Tiagra v Rival

slowslowslow

Running a Cube Agree with full Tiagra. Does the job nicely for what I need, but brakes are not as powerful as the old 105 I used to run. Debating upgrade and it seems to be as good value to do a whole groupset.

Now been offered a 2x10 Rival groupset from a 2010 Boardman for the price it takes to swap them over.

Reviews suggest Rival is pretty good for what I would need. Think it may come with R480 (or something like that) brakes.

Worth taking the Rival groupset for effectively a gift from a mate? Maybe get Rival calipers if needed?

Im no racer. Like things like the Dragon Ride and 70-100 mile Sportives. not interested in being a speed merchant...
I'm aware I could just get new pads for the Tiagra...:)

Thoughts?

diamonddog

I have Rival on one of my bikes, used for several years now and not one problem.

holiver

Obviously the action to change gear differs. Are you familiar with the way SRAM does it?

Rival is superior though in terms of design and materials.

slowslowslow

I have a basic understanding of how it works but have never used it. But not worried about it. Its not like i'm racing and every second counts....:)

What about the brakes-if they are the Tektro ones will they be better than Tiagra ones? Or worth getting a pair of Rival ones?

luv2ride

I've got SRAM on all my bikes now after starting with Rival on a Boardman. Actually swapped the Rival onto a Roubaix when I upgraded (the Roubaix came with Shimano 105 but the SRAM just suited me better). It does sound though that the brakes you're being offered are R480 Tektro's, which may not be as good as your Tiagra brakes, but I could be wrong. I think a set of Rival brakes would be a step up though, they were in my case. SRAM Force calipers are even better if you can find a pair at a good price.

slowslowslow

Are they compatable with Rival? Assume they are...

diamonddog

You could fit Rival or Apex callipers (which I have on one of my bikes) as the only difference between them and the Force ones on my other bike is the weight and how they look IME.

slowslowslow

Many thanks for the advice one and all.
Slow

paxington

I have Rival on one bike and love it. The right hand shifter failed(it dropped off) after approx 6K(miles) and was replaced under warranty. Check the age of the set you're being offered . From memory it was a design/material fault around 2009 that had a problem and a design/material update rectified the problem. Problem was to do with the lever pivot hole. Best do your own research to verify the dates.

slowslowslow

thanks for the heads up. Its 2010.

cycleclinic

Buy ultra brakes or mice primato for serious stopping power. Campagnolo veloce brakes are excellent but have no quick release on the calipers.

slowslowslow

Never heard of either, I'll have a look...
Cheers

rww

Maybe Ultra's a typo and he means Ultegra?

As for the Miche brakes, they don't seem too widely distributed. The usual suspects (Wiggle, CRC etc.) aren't listing them. I'm mulling-over upgrading the stock brakes on my new bike and was thinking 105. The rest of the groupset is Sora and I hadn't considered looking at non-Shimano brakes, but Malcolm's Miche suggestion has given me something else to chew over.

slowslowslow

I looked ultra brakes and it's not bike related, seems more car stuff. Had 105. Good brakes. Could just do that but looking a free groupset in the mouth....

Matthewfalle

If the free group set thing doesn't work out you could always buy my 105 stuff off me for next to nothing ..........

passout

Rival is great and I can recommend it, but if you just want to improve braking then upgrade brake pads first, then if you are still not happy then the callipers (say 105 or Apex).

Bar Shaker

Ultergra calipers are the best upgrade on the Tektro ones on your 2010 Boardman TC, but I would fit some decent pads before changing them. The Ultegra will be lighter and stiffer than the Tiagra calipers, by some margin.

The difference in pads can be massive.

paxington

I used Utegra 6600 calipers in conjunction with Rival levers and Aztec charcoal pads. The difference over the standard tektro's was significant. That said the fact that I changed the calipers at pads at the same time means i couldn't say for sure what % of that difference was caliper related and what % pad related.
A cheap first step might just be to change your existing pads. I have Aztec pads on my commuter with cheap calipers and the brakes work very well.

captain_tiara

I've had a Rival groupset for 4 years plus. Once you get over the different shifting system its great value & good looking. Dura-ace on the other bike so a pretty strict comparison.

Way nicer than Tiagra. If you do your own maintenance, remember the rear mech needs a bigger loop on the cable approach than shimano, its much more sensitive to cable snag.

But financially it makes sense to change pads, maybe cables [it can make a massive difference], & callipers first.