frame or groupset?

Brendan Webb said:

Newbie. Hi. Rather than the standard "Which bike is best for me?" I was
wondering whether a better frame with a lesser quality groupset would be
more worthwhile than the other way around? Is tiagra worth worrying
about or just go straight to 105? For around $1500 the selection of
cranks, derailers, calipers etc varies a great deal.

I'd always say get the best frame you can afford, and upgrade the bits
as they wear out. If you get a bike that's mostly 105 for $1500, the
rest of the bits and the frame will be pretty cheap and the wheels will
be rubbish.

Bottom line is, testride as many bikes as you can before you make any
decisions, and also make sure you know what you want to use the bike
for. If you want to race and do a lot of training miles, you may want
to spend a little more, if you want to be a Beach Rd weekend coffee
shop poseur, then as long as the paint job looks good who cares? 🙂

Testride a Giant something, a Trek 1200, a Raceline Pave, a Learsport
etc ... Get to know your LBS and you'll soon find out if they're fair
dinkum or just trying to take your money.

Be prepared, no matter what you choose, to replace bits regularly, even
Dura Ace and Record wear out!

Bleve:

Quoted message said:

I'd always say get the best frame you can afford, and upgrade the bits
as they wear out.

Do you think that's still true Bleve, now that steel is rare? The
package price seems so much better than component prices, that people
seem to turn over whole bikes when stuff starts to wear out.

I ride Ti bikes and certainly follow your approach - third gruppo on my
Litespeed and there will be more before I'm finished with this beauty.

Donga

I think the ‘Beach Rd Café” thing is where the big dollars need to be spent. Tiagra/105 will take you to the top of any climb, but Durace can truly only be appreciated curbside with latte in hand, it’s graceful crank arms outshining all the surrounding 105s & Campy Records.

Some of the most exotic stuff I’ve ever seen coasts along Beach Rd, and there I was thinking that $6000+ rigs only get picked up by blokes who get given them gratas.

"Brendan Webb" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Newbie. Hi. Rather than the standard "Which bike is best for me?" I was
wondering whether a better frame with a lesser quality groupset would be
more worthwhile than the other way around? Is tiagra worth worrying
about or just go straight to 105? For around $1500 the selection of
cranks, derailers, calipers etc varies a great deal.

Easy. Parts wear out, and you can replace them with whatever you want when
they do. Frames rarely wear out (although they can break). As long as the
gruppo works for you, you shouldn't worry too much about the level stamped
into it. If you're a racer, where tenths (or less) count, you'll want a good
frame and good components. For the rest of us, I reckon a good frame, and
upgrade components as necessary.

Of course, a great package deal may mean you can afford both - especially on
a run-out model.

Tony F
who has snapped two (mtb) frames

http://www.thefathippy.com

Marx SS said:

Some of the most exotic stuff I’ve ever seen coasts along Beach Rd, and
there I was thinking that $6000+ rigs only get picked up by blokes who
get given them gratas.

Hah! The whoosh whoosh whoosh of disc wheels in the 30-45 age groups of
a triathlon is deafening. Lots of big dollars there, cant imagine too
many of them are sponsored.

DaveB "just jealous"

105 10 speed is a big improvement over the 9sp version:
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1608/1137/1600/1.jpg
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1608/1137/1600/4.jpg
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1608/1137/1600/3.jpg

http://ideal1984.blogspot.com/

"Brendan Webb" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Newbie. Hi. Rather than the standard "Which bike is best for me?" I was
wondering whether a better frame with a lesser quality groupset would be
more worthwhile than the other way around? Is tiagra worth worrying about
or just go straight to 105? For around $1500 the selection of cranks,
derailers, calipers etc varies a great deal.

Also any brands/ models in this range $1500 +-250 to steer clear of?

I would say frame, partly because of the relative consumability of the other
components as other here have pointed out, but mostly because it's the frame
that determines how well the bike will fit you. Nothing will make more of a
difference between a bike that you will love for ever and ever unto death
and a bike that's somehow dissatisfying than how well it fits you and the
funkiest gruppo in the world won't change that. In other words, ride several
bikes and pick the one that feels the best, irrespective of what components
it runs. Bits can be swapped.

Donga said:

Bleve:

Quoted message said:

I'd always say get the best frame you can afford, and upgrade the bits
as they wear out.

Do you think that's still true Bleve, now that steel is rare? The
package price seems so much better than component prices, that people
seem to turn over whole bikes when stuff starts to wear out.

Yes. My Al Alloy Trek 1400 has been through a lot of components in its
56,000km so far, but the frame still works just fine.

Brendan Webb said:

Newbie. Hi. Rather than the standard "Which bike is best for me?" I was
wondering whether a better frame with a lesser quality groupset would be
more worthwhile than the other way around? Is tiagra worth worrying
about or just go straight to 105? For around $1500 the selection of
cranks, derailers, calipers etc varies a great deal.

Also any brands/ models in this range $1500 +-250 to steer clear of?

I've a three year old Trek 1200. Lifetime warranty on the frame and it fits me well. I went for the Trek mainly because it comes with braze ons for a rear rack; I've probably ridden it less than a dozen times without the rack since I've had it.

It came with Tiagra groupset and that's still going strong. My wife's Cannondale (jealous pang) comes with 105 and there's definately a noticeable difference in quality; the Tiagra stuff does what I need it to perfectly adequately.

I've been through five chains and four cassettes. That stuff wears out. The big rings are pretty close to being shot so that'll be the next big expense and for me it will be a large one 'cause I'm going compact (different size of chain rings, 50/34 as opposed to the usual 53/49).

Summary: go for a good frame. Components wear out and will need replacing. If you get a frame with a lifetime warranty you're all set. FWIW I'm more than happy with my Trek. OK it's not the flashest road bike in town but seeing as I got it as a commuting hack it can scrub up as a reasonable road bike if I want to do that :-)

Is it possible to buy a 'good' frame with lower level components?
Isn't usually a tarted up frame with higher option components? 'good' frames usually come with all the nice bits hanging off it.

('Good' as in top shelf materials etc, good fit can come 100% on low end frames)

Marx SS said:

I think the ‘Beach Rd Café” thing is where the big dollars need to be spent. Tiagra/105 will take you to the top of any climb, but Durace can truly only be appreciated curbside with latte in hand,
.

you forgot that Tiagra will not only not get you into the coffe shop, it won't even let you go north of Mordialloc :p

531Aussie said:

you forgot that Tiagra will not only not get you into the coffe shop, it won't even let you go north of Mordialloc :p

Dang, and there's me living in Dingley Village and working in the city. You've got me worried now!

Marx SS said:

Is it possible to buy a 'good' frame with lower level components?
Isn't usually a tarted up frame with higher option components? 'good'
frames usually come with all the nice bits hanging off it.

I think so. As an example (Trek again 🙂 ) the 1000, 1200, 1400 & 1500
are all the same frame, just different components.

Quoted message said:

('Good' as in top shelf materials etc, good fit can come 100% on low
end frames)

Good as in well made, reasonably stiff, handles well, robust and not a
brick.