Gear sets....will I notice a diffrerence?

[craigwend]

It all works to varying degrees - as long as its set up correctly if it's your first road groupset it'll be best you've ever had.

Also as a beginner the odds are you'll upgrade your bike and groupset at some point.

On 3 road bikes I've got an old mixture of Shimano RSX/Sora/Tourney - works fine
Shimano (old 10 speed) 105 - now some bits that are Tiagra - almost exactly the same as 10 speed 105
Recently SRAM Force - different to Shimano, not better just different.

Some of the top end stuff wears out quicker, lower range stuff heavier and more basic, not as nicely engineered

I'd recommend Tiagra or 105 - but as a beginner not get hung up on it

 

[Gunk]

This might help understand the Shimano Hierarchy

 

[Lovacott]

Only the clicky shifters for the mechanically incompetent, isn't it?

I'm pretty sure my friction shifters will do 5 to 11 if you set the limits right. Not sure about more than 11 because I've not looked up the spec, but who wants a wheel that dished anyway?

I've been using indexed shifters for about ten years or so, but prior to that, all of my geared bikes had friction shifters.

When I had friction shifters, I never once had to index my gears.

I also didn't need a trim function.

All I needed was a pair of ears.

 

[Sloth]

Friction? Indexed? Trim?…….