Veloce or 105 (2011)

minardi

Hi,

I'm new here, so hopefully I'm asking this in the right place. I think this may be a contentious topic, and I've had a look around but not been able to find a clear answer...

I'm building up a bike (Van Nicholas Yukon (90% sure, but maybe Euros) and I need to choose between 2011 Veloce and 105 (compete group, with compact chain set).

I quite liked the look of 2011 Veloce, as some say it is 'higher up' than 105, but:

- some have suggested it has been downgraded recently?
- I can't find any reviews for 2011
- Weight? Is it lighter than 105
- The hood look thinner than Shimano hoods?

I've got Tiagra at the minute and I'm happy with that, but I though about a change. I also like the look of 105 and have always had Shimano groups and have always been happy (except for Sora 27spd).

Also, price: Veloce seems to come in slightly cheaper? Is paying a little more for 105 worth it?

So any views from current users of either group? Any one got any suggestions? Any 'general pros and cons' of either groupset?

Cheers

StanwaySteve62

Shimano for me, bascially down to the hoods and thumb shifter that I dont like on Campag

spasypaddy

if you already ride tiagra go with 105.

if you rode sora or campag i'd suggest getting the veloce but you dont.

stick with what you hands already know

sheffsimon

Campag.

The end.

prawny

Whichever you fancy, although staying shimano will make it easier swapping wheels over in an emergency. Like two days before my first sportive when I pinged a spoke :roll:

minardi

Thanks for your answers so far. It's a nice problem to have in many ways, but it isn't half confusing/giving me a headache!

prawny wrote:

Whichever you fancy, although staying shimano will make it easier swapping wheels over in an emergency. Like two days before my first sportive when I pinged a spoke :roll:

That's something I hadn't thought of, although my other wheels are 9 speed so I'm not sure if that would work.

Also, if I wanted to change wheels in the future, will any hub take a Campag or Shimano cassette? e.g. If I bot some Mavic factory build wheels can I just but on my existing cassette? and what about, for example, Campag factory wheels, could I use a Shimano cassette with them (and vice versa)?

Thanks!

Squillinossett

Just ot throw a spanner in the works, have you look at Athena 11 that is on offer @ Merlin?

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Home/Prod ... t_1957.htm

Extra £100 buys you ALOT, carbon ergos, carbon crank, 11 speed.

Its a silly price for the groupset.

JD_76

Shimano all the way mate, Campag is far too overrated IMO.

Lights fuse and stands well back.

KentS

I vote campagnolo ;-)

2alexcoo

The Veloce shifters have been 'downgraded' for 2011 - you can now only shift to one smaller cog at a time, rather than five. A shame, but Shimano has always been this way so one isn't better than the other in this respect.

At the usual online places Veloce seems to be about £100 cheaper than 105, which would swing it for me.

mabarbie

I have campag, would never go Shimano, but, you have Shimano, have nothing against it so continue with what you know. As previous posters say, your hands/mind are used to the way you change gears, you can re use old wheels (casettes are not interchageable, so far as I know).

clx1

You can't go wrong with either so I would base the decision on which shifting method you prefer.

prawny

minardi wrote:

Thanks for your answers so far. It's a nice problem to have in many ways, but it isn't half confusing/giving me a headache!

prawny wrote:

Whichever you fancy, although staying shimano will make it easier swapping wheels over in an emergency. Like two days before my first sportive when I pinged a spoke :roll:

That's something I hadn't thought of, although my other wheels are 9 speed so I'm not sure if that would work.

Also, if I wanted to change wheels in the future, will any hub take a Campag or Shimano cassette? e.g. If I bot some Mavic factory build wheels can I just but on my existing cassette? and what about, for example, Campag factory wheels, could I use a Shimano cassette with them (and vice versa)?

Thanks!

A 9 speed casette is narrower than a 10 speed so you'll be able to use your old wheels with your new bike. Campag casettes wont fit a shimano/sram wheel so you would have to use your tiagra cassette, which might work, but obviously wouldn't be ideal.

You may be able to tell i've been planning my new bike for quite some time, still no idea what i'm goin to get though, they don't make a supeelight steel/carbon/ti race bike with guards clearance for cross tyres and discs yet unfortunately.

sheffsimon

Squillinossett wrote:

Just ot throw a spanner in the works, have you look at Athena 11 that is on offer @ Merlin?

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Home/Prod ... t_1957.htm

Extra £100 buys you ALOT, carbon ergos, carbon crank, 11 speed.

