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105 and Ultegra for future proofing

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  • March 13, 2014 at 10:34 am #20927
    Miles253

    Hi guys me again.

    Man this choosing a new bike lark is complicated!

    With so many options between £1800 and £2500 I can barely decide.

    The thing that is troubling me at the moment is group set choice, now I know that the variations between manufacturers are personal but the variances between group prices are not. Now I want a bike that should not cost too much in upgrades over the coming five years, that as I improve which I will ,does not feel like it also needs to improve.

    Would I be better off fronting for an Ultegra equipped bike now? (Probably between the carbon ult Synapse or a Canyon slx/sl) Or go for a 105 equipped bike probably from the plethora of choices from the bike of the year (synapse, Cervelo R3, BMC etc) which all sit at around the £2000 mark

    Naturally getting Ultegra carries a price penalty for any of the bikes other than the Canyons which are still better value regardless. But I am the type of person who, when doing sportives in a few months or trying my hand at racing, will always be itching for the ‘better’ group. Perhaps because I ride Campag Centaur at the moment (on an allu Specialized Allez) and 105 feels like the on par option as apposed to an upgrade (and why else do we spend a fortune on new bikes)

    Obviously I know the biggest immediate difference will be in the wheels ( where once again the Canyons win) but if you guys think that prompting for 105, getting a more mainstreamed frame and saving £500 is the better choice I would be delighted to hear the reasoning.

    In case it’s relevant
    Interests: sportives this year, racing next year
    Weight 75kg

    Looking at
    Canyon ultimate sl-Ultegra-£1900
    Canyon ultimate SLX (in the sales)- ultegra-£2100
    Cannondale synapse -ultegra- £2500
    Various 105 bike of the year options-£2000

    If anyone has any experience with these bikes too also helpful.

    Sorry for the long post.
    Regards

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  • March 13, 2014 at 10:07 pm #780203
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    mrmo

    One final comment, whatever
    One final comment, whatever you do, buy a bike you want to ride. It may sound odd, it might not, but if you walk downstairs and see something you want to be seen on, something that is just right, something that just makes you happy, It matters more than anything else.

    There is something to be said for buying from the heart and not the head sometimes.

    March 13, 2014 at 9:50 pm #780201
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    Miles253

    Sniffer, the reason I’ve
    Sniffer, the reason I’ve looked mostly at Ultegra is because I’ve heard the shifting and breaking performance is noticeably better, both factors I’ve had trouble with on my veloce before I upgraded to Centaur. The weight is a nice factor, but as you’ve said I doubt the difference bs really that important (does anybody have numbers?). And actually the new chain set standard is once of the reasons it Ultegra seemed a better choice as it uses the spider crank which marketing spiel has told me is stiffer and lighter, naturally that makes little difference on the Cannondale but still.

    @mrno, you make a great point about going to disks in the coming years and going with 11 speed then, that is a valid point. However I really would like to be able to make this bike as future proofed as possible for at least five years as i doubt I’ll have the funds to buy another bike for more time than that . Although as you rightly said 105 will easily last that time with care.

    Also as most of the 105 equIpped bikes come with standard wheels, almost all of them will need replacing or upgrading fairly quickly.

    Thanks for the help so far everyone.

    March 13, 2014 at 4:02 pm #780199
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    bollandinho

    It’s a lot of fun, but I’ve
    It’s a lot of fun, but I’ve not had that much time on it because the strong winds and rain up here in Glasgow. The one proper ride I’ve had on it was amazing though, and I’ve got a lot of plans for it.

    The only thing I’m not wild about is the seat clamp, which is really hard to get tight with a multitool when you’re still getting your position on the new bike. Once it’s all sorted though, I don’t see it being a problem.

    March 13, 2014 at 3:56 pm #780197
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    mrmo

    To give some background, my
    To give some background, my Lemond needs a new drivetrain, So I am currently faced with a similar dilemma, I could get Athena, I could get Centaur, or I could be a cheapskate and get Veloce. At this moment, my head is saying Veloce mechs, cheap they work if I crash so what, Centaur shifters, they are mounted on bearings so should be more durable (assuming I don’t crash). brakes, I have some old Centaur they work, what more do you need? 10spd v 11spd? well the bike is currently 9spd, I can still get chains, cassettes, jockey wheels, etc. so have no doubt that 10spd will be around for 5+ years at least. I might be faced with cheaper cassettes as the expensive ones get phased out in due course but it won’t be for a few years yet.

