Which Groupset for new steel frame bike?
mercian man
Posts: 3
Am back on a bike properly after almost a decade off. Am having a Mercian steel frame built and am slowly procuring parts while it is built. I want a contemporary bike which will be ridden in anger rather than 'the odd sunday ride' does anybody have any experience of a similar build? My heart says Campy (prob chorus thought might push to record) though top-end sram red can be bought for £1000 which is tempting.
Any advice welcome!
Any advice welcome!
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Comments
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I can't understand the reason why SRAM kit exists. I mean, how uninspiring to target their products at that part of the market already occupied by Shimano - not another Far East component manufacturer!0
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Berk Bonebonce wrote:I can't understand the reason why SRAM kit exists. I mean, how uninspiring to target their products at that part of the market already occupied by Shimano - not another Far East component manufacturer!
Uninspiring?
SRAM exist to make money - about $500 million of sales in 2008.
For a company founded in 1987 to appear twice in the 2010 TdF top three is quite an achievement given the dominance of Shimano and Campag. And they are based in Illinois.
As for the question, unless you are planning on competing at the very top levels of cycling or have deep pockets then mid-level groupsets from any of the manufacturers would suffice (105, Force, Ultegra etc). Having said that, SRAM Red is pretty.0 -
If I was building a new bike now, I'd choose Campag Athena for shifters and mechs. Campag because I'm used to it, and Athena because it's prevailingly aluminium which I prefer over carbon.
I'd look out for NOS pre-2006 Record hubs (because I prefer cup-and-cone bearings, and those hubs are beautifully finished), NOS Record/Chorus square taper cranks and BB, (which are still available cheap), and ancient (80's) Campag side-pull callipers, or just the rear modern ones. If I found a pair of pristine Suntour Superbe Pro cranks I'd have them.
So there you are. One person's ideal(ish) "groupset".0 -
Campy natch! I mean FFS it'll have campy stamped on the axle dropouts, well mine did.
I regret selling mine however I'm confident the friend I sold it too is going to restore it as it should be.Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
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Could someone please tell me what 'Campy' is?Expertly coached by http://www.vitessecyclecoaching.co.uk/
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I would probably go Campag, although I did recently see a new steel Viner built with SRAM Red and it looked fantastic.0
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I'd have a feel of the shifters from the big three and see which ones you like best. Then choose the relevant groupset that suits your budget.
I love the snappy shifting of Sram but much prefer the aesthetics of Campagnolo. Shimano looks a little bland but is flawless really and the Dura Ace brakes are the best of the bunch.0 -
Thanks for the info - will check out athena and poss sram force0
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Classic steel would need to be Athena. Polished Record alloy hubs are hard to find these days - cheaper option is Ambrosio Zenith.Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..0
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Can't beat a good steel frame :-)
I'd love to try Campy, never used it at all. The Athena set would look best on a steel bike. But failing that I'd go for 105 unless I good a great deal on Ultegra. If I went 105 I'd used the saving over Ultegra to get some nice wheels, maybe Ksyrium Elites.http://www.strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible Price.
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lemoncurd wrote:Berk Bonebonce wrote:I can't understand the reason why SRAM kit exists. I mean, how uninspiring to target their products at that part of the market already occupied by Shimano - not another Far East component manufacturer!
Uninspiring?
SRAM exist to make money - about $500 million of sales in 2008.
For a company founded in 1987 to appear twice in the 2010 TdF top three is quite an achievement given the dominance of Shimano and Campag. And they are based in Illinois.
As for the question, unless you are planning on competing at the very top levels of cycling or have deep pockets then mid-level groupsets from any of the manufacturers would suffice (105, Force, Ultegra etc). Having said that, SRAM Red is pretty.0 -
giant mancp wrote:lemoncurd wrote:Berk Bonebonce wrote:I can't understand the reason why SRAM kit exists. I mean, how uninspiring to target their products at that part of the market already occupied by Shimano - not another Far East component manufacturer!
Uninspiring?
SRAM exist to make money - about $500 million of sales in 2008.
For a company founded in 1987 to appear twice in the 2010 TdF top three is quite an achievement given the dominance of Shimano and Campag. And they are based in Illinois.
As for the question, unless you are planning on competing at the very top levels of cycling or have deep pockets then mid-level groupsets from any of the manufacturers would suffice (105, Force, Ultegra etc). Having said that, SRAM Red is pretty.
If it's good enough for Schleck, Contador, Armstrong etc then it's good enough for me and most other mortals.
Or are your demands of gear changing performance greater than theirs?
The whole "my Campag is better than your Halfords" attitude is toss.0 -
I think Sram stuff is functionally the best...0
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After having campag when I first began - I've had shimano on ally bikes since then and it works flawlessly.
That said - a lot of people prefer campag. In operation there's no real difference between them. Ride the one you like the look of.
