Mid range SRAM and Campy lag behind Shimano?

bus_ter

I was in a group ride today with a guy who works in the bike business. Anyway his take was that while the top end Shimano (Dura-Ace), Campy (Record) and SRAM (Red) were all excellent and effectively as good as each other, all be it with their own characeristics. But when you go down to mid-range groupsets the Shimano gear was a good step better than the mid-range offerings from SRAM and Campag.

Anyone else have this opinion or disagree entirely?

nathancom

I sincerely hope no one has an opinion on this.

bus_ter

I know there's the classic groupset debate of which is best.. but this is looking at mid range pricing specifically. Perhaps it's still a moot point with no right or wrong answer, only personal preference. Or maybe there is a census that if you are looking to save money you get a better product with a mid-range Shimano groupset?

oldraver

bus_ter wrote:

I was in a group ride today with a guy who works in the bike business. Anyway his take was that while the top end Shimano (Dura-Ace), Campy (Record) and SRAM (Red) were all excellent and effectively as good as each other, all be it with their own characeristics. But when you go down to mid-range groupsets the Shimano gear was a good step better than the mid-range offerings from SRAM and Campag.

Anyone else have this opinion or disagree entirely?

Nope no opinion whatsoever hehe

thegreatdivide

bus_ter wrote:

I was in a group ride today with a guy who sells Shimano. Anyway his take was that while the top end Shimano (Dura-Ace), Campy (Record) and SRAM (Red) were all excellent and effectively as good as each other, all be it with their own characeristics. But when you go down to mid-range groupsets the Shimano gear was a good step better than the mid-range offerings from SRAM and Campag.

Anyone else have this opinion or disagree entirely?

ddraver

Would nt say either are a good step better - Shimano do quiet reliability, efficiency and longevity very well though. That said, I reckon going for what feels best for you is still more important though.

rpd_steve

Bit of a bad comparison that one. Shimarno's range goes from £200 with the 2200, Sram dont start until the £350 mark, equivelent with Tiagra pricing, and Campag dont start untill about £500. So the midrange of each is different. Personally I have mid range campag (Carbon Centuar) and feel its between 105 and Ultegra. It's 20g lighter than Dura-Ace and shifts at least as well as Ultegra for the price of 105. But they are all goo, no one makes a bad shifting group any more. The 'lower' groupsets are deliberately made heaver to create the different price points.

ddraver

RPD Steve wrote:

The 'lower' groupsets are deliberately made heaver to create the different price points.

Eh? They re made heavier because it's cheaper....To paraphrase Keith Bontrager, Light, Cheap, Good - pick two.

rolf_f

I'd have thought that the best value Campag Groupsets were probably Veloce and Chorus. ie cheapest Powertorque and cheapest Ultratorque. Other than a few grams of weight, there isn't that much difference aside from visual bling as you go up the range. The specs are mostly much of a muchness.

MaxwellBygraves

I've used all 3 in the past few years. Deffo prefer Campag and Sram over Shimano.

Still use Shimano on the winter bike, works fine, but probably won't purchase it again. Obviously that's just my opinion not objective fact