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nllsam.
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March 5, 2018 at 7:44 pm #28209
road
When you are looking for a groupset, be it an upgrade, build or new bike, how do you decide on which one to go for?
Are there pros / cons to each brand or are they all pretty much the same and you just pick the right level of spec?
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fukawitribe
wellsprop wrote:philhubbard wrote:I use a Campag drivetrain with an Ultegra cassette and Sram chain. I know it’s sacrilege but you can use any 11 speed wheels and it shifts just as well. My Athena carbon was cheaper than 105 at the timeI guess you are using Shimano or Sram levers for that to work?
It’ll work with Campag levers – cassette spacing is the ~same for SRAM/Shimano/Campagnolo 11-speed.
Canyon48
philhubbard wrote:I use a Campag drivetrain with an Ultegra cassette and Sram chain. I know it’s sacrilege but you can use any 11 speed wheels and it shifts just as well. My Athena carbon was cheaper than 105 at the timeI guess you are using Shimano or Sram levers for that to work?
philhubbard
I use a Campag drivetrain
I use a Campag drivetrain with an Ultegra cassette and Sram chain. I know it’s sacrilege but you can use any 11 speed wheels and it shifts just as well. My Athena carbon was cheaper than 105 at the time
fukawitribe
Crampy wrote:The mixing and matching of campag / shimano / sram cassettes with the other companies groupsets is all fine and well, but one must take into account that the free hub body must also be swapped.Shim/sram have one spline shape, campag another. The two are not compatible.
Oh indeed, apart from the Edco freehubs – I was looking at this in the context of self-builds from the earlier comments, in which case getting a Shimano wheelset vs Campag one would just be another decision (more choice too).
Crampy
The mixing and matching of
The mixing and matching of campag / shimano / sram cassettes with the other companies groupsets is all fine and well, but one must take into account that the free hub body must also be swapped.
Shim/sram have one spline shape, campag another. The two are not compatible.
Im currently upgrading my ten speed cx bike to 11 speed and, for various reasons, plan on using a shimano cassette with the otherwise campag bits. Ive also noted that Campag bits are becoming cheaper; especially Centaur.
fukawitribe
G1989 wrote:Agree Shimano is more widely available than Campag, but with the advent of online delivery it’s less of an issue. Have to disagree on the cost of Campag parts though. Maybe if you’re talking about Record/Super Record – but if you’re riding those groupsets you’re either racing- where the tiny weight saving is factor (or you don’t pay for them), or you’re wealthy enough that it doesn’t matter. ‘Lower’ end Campag replaceables- chains, cassettes, pads etc from Centaur, Potenza, Chorus ,can be had for a similar or only marginally higher price than 105 and Ultegra. The only difference being less titanium than the higher end stuff and a tiny weight penalty. I’ve found it very durable also.I’d agree with a lot of that bar the cassette prices – things are closer now than they were but the difference between Shimano and Campagnolo blocks is significant. That said, with modern 11-speed you could just mix a Shimano cassette with the rest of the Campag groupset – still not heard too much feedback on how that feels in practice beyond “it works” – be interested if anyone has any experience with it.
kil0ran
Ride them.
Ride them.
I went from Shimano flat to SRAM drops and didn’t like the double tap shifting (also the front mechs are difficult to set up compared to Shimano in my experience) so I went back to Shimano. Have been through Ultegra and 105 and am now settled on a Tiagra/105 mix – best price/performance for me as I don’t *need* 11-speed.
However, I’m also a fan of style over substance and because I ride steel bikes I could be tempted by any modern group that was available in polished chrome, even if it was Campy. Growing up Campy was always the lusted after manufacturer but its so incompatible and expensive that unless it came on a new bike I don’t think I’d bother.
the little onion
When opening a bottle of
When opening a bottle of expensive wine, I do recommend that you use the Campagnolo corkscrew, rather than a Shimano fishing tackle.
I have both Campagnolo and Shimano. To my mind, Campagnolo is better made, works better and feels better in the hands. But it is essentially down to personal preference – I value the ergonomics of Campagnolo, even if spare parts are slightly more difficult to get from the LBS, though just as easy on the internet.
G1989
Agree Shimano is more widely
Agree Shimano is more widely available than Campag, but with the advent of online delivery it’s less of an issue. Have to disagree on the cost of Campag parts though. Maybe if you’re talking about Record/Super Record – but if you’re riding those groupsets you’re either racing- where the tiny weight saving is factor (or you don’t pay for them), or you’re wealthy enough that it doesn’t matter. ‘Lower’ end Campag replaceables- chains, cassettes, pads etc from Centaur, Potenza, Chorus ,can be had for a similar or only marginally higher price than 105 and Ultegra. The only difference being less titanium than the higher end stuff and a tiny weight penalty. I’ve found it very durable also.
Kendalred
Given they all work as they
Given they all work as they should, then I think it’s whichever will look the best on the bike you intend to put it on.
I have two road bikes, both have Sram, and I am so used to it now I wouldn’t want to change – I built up my custom steel frame with Sram Force and I haven’t needed to adjust it that much in two years (although being the summer bike it doesn’t get that much of a hammering unlike the winter/commuter bike with Sram Rival). It still shifts effortlessly.
However, if I came into a serious amount of money (yeah, right) then it would be an Italian made steel or Titanium frame and that would just have to be Campagnolo.
Boatsie
I like Shimano as parts are
I like Shimano as parts are readily available.
Being a tight ass I went with 9 speed such that modern wheels would fit, 9 speed seem very cheap, durable and not sure whether cassettes where being sold as end of stock, I bought a box which should last 200 kms pw 15 years.
Sram look nice though.
Hence depending upon use (I don’t pace at paloton rate)
A recently upgraded transmission (kept crank and front deraileur), new chainwheels, cassette, chain, microshift shifters and rear deraileur, cables and long lengths of cable housing cost approximately $300(£140).
Not racing yet 9 speed will allow easy upgrades of wheelsets is my main reason.
Pros. Close ratio box should shorten chain(weight)
Stronger chain.
Ideal along flats and punching headwinds
Cheap.
Durable.
Fits 9-10-11 speed wheels in case I afford aero 1 day.
Cons.
Lowest ratio 39-23
I’ll probably boycott the local 10% climb.
I’ll probably fail the local 7% climb.
5% ok but probably much slower than a paloton pace.Grahamd
I have SRAM on my cx and
I have SRAM on my cx and Shimano on my road. Agree with welshboy and chetmanley sram just feels better and the double tap is great; however have never been able to get my sram front derailleur up shifts as crisp as Shimano.
ps. Don’t forget to buy the correct JIS screwdriver for adjusting your Shimano gears.
ChetManley
If I had to pick, I’d go with
If I had to pick, I’d go with SRAM but that’s just a personal preference on the lever shape and double tap.I have Shimano, because that’s what’s on my bike. No complaints at all, I just like SRAM better.
I’m put off Campy by the cost of parts.
Welsh boy
I started with Shimano,
I started with Shimano, changed to SRAM then gave campag a go. I have now gone back to SRAM, I prefer the way it shifts and the shape of the levers. So, all down to personal preference.
They all produce really great
They all produce really great groupsets.
I stick with Shimano because parts are so much easier to come by. Campag is very expensive too generally.I like sram for their 1x stuff!
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