Do I really need Ultegra?

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T4tomo

Legendary Member
Despite it being a key selling point when the manufacturers / retailers decide on price points between models, I actually think the Groupset makes a lot less difference £ for £ than important things like the frame, wheels and tyres and finishing kit (although with saddles more £ doesn't necessarily mean comfier for a particular ass)

The weight difference between tiagra and Ultegra is so small it's not noticeable in practice. The Microshift on my son's Btwin shifts gears just as effectively as my 11 sp Ultegra on my best bike (this was entry level spec, I wasn't contradicting the above, there was no 105/ tiagra option) although makes a slightly louder clunk when changing.

The difference is purely very small aesthetics, an almost unnoticeable improvement in "operation" and bragging rights down the pub.

I would buy the best bike for your budget in terms of frame and wheels and if you have to balance the books with a "lower" Groupset then do so. 10spd will save you £'s on new cassettes and chains anyway.
 

mjr

Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
How quaint ;) ,should be Campagnolo Record though,not some Jap knock-off :whistle::biggrin:.
If they do pretty ones, I'll consider it ;)
 

MistaDee

Active Member
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....

SRAM eTap does not automatically shift the front mech, you press both shifters at the same time to shift.
It is only the very latest Di2 9150 that features sequential shifting of the front mech.
 

slowmotion

Quite dreadful
Location
lost somewhere
I've got Campag Veloce on my bike and I much prefer the right thumb RD up-shifter to the 105 levers on my other bike. I'm not sure what the more expensive Campag group sets are like though.
 
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