I kind of think, though this is opinion just like Cyclintom, but I think you don't need Ultegra or Dura Ace on a AL bike, I think 105, or a mix of mostly 105 and Ultegra rear derailleur, on an AL bike really is all you need even if you're racing! In fact it may be all but impossible to find an AL bike with Ultegra components, I think Motobecane has one but main line bikes will be more difficult find.
I haven't rode a new AL bike in about 5 years, people say that these newer AL bikes ride very comfortably, I can't vouch for that, but if it's true than AL bike may very well be the best deal going.
I also think number of gears has gone nuts unless you're really particular about making sure your RPM's stay right at a certain level. But heck it wasn't that long ago that 7 speeds was more than adequate. But someone decided more was better, but better for who, racers? yes, for everyone else? not so critical. Plus as Cyclintom pointed out the newer more gears narrower chain thing we all now have to have wear out faster which means of course more money for bike manufactures and parts manufactures and all because it's better...for who? go back and review.
Since Campy doesn't make replacement parts any longer i guess they're now no better than the other groups.
Some bike shops will allow you to swap parts BEFORE you take the bike home. When I got my Lynskey I was able to swap out the 105 rear derailleur for Ultegra and all I paid was the difference which was just $32, that swap along with standard Shimano cables for DA cables made the whole component package have the feel of an all Ultegra or even DA for that matter for less money. There was three other swaps I did as well.
If you want the ability to work on your bike at home than go with a BSA threaded bottom bracket, press fit can really only be worked on by LBS's. So that's something one might want to consider when buying a new bike in order to save long term labor cost. Don't get me wrong, a home mechanic can do press fit brackets but at the expense of specialty tools and maybe a chance of ruining the frame. This is how the press fits are done: View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOJAKBQOU9U
Here is another take on it: View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c-Xu55ReNE
I haven't rode a new AL bike in about 5 years, people say that these newer AL bikes ride very comfortably, I can't vouch for that, but if it's true than AL bike may very well be the best deal going.
I also think number of gears has gone nuts unless you're really particular about making sure your RPM's stay right at a certain level. But heck it wasn't that long ago that 7 speeds was more than adequate. But someone decided more was better, but better for who, racers? yes, for everyone else? not so critical. Plus as Cyclintom pointed out the newer more gears narrower chain thing we all now have to have wear out faster which means of course more money for bike manufactures and parts manufactures and all because it's better...for who? go back and review.
Since Campy doesn't make replacement parts any longer i guess they're now no better than the other groups.
Some bike shops will allow you to swap parts BEFORE you take the bike home. When I got my Lynskey I was able to swap out the 105 rear derailleur for Ultegra and all I paid was the difference which was just $32, that swap along with standard Shimano cables for DA cables made the whole component package have the feel of an all Ultegra or even DA for that matter for less money. There was three other swaps I did as well.
If you want the ability to work on your bike at home than go with a BSA threaded bottom bracket, press fit can really only be worked on by LBS's. So that's something one might want to consider when buying a new bike in order to save long term labor cost. Don't get me wrong, a home mechanic can do press fit brackets but at the expense of specialty tools and maybe a chance of ruining the frame. This is how the press fits are done: View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOJAKBQOU9U
Here is another take on it: View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c-Xu55ReNE