Sram Rival, Campag Veloce or Shimano Ultegra?

bobbie

I'm looking to get a new groupset but there are quite a few choices that fall in my price range.
Looking around it seems it will be one of these three, but what one ?
Any advice and thoughts would be gratefully received as i have not had a road bike for a while and things have changed a bit!
Thanks...

Wooliferkins

Up front I'm a Campag over shimano man myself. IMHO it wears better, you can get spares for it. Some dislike the defined click when you change in Campag I've not used SRAM but my impression is it's quietly gaining a good rep. Top 3 podium places at the TdF can't be all bad. As you've been away a while the different lever action won't be a problem. I guess this is a try before you buy scenario.

FitzM

bobbie, I'll be reading the responses to your post with interest as I'm in exactly the same position. My new frame (Cervelo Soloist) arrived yesterday and I need to start adding the components.

My current bike has Shimano 105 but I'm open any of the 3 you detail

softlad

No direct experience of Campag, but out of those three I would argue that Rival is probably the hardest to beat on both weight and performance. I've just upgraded my best bike from Ultegra to a Rival/Force combo and the weight saving alone is significant...especially on the shifters...

hopper1

I vote for SRAM Rival.
I have SRAM on my best bike and Shimano Ultegra 6700 & Sora on my other two, there is no comparison.
I only tried Campag whilst demo'ing bikes, but could not get on with the Ergo thumb trigger, I did however like the positive 'click' when changing gears.
Demo some bikes fitted with the groupsets you are considering, then make a decision based on your personal feel.

scullyman

My response is semi-impartial!

I have always been a fan of Shimano for legacy reasons, having started out mountain biking when Deore was the only way to go. I still have XT on my mountain bike; perfect for me.

However, because it seemed like the best deal for my first roadie I bought a Boardman on C2W with Rival. I have been very impressed. I have to say that I anticipated less smooth shifting - I'm not sure why other than a little bit of prejudice. This hasn't been the case. The indexing has been precise, I haven't noticed any real difference in smoothness and I have quickly got used to double-tap, which I now really like.

So, a thumbs up for me for Rival. Good quality, great value and excellent weight.

I have no experience of Campag I'm afraid.

Harry182

+1 for Sram.

I have Force on my best bike and am currently building up a bike for Mrs Harry with Rival.

However, while Rival would be/ is my preference, I wouldn't argue that it's better than Ultegra or Veloce. I reckon any of the 3 groupsets would do the job more than adequately and that what's "best" is a matter of individual personal preference.

Final advice - test ride all 3 and see what you get on best with.

redddraggon

Rival > Veloce > Ultegra

will3

scullyman wrote:

I have no experience of Campag I'm afraid.

There's no need to be scared of it, it's just a way of changing gears.

pastey_boy

veloce is a budget grouppo and heavy ,ultegra is smooth and good looking and pretty reliable but vote goes to sram for weight and price and function. double tap is great if you get on with it , the only weak link for me is the sram/truvativ bb

skellator3

i would go for either rival or ultegra over veloce due to the shift levers, try both to see which one you like best, also sram and shimano are interchangable and where i am easier to get serviced

softlad

skellator3 wrote:

also sram and shimano are interchangable and where i am easier to get serviced

the cassettes may run the same spacing, but the cable pull ratios are different, so the shifters and mechs cannot be swapped between the two brands...

EricE

I'm normally a campag man and like 2006 Centaur and 2007 Chorus. However, I recently got a Wilier Mortirolo and it has veloce on it and I reckon its pretty cheap and flimsy compared with Ultegra. Veloce is now bottom of the range stuff and doesn't look so different from, what used to be, Mirage.

STEFANOS4784

Sram because it's lightest (i think)

skyd0g

...the one you prefer.

STEFANOS4784

skyd0g wrote:

...the one you prefer.

Stop talking nonsense, this is only the 1st page

skyd0g

STEFANOS4784 wrote:

skyd0g wrote:

...the one you prefer.

Stop talking nonsense, this is only the 1st page

...apologies, I forgot 'groupset forum etiquette' there for a minute...
I'd go for Suntour myself.
...in compact.

Monty Dog

I'd try them all if you get the chance, but you could also see if you can find a good deal on Centaur, which is a closer equivalent to the other 2. Some pointers:
Rival - the lightest, but the gear shift is the least intuitive
Ultegra - feels precise and smooth but aesthetically and ergonomically the worst IMO
Centaur - the best shape levers but gearshift not as refined as Shimano

scullyman

will3 wrote:

scullyman wrote:

I have no experience of Campag I'm afraid.

There's no need to be scared of it, it's just a way of changing gears.

Only just saw this... very good. An impressive bit of Thursday banter. This seems to be the only thread that's not kicking off at the moment...

inseine

I'd try them all if you get the chance, but you could also see if you can find a good deal on Centaur, which is a closer equivalent to the other 2. Some pointers:
Rival - the lightest, but the gear shift is the least intuitive
Ultegra - feels precise and smooth but aesthetically and ergonomically the worst IMO
Centaur - the best shape levers but gearshift not as refined as Shimano

+1 Disappointed by the comfort of new Shimano, certainly compared to Campag. Just bought SRAM Force so I hope I get on with the shift. Seemed fine on a static test.

rake

i dont understand why any one has to 'get on' with double tap or intuitive its bloody simple.1 tap up double tap down. yes its different and yes if youve used another system for 70 years youl be more used to that. or use a bike with a 54 inch front wheel.

bobbie

Thanks everyone, all the comments have been a great help

Pokerface

I could never figure out how to use the Double Tap shifters on Sram Rival.


So I bought Sram Red instead. 8)

realALBERTAN

GO SRAM...



I run ultegra (hopefully FORCE next year) on my soloist and sram (mixed) on my tt bike... red shifters, rival rear derailleur, force front derailleur... I sourced it cheap from the US and put together a P2 Carbon for under $2000 CAD (not including the race wheels I already had... the project was only $1600 but the aerobars and brake levers were in my garage before I started... The frame was $1000 new... technically NOS (2007) as it had some very minor paint chips and sat new 2 years in the shop and I got a 2009 white 3T fork to go with it (no extra charge).

The P2 on a budget performed awesome... 2:27 for 94 km (70.3 triathlon) 25th fastest split out of 1200 or so...

it's bloody cold today... time for an indoor workout....

Today
Periods of light snow and local blowing snow ending this afternoon then cloudy with sunny periods and 40 percent chance of flurries. Wind north 20 km/h gusting to 40. Temperature falling to minus 20 this afternoon. Wind chill minus 30.

Tonight
Clearing. Wind north 20 km/h becoming light late this evening. Low minus 27. Wind chill minus 33.

Monday
Sunny. Wind up to 15 km/h. High minus 20. Wind chill minus 33.

Tuesday
Sunny. Low minus 25. High minus 15.

Wednesday
A mix of sun and cloud. Low minus 19. High minus 4.

Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud. Low minus 9. High minus 6.

Friday
A mix of sun and cloud. Low minus 19. High minus 15.

Saturday
A mix of sun and cloud. Low minus 19. High minus 16.