May be cheaper to buy a full groupset rather than bits and pieces ?0 -
Athena alloy does look class. I'd really like that on a Master X Light.0
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Athena, retro looking groupset on retro frame. I'm a shimano man but shimano or sram just wouldn't look right on a Mercian frame. Mercian/campag.0
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Try them. Everyone will have their own opinion of what is best when in reality it is what they are comfortable with. Each manufacturer has it's quirks, but there is rather more "Campag is better than anything" quoting from Campag users than you get from SRAM or Shimano users. That doesn't mean Campag is better than the rest; just Campag users are probably more insecure about their purchase.I ride a bike. Doesn't make me green or a tree hugger. I drive a car too.0
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As NapoleonD has said... the important bit is the bit you touch... the shifters. If they're not comfortable for you to use then your perfect bike will be anything but perfect. Find out which groupsets are available for your budget and try the different shifters. Then buy the groupset that you find most comfortable.0
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Chip \'oyler wrote:Could someone please tell me what 'Campy' is?
+1 it has been known as Campag for years so why this sudden use of "campy". Conjures up images of pantomime dames!
In answer to the OP I think that Campag produce the more "retro" looking groupsets that are currently available although I'm not a fan of the skeleton brakes.0 -
Pross wrote:Chip \'oyler wrote:Could someone please tell me what 'Campy' is?
+1 it has been known as Campag for years so why this sudden use of "campy". Conjures up images of pantomime dames!
Someone would want to tell Campagnolo then - their own website is littered with "Campy" references, from the "Campy Tech Lab" to their customer community section "MAD4CAMPY" , which sounds like an Alan Carr / Louis Spence fan club.'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'0 -
LangerDan wrote:Pross wrote:Chip \'oyler wrote:Could someone please tell me what 'Campy' is?
+1 it has been known as Campag for years so why this sudden use of "campy". Conjures up images of pantomime dames!
Someone would want to tell Campagnolo then - their own website is littered with "Campy" references, from the "Campy Tech Lab" to their customer community section "MAD4CAMPY" , which sounds like an Alan Carr / Louis Spence fan club.
I've always used Campag. However after seeing them call their own R&D Dep "Campy Tech Lab" the stuff is getting binned and being replaced with some jap crap.
TBH I think they're trying to appeal to the lowest common denominator - AmericansExpertly coached by http://www.vitessecyclecoaching.co.uk/
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SRAM are American surely?I ride a bike. Doesn't make me green or a tree hugger. I drive a car too.0
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For a steel frame bike, imo alloy Athena for winter use or carbon Chorus/Record for summer.
I wouldn't bother with the other two manufacturers if you want something befitting and classic looking.0 -
giant mancp wrote:For a steel frame bike, imo alloy Athena for winter use or carbon Chorus/Record for summer.
I wouldn't bother with the other two manufacturers if you want something befitting and classic looking.
Read agricultural looking and manufactured with a hammer and forge and not machines like SRAM and Shimano.I ride a bike. Doesn't make me green or a tree hugger. I drive a car too.0 -
Campag Athena looks nice but what would put me off would be the single pivot brakes which are alot less effective than the dual pivots (even the later single pivots like Athena). I would presonally go for some older Chorus(late 90's/early 00) or pre 04 Mirage (for the best bang per buck) which was considered much better quality than the current lower spec Campag, and I think is better made than the later Veloce and Centaur groupsets.0
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philthy3 wrote:giant mancp wrote:For a steel frame bike, imo alloy Athena for winter use or carbon Chorus/Record for summer.
I wouldn't bother with the other two manufacturers if you want something befitting and classic looking.
Read agricultural looking and manufactured with a hammer and forge and not machines like SRAM and Shimano.
How many carbon fibre tractors you seen lately?Expertly coached by http://www.vitessecyclecoaching.co.uk/
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thiscocks wrote:Campag Athena looks nice but what would put me off would be the single pivot brakes which are alot less effective than the dual pivots (even the later single pivots like Athena). I would presonally go for some older Chorus(late 90's/early 00) or pre 04 Mirage (for the best bang per buck) which was considered much better quality than the current lower spec Campag, and I think is better made than the later Veloce and Centaur groupsets.
FWIW, I don't think single-pivot brakes are "less effective": they are designed with a lower mechanical advantage, meaning you need to squeeze the lever harder for a given clamping force at the calliper. Because there's no servo component in bicycle brakes, mechanical advantage is the only consideration. I prefer that older MA, which is more tolerant of misadjustment and pad wear, and with which I could still send myself over the handlebars.0 -
Sorry I assumed you meant the old 90's Athena! (which would look good but have the older single pivot brakes). Obviously a bit trickier to find and fairly pricey too- but less than the new Athena, with better looks.
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Just ordered from my LBS a new Athena 2011 set, I run record 10s on my best bike and record 10s on my trainer, but I'm restoring a nice Geoffrey Butler for luxury Sunny Day rides, but wanted a modern twist along with the Candy Apple Red paintwork, so the Athena was the only option.
No issues with tools either, just made sure I ordered a couple of KMC 11s quick links.0