Its a silly price for the groupset.

Saw these myself - very tempting

Squillinossett

SheffSimon wrote:

Squillinossett wrote:

Just ot throw a spanner in the works, have you look at Athena 11 that is on offer @ Merlin?

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Home/Prod ... t_1957.htm

Extra £100 buys you ALOT, carbon ergos, carbon crank, 11 speed.

Its a silly price for the groupset.

Saw these myself - very tempting

I know, I keep looking at it.....

mcj78

I was thinking along similar lines recently, given this years' apparent downgrade to Veloce shifters & chainset (i think?) I contemplated building my own groupset from individual components on the shinybikes website with a mix of '10/'11 Veloce/Centaur mix, didn't work out that much more expensive than the complete veloce groupset & a couple of bits were upgraded to Centaur - just another thought for you!
J

red dragon

+1 for Campag

FransJacques

Squillinossett wrote:

Just ot throw a spanner in the works, have you look at Athena 11 that is on offer @ Merlin?

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Home/Prod ... t_1957.htm

Extra £100 buys you ALOT, carbon ergos, carbon crank, 11 speed.

Its a silly price for the groupset.

Good find there, that's some serious equipment and carbon for £530! This groupset, with the carbon ergos and crank will make any frame look amazing.

105 makes a bike look like a £999 price-point special from some blowout bucket shop. Campy will make it look like you just walked out of cyclefit with your pride and joy.

Forget the 9 speed stuff, that was so last year and you're a new man now - get the 11speed and buy a cheap pair of Fulcrum 7s as backups.

Enjoy!

Sammyw23

The 2011 Veloce shifters have been downgraded?? Is that why I can't trim the front mech when on the big wheel? It just shifts straight away whereas on my 2010 shifters I can trim once or twice to avoid chainrub.

minardi

Thanks very much for everyone's input on this. I've decided on the Yukon and will go and check out groups today (no riding due to snow )

The 'downgrade' seems to be 'Power Torque' (which has a full length axle) and Ultra Torque (which is stubby axle bits and so is a bit lighter) and the lack of multiple shifting to smaller cogs (I think that's it anyway) which 105 lacks anyway and, to be honest, I'm never going that fast anyway... And the lack of trimming, which 105 lacks.

Athena I think is just a bridge too far, I'm at the limit of my already over budget 'budget'. I'll leave that for a future upgrade later.

I suppose what I really wanted to know is 'are both decent/worth getting' and I think that it seems that they are.

I'm going to check prices at the shop I'm getting the bike on today. If Veloce is £100 or so cheaper I may go with that and put the spare £100 in to a lighter set of wheels. If they are the same then I'll probably go Shimano seeing that's what I know (despite it having a 'bargain basement' look according to FransJacques, but I think it looks mint (except for the cranks), but each to their own!)

But at the same time there is something strangely alluring about Campag....

Thanks again guys!

cooper.michael1

I've found campag ergo levers infinitely more comfortable than Shimano STI's, with better access to the brake levers also. Comfort however is a personal choice.

twotyred

Shimano for me, bascially down to the hoods and thumb shifter that I dont like on Campag

+1

Velonutter

Campag was good enough for me to win a shed load of races 30 years ago and still good enough for me today.

Campag wear in whilst Shim wear out :shock: :roll:

Wheelie Bin

2alexcoo wrote:

The Veloce shifters have been 'downgraded' for 2011 - you can now only shift to one smaller cog at a time, rather than five.

Wrong!!!

I know it's an old thread, but someone might be misled. You can shift one up and three down and all the components have been upgraded for 2011. You never could shift FIVE!?? at a time.

I'm a fan of Veloce - I prefer it to the 11-speeds, including Athena. It's solid and reliable and keeps in tune.

I own 2011 bikes with both Veloce and Athena.

I'm a convert from Shimano - but they still make great fishing tackle.

Sammyw23

Right and wrong Wheeliebin - I have used the 2010 and 2011 veloce shifters and as you say, on the 2011 shifters you can shift one up and 3 down BUT on the 2010 shifters you could shift THREE up and 3 down.

I have since gone back to the 2010 shifters as I prefer the ability to trim the front mech but there are negatives.

With the 2011 shifters I never once needed them adjusted, they worked perfectly all the time. Since putting the 2010 shifters on, I still haven't got the adjustments 100% right.

In hindsight, I would have kept the 2011 shifters........

robz400

I've got 2011 Carbon Centaur shifters (the same mechanics as Veloce) and can shift multiple gears up and down..... :?: