Parts / Components

[mikmo]

My local bike shop just built me a road / commuter bike from second hand parts etc... top lads and totally trust them but one thing I couldn't get my head around was the components / parts chat...

"We're going to put Tiagra X & Y on with 105 Z and etc."

1. How do I know what components are best?
2. Which areas / parts are most important to insist on quality on?

 

[Chrisz]

If you totallytrust them why not let them get on with it - I assume you've set them a budget? Their aim (should) be to get you the most/best for your money.

 

[skwerl]

best to worst:
Dura Ace
Ultegra
105
Tiagra
generally shifters and rear mech is where you want the better components. You often see higher-end bits used where they're least effective and have the lower prices. eg "look it's got a DA front mech". It's a selling tool. But then you see it's got a Tiagra shifters and rear mech. I'm exaggerating slightly. Normally, if you get a mix, it will be of adjacent groups. eg DA/Ultegra, Ultegra/105 etc

When people ask about ugrading bits of bikes though, wheels is where they're always told to start for the biggest gains

 

[Bigtwin]

Some bits have better functionality - shifters prime example. Other bits make little difference, other than weight - front derail prime example. Others may just wear better at the higher end of the range. Others the opposite, as durability is sacrificed for weight.

If the business bits are 105 and the make-up 105 tiagra, you'll be fine.

 

[mikmo]

I'm sure it is Chris, I'd just like to know as I'm as curious chap.

Thanks for the info Skwerl. Mines a mix of 105s and Tiagra. Shifters are 105s but sadly rear mech is Tiagra.

- How big a difference is there between Dura Ace... 105s... Tiagra?

- I think these all Shimano brand names(?). My bike shop seems to talk only in those names and see you've used them too. What about the other manufacturers!?

 

[ianrauk]

A mix of Tiagra and 105 will be fine. Both are good, well made, well wearing components. If you were talking Dura Ace though, then you are talking a lot of money as it is Shimano's top o' the range.

I'm sure it is Chris, I'd just like to know as I'm as curious chap.

Thanks for the info Skwerl. Mines a mix of 105s and Tiagra. Shifters are 105s but sadly rear mech is Tiagra.

- How big a difference is there between Dura Ace... 105s... Tiagra?

- I think these all Shimano brand names(?). My bike shop seems to talk only in those names and see you've used them too. What about the other manufacturers!?

 

[Bigtwin]

Thanks for the info Skwerl. Mines a mix of 105s and Tiagra. Shifters are 105s but sadly rear mech is Tiagra.

I guarantee that if you have decent shifters, you wouln't be able to tell the difference blind. Except you'd fall off, but you know what I mean.

I had to use a plan sis rear mech for a while after I totalled my "good one". Worked absolutely fine. Might not have lasted forever, but it worked just as well as the Ultegra one for a week or so till the replacement arrived.

 

[skwerl]

upgrading just the rear mech to 105 wouldn't be a bad thing to do but tiagra is fine. shifters are the prime one to go for quality. lot's of very small bits that need to be accurate, so the fact that you have 105 shifters is a good thing

other manufacturers are Campagnolo (Italian) and SRAM (USA).
Campag (I think) goes [Best]Super Record, Record, Chorus and new Athena[Worst]
SRAM goes Red,Force,Rival and is fully interchangeable with Shimano. Shimano and Campag generally don't mix, though some bits do. Having said that certain groups from the same manufacturer don't mix either!

 

[skwerl]

I guarantee that if you have decent shifters, you wouln't be able to tell the difference blind. Except you'd fall off, but you know what I mean.

I had to use a plan sis rear mech for a while after I totalled my "good one". Worked absolutely fine. Might not have lasted forever, but it worked just as well as the Ultegra one for a week or so till the replacement arrived.

that's the thing. It's not always about day-to-day performance but often more to do with weight, longevity and reliability

 

[Bigtwin]

SRAM goes Red,Force,Rival and is fully interchangeable with Shimano.

But not for MTB as pull ratios are different.

 

[skwerl]

But not for MTB as pull ratios are different.

ok but they're road groupsets...