Which group set?

markwb79
markwb79 Posts: 937
edited November 2011 in Road buying advice
I am storting to think about the bike I am going to build as my good bike for next year. My main two dilemmas are finishing fit, and currently, groupset??????

I am interested to hear others views on the top 3 mechanical sets. Red, dura-ace and super record.

Please help.......
Scott Addict 2011
Giant TCR 2012

Comments

  • rozzer32
    rozzer32 Posts: 3,923
    Why does it have to be mechanical? Thought about the new Ultegra DI2??
    ***** Pro Tour Pundit Champion 2020, 2018, 2017 & 2011 *****
  • markwb79
    markwb79 Posts: 937
    Yes I have thought about it. Mechanical would fit the frame better, which I am happy with.
    Scott Addict 2011
    Giant TCR 2012
  • g00se
    g00se Posts: 2,221
    Concerning mechanical Campagnolo, some - not all - will say that Chorus is equivalent to Dura Ace and Red (so Record and Super Record are out on their own).

    Chorus, Record and Super Record are basically identical except for weights (S and SR use more carbon and titanium) and price!!! I've heard it said that if you have to pay for Super Record, you don't deserve it...

    I'm a Campag fan, especially the Utrashift sweeps of the cassette, but all the high-end groupsets are very good. Try them out.
  • thegreatdivide
    thegreatdivide Posts: 5,807
    g00se wrote:
    Concerning mechanical Campagnolo, some - not all - will say that Chorus is equivalent to Dura Ace and Red (so Record and Super Record are out on their own).

    Chorus, Record and Super Record are basically identical except for weights (S and SR use more carbon and titanium) and price!!! I've heard it said that if you have to pay for Super Record, you don't deserve it...

    I'm a Campag fan, especially the Utrashift sweeps of the cassette, but all the high-end groupsets are very good. Try them out.

    :? I don't get it?
  • g00se
    g00se Posts: 2,221
    thegreatdivide wrote:
    g00se wrote:
    I've heard it said that if you have to pay for Super Record, you don't deserve it...
    .

    :? I don't get it?

    Your pro team or sponsors should be paying for it :)

    Going back to the main question about differences, forgetting feel of the hoods, I suppose they can be simplified down to different types of gear change and lever, SRAM's double-tap, Shimano's double lever and Campag's lever, button and ultrashift. Also the feel of the change - Shimano is very smooth, Campag is very 'definite'.
  • Crankbrother
    Crankbrother Posts: 1,695
    I'd think twice before jumping into Super Record ... It's not backwards compatible so a set of training or climbing wheels start to get very expensive ...

    If it was my choice i'd go with Chorus (Euro brand bike) or Red (US brand) ...
  • markwb79
    markwb79 Posts: 937
    Chorus looks very interesting, I hadn't thought about that in the past.

    I think that campag looks the best, but most of my other equipment is shimano already. I would need to change two other sets of wheels if I was to change.

    I do like the color of 7900, another great looking groupset I think. Slightly heavier than the others.

    Red, can never decide on this one. Love the look of the red crank, and the levers are really distinctive I think.

    Really at a loss!
    Scott Addict 2011
    Giant TCR 2012
  • thegreatdivide
    thegreatdivide Posts: 5,807
    Crankbrother wrote:
    I'd think twice before jumping into Super Record ... It's not backwards compatible so a set of training or climbing wheels start to get very expensive ...

    If it was my choice i'd go with Chorus (Euro brand bike) or Red (US brand) ...

    Buy an SR cassette with a good spread, a chain whip and a cassette tool and it's not very expensive at all.

    I'm lucky enough to own SR and it's an amazing groupset. Mechanically it's been faultless for me and asthetically it's just stunning.

    NB - if you buy a groupset from Shiny Bikes you can get some amazing deals on the top end groupsets. Comtat were the cheapest for a while (still cheap though). I don't work for Shiny Bikes btw :D
  • Crankbrother
    Crankbrother Posts: 1,695
    Yeah, you can swap the cassette but by not getting so carried away with SR you could buy another set of wheels and another cassette with a different ratio to suit ... and you don't have to live without bike for a month if something breaks as you can buy a mech etc from lower down the chain should the worst happen ... It's just alot less faff ...

    Saying that, if you have tne cash and a spare bike for emergencies then why not ...

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