Do I really need Ultegra?

[Starchivore]

I have Tiagra on a 2010 model bike. No problems so far, don't know if I would notice a difference but no doubt some people who have ridden a wider range can.

 

[vickster]

SRAM Force ftw

 

[User33236]

SRAM Force ftw

Blasphemy!

 

[vickster]

Blasphemy!

I like to be able to brake from the hoods. I can't adequately with Shimano

It's always worth looking at alternatives

 

[Roadrider48]

SRAM Force ftw

I had SRAM force on a bike for a short while.
I did like the method of shifting, but honestly found it to be a little clunkier in operation as opposed to Shimano.
Personal preferences and all that.

 

[vickster]

I had SRAM force on a bike for a short while.
I did like the method of shifting, but honestly found it to be a little clunkier in operation as opposed to Shimano.
Personal preferences and all that.

No issues with the shifting on Shimano, just the unwieldy size and shape of the hoods mean I can't personally get adequate purchase on the brake levers to stop as quickly as I would like if needed

 

[MichaelW2]

Gesture control will then rapidly be made obsolete by the new Shimano thought control shifting.

I believe Campagnolo were first with a system tuned to Italian style gestures but it is fairly unresponsive to anglo-saxon hand gesturing.

 

[mark st1]

105 11 speed best vfm group set I've ever owned. Ultegra may have had marginally better brakes I found but I wouldn't hesitate in choosing the 105 in the future and spending the price difference on something else.

 

[Roadrider48]

No issues with the shifting on Shimano, just the unwieldy size and shape of the hoods mean I can't personally get adequate purchase on the brake levers to stop as quickly as I would like if needed

That's fair to say. I do like the method of shifting they employ though.

 

[smutchin]

It's always worth looking at alternatives

This is a fair comment. I personally don't like SRAM because I can't get on with the DoubleTap shifting but YMMV - and as you say, there are other reasons for choosing it.

If money were no object, I would go for eTap without hesitation.

 

[Roadrider48]

This is a fair comment. I personally don't like SRAM because I can't get on with the DoubleTap shifting but YMMV - and as you say, there are other reasons for choosing it.

If money were no object, I would go for eTap without hesitation.

I'm gonna try eTap in the future.
Right shifter for up and left for down, with the front mech automatically adjusting itself accordingly. Interesting....

 

[Globalti]

If you simply want it because its lovely engineering and looks fantastic then go buy some.

This. The new generation 11 speed Ultegra is lovely and the braking superb, mine hasn't needed any adjustment since I fitted it to my 2014 Roubaix a few months ago.

FWIW I have also tried new-gen Dura Ace and it feels exactly the same but looks even tastier.

 

[dan_bo]

Gesture control will then rapidly be made obsolete by the new Shimano thought control shifting.

What I wanna see is eyebrow controlled shifting. Carlo Ancelotti would be screwed.

 

[ColinJ]

I believe Campagnolo were first with a system tuned to Italian style gestures but it is fairly unresponsive to anglo-saxon hand gesturing.

My 'Anglo-Saxon' hands have been coping nicely with Campagnolo Ergopower controls for over 20 years, ta very much ...

The 10-speed Chorus system that I bought is identical to the 10-speed Record design of the year before. I wouldn't be surprised if Shimano had done a similar thing when upgrading their designs ... Dura Ace → Ultegra, Ultegra → 105, 105 → Tiagra, Tiagra → Sora?

 

[Wolf616]

Blimey the Ultegra groupset costs twice what my whole bicycle did