After 3 years on a Avanti corsa pro, which is used as transport, training and racing, the need/want for a new bike has seen me purchace a carbon Argon 18 Gallium S3. This will be used just for racing and some training rides. Now i know little about the technical side of bikes and am being inundated with advise from riders that i admire but they have more money than i to spend on their toys. I already own a pair of Mavic Cosmic carbone(2nd hand). In order afford the frame i have choosen to stay with 10 speed Ultegra. Purchaced used ITM oversized millienium bar and stem (alloy) And an seeking seat post and seat still to come. Though the post will be more likely alloy.
Firstly i am being told that the ultegra SHOULD be Dura Ace and the other parts SHOULD be carbon or i am wasting money on good frame and wheels? Advise runs from....wasting the effect of frame if not matched to carbon parts, and that the difference between the quality in group sets is why it should have Dure Ace. ( Sadly i have riden both and can see/feel no diff!)
1. As nearly as I can tell there is only one person in the entire world that bike has to satisfy.
2. There are few things that are easier to do than to tell somebody else how they should spend their money.
3. If you don't earn your living by bicycling then you are riding for fun. Do you think that it would be more fun to ride your bike today or to talk about what a neat bike you are going to have someday?
4. A good mantra: "You do what you think's best for you and I'll do what I think's best for me."
After 3 years on a Avanti corsa pro, which is used as transport, training and racing, the need/want for a new bike has seen me purchace a carbon Argon 18 Gallium S3. This will be used just for racing and some training rides. Now i know little about the technical side of bikes and am being inundated with advise from riders that i admire but they have more money than i to spend on their toys. I already own a pair of Mavic Cosmic carbone(2nd hand). In order afford the frame i have choosen to stay with 10 speed Ultegra. Purchaced used ITM oversized millienium bar and stem (alloy) And an seeking seat post and seat still to come. Though the post will be more likely alloy.
Firstly i am being told that the ultegra SHOULD be Dura Ace and the other parts SHOULD be carbon or i am wasting money on good frame and wheels? Advise runs from....wasting the effect of frame if not matched to carbon parts, and that the difference between the quality in group sets is why it should have Dure Ace. ( Sadly i have riden both and can see/feel no diff!)
So any advise will be appreciatted.
You are right in your assessment that you can see/feel no difference. Ultegra is fine. The heart of the ride is the frame/wheels and what you have should be a great ride with any decent component group. Your advisors are snobs.
Firstly i am being told that the ultegra SHOULD be Dura Ace and the other parts SHOULD be carbon or i am wasting money on good frame and wheels? Advise runs from....wasting the effect of frame if not matched to carbon parts, and that the difference between the quality in group sets is why it should have Dure Ace. ( Sadly i have riden both and can see/feel no diff!)
If you can't feel a difference, then there isn't one. The advice youve been given is completely backwards. 90% of the feel and performance of a bike is from the frame and wheels. Most of the 10% that comes from the components is how well they're adjusted.
I agree with what all above have said but if you're still having trouble making the Ultegra choice, I'll add one thing. (In fact you can read it in another recent post...)
Another option is to go with Dura-Ace derailleurs with an Ultegra cassette. I've seen quite a few bikes being spec'd this way now to help keep cost down but still provide the shifting quality of a Dura-Ace derailleur. Cervelo spec's most of their Dura-Ace bikes this way.
As far as I know, the only real difference between the cassettes is weight. I think many pros train with an Ultegra cassette because it's a little more durable (they log a lot of miles!) and switch to the Dura-Ace for racing.
Finally, train hard! - there little that's more satisfying than beating the shorts off of someone riding more expensive gear than you!
I agree with what all above have said but if you're still having trouble making the Ultegra choice, I'll add one thing. (In fact you can read it in another recent post...)
Another option is to go with Dura-Ace derailleurs with an Ultegra cassette. I've seen quite a few bikes being spec'd this way now to help keep cost down but still provide the shifting quality of a Dura-Ace derailleur. Cervelo spec's most of their Dura-Ace bikes this way.
As far as I know, the only real difference between the cassettes is weight. I think many pros train with an Ultegra cassette because it's a little more durable (they log a lot of miles!) and switch to the Dura-Ace for racing.
Finally, train hard! - there little that's more satisfying than beating the shorts off of someone riding more expensive gear than you!
Ultegra cassettes don't have any titanium cogs. Should last a bit longer. If you are going to upgrade one part of component package, shifters are better to upgrade than derailers.
That said, ultegra, like others have said, is perfectly fine. I'd always choose a better frame over better components. Anyone who thinks you must have Dura Ace has more money than sense.
1. As nearly as I can tell there is only one person in the entire world that bike has to satisfy.
2. There are few things that are easier to do than to tell somebody else how they should spend their money.
3. If you don't earn your living by bicycling then you are riding for fun. Do you think that it would be more fun to ride your bike today or to talk about what a neat bike you are going to have someday?
4. A good mantra: "You do what you think's best for you and I'll do what I think's best for me."
Better words could not be spoken. Sage advice you give. Kudos to you.
