Gears, perceived quality?

[jethro10]

I've another inquisitive question.
I cycle for pleasure/basic exercise and have a basic Halfords Carrera Vulcan Disk.

It perfectly fine for me. The gears were really rough at first, but I read how to adjust them and now they are perfect.

So whats the deal with gears on expensive bikes. Mine change and feel great, so what do I not have that bikes 10 times the price have?

thanks again

Jeff

 

[4F]

The more expensive you get the smoother they will change and the lighter they become. It has to be said though that after a certain level it is doubtful whether you would notice much difference in performance and then it is only about shaving off miniscule amounts of weight.

 

[I am Spartacus]

no competition really
look at that carbon....
better than sex wee

 

[jethro10]

The more expensive you get the smoother they will change and the lighter they become. It has to be said though that after a certain level it is doubtful whether you would notice much difference in performance and then it is only about shaving off miniscule amounts of weight.

Ok, so for a 'leisure' cyclist like myself, as my gears now feel great, probably not a lot of benefit then.
So do you have an example of where the price/benefit ration starts to tail off?

(next question of front forks after the weekend as I'm away cycling!)

thanks
Jeff

 

[jethro10]

no competition really
look at that carbon....
better than sex wee

Oh dear, poor Mr Spartacus.
I'll take my Carerra gears and sex thank you very much!



Jeff

 

[arallsopp]

I find lube raises the perceived quality of both.

 

[4F]

Ok, so for a 'leisure' cyclist like myself, as my gears now feel great, probably not a lot of benefit then.
So do you have an example of where the price/benefit ration starts to tail off?

(next question of front forks after the weekend as I'm away cycling!)

thanks
Jeff

In the shimano range starting with Sora and moving upwards with Tiagra. 105, Ultegra, Dura ace then I would say that 105 would be a good benchmark and you would notice the difference moving to 105 from sora and tiagra but would not notice a huge difference moving from 105 to ultegra apart from weight savings.

However saying all that I prefer Campagnolo

 

[chris667]

Strangely, once you start getting to really lightweight gears, they are actually a lot less durable and more picky than basic ones.

A lot of it is simply marketing.

 

[jay clock]

I have a winter road bike with basic Shimano (2200 levers and Sora rear mech). It all works fine. My Ultegra groupset on my "best" bike I got for more money than the entire winter bike (and that was as a dirt cheap grey import at £445). It doesn't make much difference

 

[MajorMantra]

In the shimano range starting with Sora and moving upwards with Tiagra. 105, Ultegra, Dura ace then I would say that 105 would be a good benchmark and you would notice the difference moving to 105 from sora and tiagra but would not notice a huge difference moving from 105 to ultegra apart from weight savings.

However saying all that I prefer Campagnolo

Why do people always leave 2200 out? It's the lowest branded groupset, not Sora.

Matthew

 

[fossyant]

Dura Ace is nice......and it lasts.......... 18/19 years on my bike....and still works like new.

Difference is the better stuff shifts that bit better, and is just nicer !

 

[weely]

Hi Guys, just to interupt....
If thats the shimano list of quality on a road bike could any one tell me the list on a MTB for both shimano AND SRAM ?

My Specialized Hardrock has SRAM X4 -( low end I would think)

So does that mean you can judge the quality of a bike purly just by looking at the rear mech?

Iv noticed that on really cheap bikes they have a shimano 'SIS' mech. Would my SRAM X4 be noticeably better than this?

 

[fossyant]

For MTB's.......

SRAM is X4,5,7,9,0 I think ?

Shimano stuff is Alvio (and other stuff), DEORE, DEORE LX, SLX (replaces LX), XT and XTR, then there is specials like Saint - downhill stuff.

 

[fossyant]

PS X4 is better than the Shimano SIS - that goes on the basic bikes.... It's Alvio sort of level, but probably a bit better.

 

[TheDoctor]

Why do people always leave 2200 out? It's the lowest branded groupset, not Sora.

Matthew

It only seems to be available to bike makers - I've never seen the parts on sale in a shop.