Most important upgrade

trg said:

With a full Ultegra groupo, what would be the top 3 componants you'd upgrade to Dura-Ace and why.

The first three to wear out. <G>

Barry

A shy person asked:

Quoted message said:

With a full Ultegra groupo, what would be the top 3 componants you'd upgrade to Dura-Ace and why.

Example-
1) the rear derailer (for performance)
2) BB (for longevity)
3) cranks(for weigh savings)

None of the above.

There's no "performance" difference between the derailers.

The Ultegra BB is well known to be better than the Dura-Ace one, assuming you're talking about
2003 stuff.

The 2003 Dura-Ace crank uses non-standard chainrings and an oddball proprietary bolt circle for the
30 tooth ring. Ultegra would be a MUCH better choice.

If you're satisfied with a double, new 2004 cranks do seem to be an upgrade, but I don't think
they're actually available yet.

For a typical Ultegra equipped bike, the first thing I'd upgrade would be the brake shoes, with Kool
Stop salmon.

Then I'd look at tires and saddle...

Sheldon "Function, Not Marketing Hype" Brown +-------------------------------------------------+
| To stay young requires unceasing cultivation | of the ability to unlearn old falsehoods. |
| --Robert A. Heinlein |
+-------------------------------------------------+ Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts Phone
617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041 harriscyclery.comharriscyclery.comOpen ↗ Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
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Ultegra BB is better than DA.

Don't know what kind of wheels you have, but lotsa bikes come with some pretty cheesy wheels.

Here's an upgrade hardly anyone talks about that made a huge difference to
me. The bike I bought came with very narrow handlebars. When I finally got around to doing some
homework and learning how handlebars should be fit, and then buying some that actually fit me
properly, I was stunned at the comfort difference -- and how much it helped me when climbing. I
felt like I had a much better platform for out-of-saddle efforts, and I also had my chest
opened up for better breathing.

The center-to-center measure of your bars should match the distance between the little bone
ridge you can feel at the top of your shoulder. Naturally, you'll have to have someone else
measure it for you. I've heard that some sprinters like to go narrower so they can squeeze
through in tight sprints.

Bob C. "trg" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

With a full Ultegra groupo, what would be the top 3 componants you'd

upgrade

Quoted message said:

to Dura-Ace and why.

Example-
1) the rear derailer (for performance)
2) BB (for longevity)
3) cranks(for weigh savings)

---
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"trg" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

With a full Ultegra groupo, what would be the top 3 componants you'd

upgrade

Quoted message said:

to Dura-Ace and why.

Example-
1) the rear derailer (for performance)
2) BB (for longevity)
3) cranks(for weigh savings)

I upgraded my Ultegra triple equipped bikes by going to Dura Ace triple shifters and rear
derailluer. The shifting is better, more positive and requires less effort. Keep the Ultegra BB and
cranks, Dura Ace offers nothing .

"Dave Thompson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

With a full Ultegra groupo, what would be the top 3 componants you'd

upgrade

Quoted message said:

to Dura-Ace and why.

Example-
1) the rear derailer (for performance)
2) BB (for longevity)
3) cranks(for weigh savings)

I upgraded my Ultegra triple equipped bikes by going to Dura Ace triple shifters and rear
derailluer. The shifting is better, more positive and requires less effort. Keep the Ultegra BB
and cranks, Dura Ace offers nothing .

Agree, most important "upgrade" to DA is the STI shifters. Why? 3 year warranty. Since STI shifters
can't be repaired, DA shifters are preferable to the others because if they go south within the
warranty period, you can get a new one....

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

Quoted message said:

With a full Ultegra groupo, what would be the top 3 componants you'd

upgrade

Quoted message said:

to Dura-Ace and why.

Example-
1) the rear derailer (for performance)
2) BB (for longevity)
3) cranks(for weigh savings)

How 'bout riding it till it is worn out THEN replacing it? Makes much more sense to me.

The first place I'd spend money is having a professional fit done (by someone that knows what
they're doing!). That will get you the most benefits in the shortest time. If the bike don't fit, it
won't matter WHAT parts it has on it, you won't be able to ride it as fast as it can be ridden.

