shimano

Personal Experience

I have a few friends that rides with the SRAM grouppo.  The previous 2007 versions had a few teething problems - shifting was not always so crisp.  The current line is very good and I haven't heard any issues with it.

 

 

 

My current bike is 12 kg and I am close to 100. I'll probably need 105 to take the weight.

 

Plenty to loose there.    Rider and bike! 

105 will do the trick.  Take the $$$ saved and invest in 'n trainer http://www.mytrainer.co.za/

 

 

[Yang]

Heres a comparison table.

CAMPAGNOLO              SHIMANO              SRAM

 

Super Record 11               ---                       ---

Record                         Dura ACe                Red

Chorus 11                      -----                       ----

Chorus                         Dura Ace                 ----

Centaur Carbon           Ultegra SL             Force

Centaur Alumini           Ultegra                    ----

Veloce                          105                        Rival 

 

Ppl get emotional about this. Campag supporters are passionate by nature. Shimano supporters are also passionate' date=' but they tend more towards hysteria. 

 

The best comparison I have seen between Campag and Shimano was on the Hub, before your time S2L. Perhaps someone can post the photos of the Campag woman and of the Shimano woman, so you can get a clearer idea of the difference. 

 

Value?- just get onto the CWC site and check out their prices.

 

[/quote']

Where exactly did you find this comparison table Yang?

The bicycling mag handbook had a very different version.

From what I have experienced, SRAM's rival outperforms an Ultegra groupset as far as performance and reliability is concerned. And for the weight weenies, even the old '07 Rival is lighter than the new Ultegra SL.

 

hehehe. Made my own popcorn! This time I took the trouble to cut and paste etc.

 

 

This comes from a very objective report in the Campag 2009 range catalogue. PM me with your email if you want a copy. There are other comparison tables in the document which will expand your horizons.  

 

The Bicycling comp was done before Super and the 11's came out.

 

C'mon, where are the Campag lady and Shimano lady photo's.

 

[Slave]

Hey Spidey, you saying I'm fat?

 

Hog, get your coat and someone make some popcorn, this is gonna get interesting.

 

(kidding dude).

 

I have already lost about 8 kilos and have a little way to go yet, but I haven't felt this good in years.

 

Normally when I start cycling I gain weight. (Muscle weighs more than fat, or so I'm told.) Problem is that the appetite buildup from cycling carries on even after I have quit for my usual winter "hybernation".

 

Hear what you're saying about train, train, train. I even bought a ticket to get on the train to CT. (Kidding again).

 

Seriously, gave 94.7 a miss this year in favour of training and I plan to go much later into winter this year before I have a "rest" and then start much earlier next year for a serious assualt on that magical 3 hr ride in the 94.7.

 

Statistically, I only did 580 km last year icluding my 94.7. So far this year I have done 1500 odd. BIG increase and should help some. Average ride time is also somewhat faster.

 

At the end of the day, it's not about the bike, but good reliable equipment certainly wont hurt and combined with some good training, who knows, maybe this old man can put together a three hour 94.7.