Subscribe now and choose from over 30 free gifts worth up to £49 - Plus get £25 to spend in our shop
I am considering buying a road bike in the near future and need a little help. I’m trying to work out where each groupset sits in the range and how it compares to other manufacturer, i.e. XT is roughly the same level as X-9 off road, but what is the Shimano/SRAM/Campagnolo road equivalent. I’d be looking at bikes around £800 so I guess I’m looking at the road equivalent of SLX or Deore.
Thanks in advance.
P.S. If this is concidered OT then apologies, mods you are welcome to move it.
Alivio = Sora
Deore = Tiagra
SLX = 105
XT = Ultegra
XTR = Dura Ace
Dunno much about Campag 'sos I don't get on with the shifters and I can't afford SRAM.
XTR = Dura-Ace = Campag Super Record/Record = SRAM Red
XT = Ultegra = Chorus = Force
SLX = 105 = Centaur = Rival
That said they're not really a match lower down the ranges
You'd be looking at fairly low-spec Campag, might stretch to Veloce
In order of most blink first Campag is
Super Record
Record
Chorus
Centaur
Veloce
Mirage
Xenon
(think the last two IIRC are being phased out, Campag can't seem to compete with Shimano at entry level stuff.
Not an exaqct like for like match to the Shimano groupsets - think of Super Record/Record as Dura Ace, Chorus/Centaur as Ultegra, Veloce as 105. Ish.
SRAM have a smaller range still I think
Red
Rival
Force
Red being their Dura Ace equivalent, again, don't think either Rival or Force are real 'entry level' a la Sora or Tiagra.
Think for 800 quid you'd probably be looking at Tiagra or Veloce. Maybe find a nice last years season model. Campag have 'upgraded' Veloce recently so you might find the older style knocking around on bikes with a discount.
Don't forget that a good rider with Tigra will easily beat a crap rider with Ultegra.
So if you're training and upgrading with time then go 105/Ultegra.
I use full 105 for training but my bike needs warranty parts.
So I used my commuter (tigra bits) and still raced fine yesterday.
You will notice the lighter weight and smoother shifting.
A nice option is an Aluminum Ultegra spec bike and then upgrade to a carbon frame when you're fit enough to take part in sportives. Keep the alu frame for winter etc. Based on your budget-Trek 1.9 haggle?
Trek 1.9s are now about £1100, not likely to get one for £800! I'd also say get the best frame you can and ignore the rest of the parts, they're all disposable items in the long run.
The groupsets are functionally pretty similar within each manufacturer, you'll almost certainly be looking at Shimano on most new bikes. Tiagra or 105 are fine, the former is 9 speed, the latter 10 speed, not a lot else to choose between them.
hav'nt tiagra got a slightly different function on the sti to 105 up? i seem to recall my father in laws tiagra equipped trek has a thumb thing on the sti.
Gav that is the Sora ones. The tiagra ones now have the gear inicator window. I feel that the Sora/Tiagra are a bit higher than Alivio/Deore