CAAD10 105 or Rival?

dm06804

Is the Rival model worth the extra 250 bucks? I know it has an upgraded crank, brakes, and Fulcrum Racing 7 wheels.

I've only ever used Shimano, but I don't mind if the Rival model is snappier, if it shifts FASTER, that's more efficient in my opinion. What are your guys views on the 105 vs rival group? Is the rival, which is much lighter, more effective and worth the extra dollars?

sloppyschleckonds

Haven't you already posted this?
Buy the 105, strip it and put SRAM red or dura ace on it. Buy some decent wheels.

dm06804

My budget is definitely about $2200. I can get the 105 model for 1550 and the Rival model for 1800, can't really afford to get the Ultegra model I don't think. I was considering keeping the 105 parts on the bike and just buying some decent wheels, then upgrading components to DA as they get older or start to fail.

At my price point, is the Rival model a large upgrade worth the 250 dollars? I've only test ridden the 105, I think I would be fine adjusting to the double-tap, but is Rival regarded to be a higher-end component set compared to the 105?

The Rival version's upgraded wheelset and SRAM brakes also look good, just trying to see where people fall at this component level, are SRAM or Shimano midlevel components better (less falling chains, efficient shifting) ??

sloppyschleckonds

Not much to split the three groupsets, better off spending on better wheels and tyres. I run dura ace on my caad10 with either mavic r-sys wheels or carbon tubs. The bike is as fast as you probably need.

giant_man

Sram efficient ... hmmm, give me 105 everytime

arthur_scrimshaw

giant man wrote:

Sram efficient ... hmmm, give me 105 everytime

+1

I find it galling that SRAM charge so much for such a (relatively speaking) primitive and agricultural system of gearchanging. It's mechanically simpler the the Shimano system (which can either be a good or bad thing depending on the quality of the engineering) so should be cheaper to produce yet this doesn't translate into selling prices. My experience of Apex, the bottom of the SRAM range yet more expensive than 105, is that it's a poor second in terms of use.

patrickf

Arthur Scrimshaw wrote:

My experience of Apex, the bottom of the SRAM range yet more expensive than 105, is that it's a poor second in terms of use.

Personally I'd much rather have SRAM double-tap. Coming from Tiagra to Rival I much prefer it. I do think this is one of those highly personal things though. Both are great, it simply comes down to fit and preference at the end of the day.

As for price:

Apex: £389.99 http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/road-parts/transmission/groupsets-road-bike/sram-apex-black-groupset.html
105: £399.95 http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/road-parts/transmission/groupsets-road-bike/shimano-105-5700-groupset-black.html

Even accounting for the quoted RRP, Apex is still cheaper than 105.

fatdaz

I have one bike with Rival and one with Ultegra and I prefer the more definite shift of Rival - although I prefer the Ultegra brakes. That's just me though and you'll find any number of people who think exactly the opposite. As somebody said earlier in the thread the differences probably aren't worth spending loads of money on, spend the money on wheels, tyres, maybe brake pads.

ck101

Rival for sure, lighter than Ultegra and the double tap shift mechanism is better.

mfin

Its easy to upgrade a groupset if you have Shimano, just take it all off, sell it, and replace it with either Sram or Campagnolo... da-daaaaa. You do get the odd muppet who seems to not understand double-tap, but most people find it intuitive in minutes.

mfin

fatdaz wrote:

I have one bike with Rival and one with Ultegra and I prefer the more definite shift of Rival - although I prefer the Ultegra brakes. That's just me though and you'll find any number of people who think exactly the opposite. As somebody said earlier in the thread the differences probably aren't worth spending loads of money on, spend the money on wheels, tyres, maybe brake pads.

You can always mix and match the brakes, I even used Campag Record Brakes with Sram Red at one time.

mfin

dm06804 wrote:

Is the Rival model worth the extra 250 bucks? I know it has an upgraded crank, brakes, and Fulcrum Racing 7 wheels.

I've only ever used Shimano, but I don't mind if the Rival model is snappier, if it shifts FASTER, that's more efficient in my opinion. What are your guys views on the 105 vs rival group? Is the rival, which is much lighter, more effective and worth the extra dollars?

Racing 7 wheels are nothing to shout about at all, heavy and slow to get to speed, make a bike feel dull, what did the 105 one have on it that were lower!?

dm06804

shimano rs10's

mfin

dm06804 wrote:

shimano rs10's

Same weight wheels really, exactly the same ballpark, you might like the look of one vs the other but both are pretty basic.

I thhhhhiiiiiinnnnk you could get the 105, strip it off as new and buy the Rival on a good deal and you shouldnt end up much out of pocket at all. (this was certainly possible a year or so ago, but I haven't looked at prices recently, someone will know the best Rival deal and what a new 105 unridden stripped off a new bike will sell for).

Of course, if you dont change it over yourself or know a pal who can then you would have to factor in paying a shop to the changeover.

(I was joking a bit earlier, but Ive rid myself of all things shimano apart from pedals on an mtb, and life is better for it, I know a lot of people like Shimano too, but I just dont like anything about Shimano mechanical groupsets, to me the shifting feel is wooly, the way you downshift is not ergonomic, the setup is more sensitive to problems when cable outers wear or get dirty, and to top it off it all looks boll**ks ...I know I'll get a slating now, but am being honest as well as having a laugh)

dm06804

I'm definitely leaning towards the Rival model now.

Only concerns: Does anyone know if the rival apex brakes on the rival model are preferred over the Tektro ones on the 105 model?

And do I cant decide between the Black/Yellow rival finish or the Black/Silver finish Final thoughts everyone?

The decision definitely comes down to the double-tap system and the snappiness of the SRAM. As long as I don't break the carbon fiber levers, I'm going to be happy I think

passout

I prefer SRAM, I find it more snappy & positive - very reliable too. Shimano does feel more silky smooth & may be better at multiple shifts to lower gears. Both great though. To be honest there is not much to choose between them, wheel choice will be much more important.

bikingjohn

Buy whichever fit your hands.

MisterMuncher

Black/Yellow. No question. If it was even vaguely economical to do so, I'd be importing one from the US. To refit with 105.