"Cori" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:27 speeds as opposed to 24, and the Shimano 105 components. (The Sport has Shimano Tiagra
components.)
The Sport actually has mostly Sora components, with one or two next-level-up Tiagra components to
make it sound better. Sora is an 8-speed group (max 8 cassette cogs) with that limit imposed by
the shifters, which can only shift 8 stops. The shifters are by far the most expensive component
of the group.
The 105 group follows the standard 9-speed design of all the rest of Shimano's components, and are
therefore interchangeable; Tiagra, 105, Ultegra, Dura-Ace.
The Sora levers are different in two respects: they have that little thumb lever for shifts in one
direction; you deflect the brake lever for shifts in the other. This means you can't have your hands
in the drops for those thumb-lever shifts, an issue of concern mostly to racers. (Other Shimano STI
shifters have nested levers siftable from either above or beliw).
The other difference is that Sora levers can be adjusted for "reach" -- useful for people with
smaller hands.
The other major distinction between the models is the wheels. While I agree with Art Harris that
higher spoke-count is probably better, all things being equal, all things aren't equal here, since
they're not really comparable wheelsets. If you aren't too heavy an individual, I doubt you'll have
a problem with the Rolf wheels, assuming the shop re-tensions, trues, and stress-relieves these
machine-built wheels before they deliver the bike to you. If they don't, you're likely to have
trouble with any machine-built wheels, regardless of the spoke count.
I'd go with the Expert; the 105 group is the "sweet spot" in Shimano's component line, in terms of
cost/benefit ratio. There are no other alarm bells that I can hear (although the saddle looks
suspiciously overpadded). It's a lovely bike, the best compromise between a light touring bike and a
hybrid on the market, IMO.
RichC