    The ideal situation for you IMO get 105, get a decent set of race wheels, and get some cheap “disposable” training wheels. I seem to think you mention wheels and durability somewhere? 10spd v 11spd won’t be an issue for a number of years.

    Things to think about 6800 uses a new chainring standard, it will cost money, you can’t cut corners if you need to for a while, changing the ring sizes if you are so inclined will also be harder.

    I would also be careful with the bike you pick, there has been an explosion of standards recently, headset and bottom bracket, there may be a rationalisation.

    In the medium term a major issue is what happens with disc brakes. You won’t be able to upgrade and will need a new bike. At that point you may find that the choice is 11spd or whatever new turns up.

    March 13, 2014 at 3:40 pm #780195
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    Sniffer

    NeilXDavis wrote:Has to be 11

    NeilXDavis wrote:
    Has to be 11 speed for me – future proof it or you will be unable to move stuff around in later years…Im stuck in 10 speed world now and although at the moment its no hassle I will have to make the jump soon…

    You will never be future proofed. Maybe the top end market will move to discs. Maybe you will want electronic shifting. Maybe something else will come along.

    A 10 speed bike will ride very nicely for a long time to come.

    To answer the 105 over Ultegra question. What do you think Ultegra has over 105? Weight definitely. Shifting not much difference? Would you get a more advantageous weight reduction on wheels?

    For the record I am riding 10 speed Ultegra 6700 on my bike at the moment.

    March 13, 2014 at 1:27 pm #780193
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    NeilXDavis

    Has to be 11 speed for me –
    Has to be 11 speed for me – future proof it or you will be unable to move stuff around in later years…Im stuck in 10 speed world now and although at the moment its no hassle I will have to make the jump soon…

    March 13, 2014 at 12:04 pm #780191
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    Miles253

    So far it’s pro ultegra 11
    So far it’s pro ultegra 11 speed. Could some of the guys saying 105 give me some reasons ( obviously saving money for better wheels is a great reason) as to why it makes sence?

    Yeah I imagine the Synapse will sell out fast luckily I’m a tall fella 6 ft 4 so usually the 58 and the 60 hang around a bit. @bollandinho how are you finding the bike, the paint job is lush.

    March 13, 2014 at 11:38 am #780189
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    bollandinho

    I had the same decision
    I had the same decision between the Ultegra and 105 Synapses. I went for the Ultegra because

    1) A very new frame with a new groupset felt very future proof, as you said.

    2) I much preferred the black paint job on the Ultegra bike

    3) My LBS gave me a free wheel upgrade, which was excellent.

    I’d also bet that now it’s Bike of the Year, it’ll be very difficult to get your hands on a Synapse, especially the 105. I got mine in January, and it was a stroke of luck that I got it before late April.

    March 13, 2014 at 11:31 am #780187
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    Yorkshie Whippet

    Futureproof and go for
    Futureproof and go for Ultegra 11spd.

    March 13, 2014 at 11:21 am #780185
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    drfabulous0

    Hmm, I would suspect that 105
    Hmm, I would suspect that 105 would feel like a downgrade from Centaur.

    March 13, 2014 at 11:12 am #780183
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    therevokid

    +1 for 105 and better wheels
    +1 for 105 and better wheels …. 🙂

    March 13, 2014 at 11:08 am #780181
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    Iwein Dekoninck

    Go for 105 and get some
    Go for 105 and get some really nice wheels with the money you save.

    March 13, 2014 at 10:57 am #780179
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    n8udd

    I recently had similar
    I recently had similar considerations when looking for a new bike.

    My main issue was the change to 11 speed in Ultegra meant if I opted for 105 (10 speed) any future upgrades in the future would prove costly.

    In the end I went for a Giant TCR Comp 1.

    http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/2014.giant.tcr.composite.1/14971/66532/

    Personally, spending 2k, I wouldn’t be happy with 105, but each to their own.

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