In what order can I upgrade gear and chainsets and wheels

TipsterStu

I'm picking up a new Surly X Check frame tomorrow with everything bar the seat stem and headset cannibalised from my 6 year old Spesh Crossroads

I'd like to move to drop handlebars eventually and have STi gears too ... make it my winter/touring bike in one

I've never bought a bike in stages before so I don't where to start and what elements commit me to other parts of the gear/chainset family

I presume it's Shimano or Campag or whoever

What will I need to get? I'd like 105 or Veloce tbh ... do I just buy that as a set or can a mix and match between sora to 105 .... and where do the wheels, particularly the rear wheel fit into the equation

If I'm asking the earth with this question please tell me

Monty Dog

After the frame, go for wheels, drivetrain and then everything else. As it's a winter bike, I'd make-do as much as possible and only replace things when they break / wear out.
Decide at the outset whether you want Shimano, SRAM or Campagnolo to avoid inter-compatibility problems.

keef66

If you do mix and match the Shimano stuff, make sure you stick to all 9 speed or all 10 speed components, including the chain.

Pretty easy if you're buying new, but if you're Ebay shopping for used stuff you should beware that:

Sora used to be 8 speed and more recently became 9 speed
Tiagra used to be 9 speed but this coming year it will be 10 speed
105 was 9 speed before 2008, then went to 10 speed, and in 2011 moved to concealed cables
Ultegra's had 10 speeds / concealed cables for quite a while, but there's still older 9 speed stuff out there.

nochekmate

Merlin were recently doing a version of Shimano 105 groupset for £270 approx. Good value at that price tbh

keef66

Yep, the old 5600 version for less than £300 was a bargain. And they had WHR501 wheelsets for £70

TipsterStu

thank you

wakou

Whatever you do, don't do what I have (sort of, not committed 100% yet) and buy some sexy Campag wheels, and try to build a bike around them.
ps wanna buy some sexy Campag wheels>?

TipsterStu

wakou wrote:

Whatever you do, don't do what I have (sort of, not committed 100% yet) and buy some sexy Campag wheels, and try to build a bike around them.
ps wanna buy some sexy Campag wheels>?

I'll pass

TipsterStu

Lets say I went Shimano

What part of it do I invest in most or do you fit together all the same level ... the brakes levers, STI's, cassette, wheels, derailluer or chainset

wakou

I am following this thread because I am in a similar sort of bind, ie want/would like a nice bike but cannot shell out >£1,000 for same: I would like to get something 'rideable' and graduallly upgrade it to something 'decent'. So a frame that is about the right size and then........
or a second hand bike and upgrade parts?

TipsterStu

It's not so much a bind ... more I've no idea what I'm paying for ... look fwd to the advice

batch78

I'd say. Wheels, shifters, rear mech, chainset, brakes, front mech, in that approx. order.

If you want longevity in the groupset, don't buy the lightest parts available, often 'lower' spec stuff is sufficiently adequate and lasts a lot longer.

I've chucked a stupid amount of money at my road bike, x10sl chains, sram pg1070 cassettes, red chainset, etc. Not top of the range but high enough to become expensive with wear. It makes me feel better and I think I'm going faster! But my hack bike runs Deore and lesser components and has outlasted the roadie by about 4 years!

Your important decision is amount of gears, 8 speed is difficult to find, 9 speed will become that way, chain and cassette compatibility is important along with shifters, mechs less so with a bit of setting up.

In summary, 105 is fine.

TipsterStu

Thanks again all ... this sets my spring target for saving up with a little Xmas additions to justify it to myself