If you are bound and determined to spend money on components: STI levers, then pedals, then whatever
else strikes your fancy (saddle, bars, seatpost, headset, stem, etc.). The rest of the parts weigh
less, but effectively function the same. I ride D/A because I've come across some screaming deals,
putting my bikes together one piece at a time over the course of months. At my level of
racing/riding, I can't see spending the extra $$ for
D/A unless I'm getting it for dirt cheap.

If you're racing or riding over 25/6mph consistently a set of deep section aero wheels would be even
better than all of the above. If you're consistently UNDER 25/6mph, then aero wheels are just big,
heavy rimmed wheels and don't really do all that much. Mmmmm Zipp 404s...

Is Ultegra going to hold you back? Nope. Is D/A nicer? Yup. Does anyone other than the Cat 1/2/Pro
guys really NEED D/A? Probably not. Will having
E/A upgrades make you want to ride more? If so, then by all means upgrade away. Just remember, its
the riding more part that's making you faster, not the components.

Mike

trg-<< With a full Ultegra groupo, what would be the top 3 componants you'd upgrade to
Dura-Ace and why.

Example-
1) the rear derailer (for performance)- DA rear der won't work any better worse

2) BB (for longevity) DA BB is a picture of poor longevity, when compared to an ultegra

3) cranks(for weigh savings) >><BR><BR> Weigh each and this teeny weigh savings mean nada.

Spend your money on -a bike fit -massage therapy

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(4)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

trg said:

With a full Ultegra groupo, what would be the top 3 componants you'd upgrade to Dura-Ace and why.

Example-
1) the rear derailer (for performance)
2) BB (for longevity)
3) cranks(for weigh savings)

Only valid reason would be for psychological value. Having a full Dura Ace group is much better than
having an Ultegra group.

Weight savings is best achieved by reducing the motor weight.

Shifters - crisper, more durable, lighter Hubs - if you have Ultegra hubs...DA will definitely
last longer if maintained and is lighter to boot. Crankset - I think the DA is stiffer. But only
my opinion.

Definitely NOT the BB, Ultegra is a lot less finicky and will probably outlast the DA BB.

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

Quoted message said:

With a full Ultegra groupo, what would be the top 3 componants you'd

upgrade

Quoted message said:

to Dura-Ace and why.

Example-
1) the rear derailer (for performance)
2) BB (for longevity)
3) cranks(for weigh savings)

---
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Weight savings is best achieved by reducing the motor weight.

Amen, brother!

Mike (15# overweight, but working on it)

More miles. Phil Brown

In article said:

A shy person asked:

Quoted message said:

With a full Ultegra groupo, what would be the top 3 componants you'd upgrade to Dura-Ace and why.

Example-
1) the rear derailer (for performance)
2) BB (for longevity)
3) cranks(for weigh savings)

None of the above.

There's no "performance" difference between the derailers.

The Ultegra BB is well known to be better than the Dura-Ace one, assuming you're talking about
2003 stuff.

That's the double BB you're talking about.. "better" as in more reliable when not maintained often.
The DA double BB isn't sealed as well.

Unlike the DA double BB, the DA triple BB has the same well-sealed construction as the Ultegra BB.

Quoted message said:

The 2003 Dura-Ace crank uses non-standard chainrings and an oddball proprietary bolt circle for the
30 tooth ring. Ultegra would be a MUCH better choice.

This is the triple crank here... and the only non-standard chainring is the small one.

The biggest difference I've found between ultegra and DA is the feel of the shifters and even that
isn't much difference.

Eric

I said:

Quoted message said:

The 2003 Dura-Ace crank uses non-standard chainrings and an oddball proprietary bolt circle for
the 30 tooth ring. Ultegra would be a MUCH better choice.

Eric Murray said:

This is the triple crank here... and the only non-standard chainring is the small one.

No, the 39 middle ring is also non-standard, it is what the oddball 92 mm 30 tooth ring attaches to.

Sheldon "Ultegra Is Better" Brown +--------------------------------------------------+
| My son George has written a Trombone Concerto | You can hear it at sheldonbrown.commp3Open ↗ |
+--------------------------------------------------+ Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041 harriscyclery.comharriscyclery.comOpen ↗ Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
captainbike.comcaptainbike.comOpen ↗ sheldonbrown.comsheldonbrown.comOpen ↗