SRAM Rival and other questions

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To which Shimano and Campagnolo group does Rival compares?
How much does the Ultegra and 105 groups weight?
I was at the bike shop and the owner who has been in several competitions told me that SRAM is great and that when he used Shimano he had to continuously adjust the shifting mechanism and that SRAM is way much better and after he has SRAM he doesn't need to be adjusting anything.
Well I have Shimano on both MB and RB and I've never had the need to be adjusting things, they work fine mile after mile. I don't compete but my MB has been road on some mud and in the rain and has never given me problems. The only problem I've had is that the shifter cables pass down the bottom bracket and they have collected a lot of mud and shifting becomes hard. But that would happen no matter which brand I'm using. And when going back to asphalt they wash with the rain and spattering from the front tire.
How can I resolve this? Is there a way to protect this cables or bottom of bottom bracket from getting mud?

Like you, I have never had any problems with my Shimano adjustments. I have to adjust it when I replace a cable and maybe two times shortly after to compensate for cable stretch, but after that I usually don't need to touch it. I suspect that your shop owner doesn't know how to adjust them very well, or more likely he has some SRAM equipment that he would like to sell to you.

I think that SRAM Rival is pretty much the equivalent of Ultegra or Campy Chorus (I might be wrong on this one), ever since the SRAM Red group has come out. Rival used to be the top of the line for SRAM before SRAM Red. SRAM does make very good equipment and some people prefer the double tap shifting that SRAM uses. I think that it is as good as, but not better than Shimano or Campagnolo. Visit the Shimano and Campaglono websites for the weights of the groups.

I had a buddy who used a peice of inner tube, plastic straws, and duct tape to make a crude cover, but it worked pretty well on his bottom bracket. I don't know of any commercial products so you might have to come up with your own. Note to potential inventors: Here is a need, can you make something to fill it?

Like you, I have never had any problems with my Shimano adjustments. I have to adjust it when I replace a cable and maybe two times shortly after to compensate for cable stretch, but after that I usually don't need to touch it. I suspect that your shop owner doesn't know how to adjust them very well, or more likely he has some SRAM equipment that he would like to sell to you.

I think that SRAM Rival is pretty much the equivalent of Ultegra or Campy Chorus (I might be wrong on this one), ever since the SRAM Red group has come out. Rival used to be the top of the line for SRAM before SRAM Red. SRAM does make very good equipment and some people prefer the double tap shifting that SRAM uses. I think that it is as good as, but not better than Shimano or Campagnolo. Visit the Shimano and Campaglono websites for the weights of the groups.

I had a buddy who used a peice of inner tube, plastic straws, and duct tape to make a crude cover, but it worked pretty well on his bottom bracket. I don't know of any commercial products so you might have to come up with your own. Note to potential inventors: Here is a need, can you make something to fill it?
BTW, do SRAM components shift better than the others? I've heard they are more precise than Shimano but I've never had SRAM and the Campagnolo components I've had were not related to shifting.
I'm wanting to go to 10 speeds and was thinking on 105 then thought about Ultegra since the price difference wasn't that big, but then SRAM Rival was offered and it seemed a good option. I'm only getting the shifters, chain and cassette and I don't know if SRAM will be compatible with the rest of the 105 I have on my bike.

Your LBS owner's comments about Shimano gear are inaccurate. The gear from all three manufacturers works well.

BTW, do SRAM components shift better than the others? I've heard they are more precise than Shimano but I've never had SRAM and the Campagnolo components I've had were not related to shifting.
I'm wanting to go to 10 speeds and was thinking on 105 then thought about Ultegra since the price difference wasn't that big, but then SRAM Rival was offered and it seemed a good option. I'm only getting the shifters, chain and cassette and I don't know if SRAM will be compatible with the rest of the 105 I have on my bike. SRAM shifts about the same as the others, no more or less precise. I can tell you that the SRAM chain and cassette will work with your 105. I can't comment on the shifters as I nor anyone that I know has ever tried it.

SRAM shifts about the same as the others, no more or less precise. I can tell you that the SRAM chain and cassette will work with your 105. I can't comment on the shifters as I nor anyone that I know has ever tried it.
The old 105 that will remain on the bike, if I do the upgrade to 10 speed, would be the crank, the front deraileur and the rear deraileur. If I keep Shimano I think there won't be a problem, but I think the rear deraileur (Shimano) won't be compatible with SRAM shifters, am I correct?

The old 105 that will remain on the bike, if I do the upgrade to 10 speed, would be the crank, the front deraileur and the rear deraileur. If I keep Shimano I think there won't be a problem, but I think the rear deraileur (Shimano) won't be compatible with SRAM shifters, am I correct? I don't really know if SRAM Shifters are compatible with Shimano Derailleurs, but I seem to recall that they are not. If you are going to keep your Shimano derailleurs, I suggest that you use Shimano shifters. Even if the SRAM shifters are compatible with your Shimano equipment, it probably will not work as well as Shimano shifters would.

The old 105 that will remain on the bike, if I do the upgrade to 10 speed, would be the crank, the front deraileur and the rear deraileur. If I keep Shimano I think there won't be a problem, but I think the rear deraileur (Shimano) won't be compatible with SRAM shifters, am I correct?SRAM's shifters will not be compatible with your older SHIMANO derailleurs without some fiddling ...

BUT, why did you want to change your shifters?

BTW. "Fenders" with-or-without mud-guard extensions are what you would want for muddy conditions.

SRAM's shifters will not be compatible with your older SHIMANO derailleurs without some fiddling ...

BUT, why did you want to change your shifters?

BTW. "Fenders" with-or-without mud-guard extensions are what you would want for muddy conditions.
I would like to change the shifters for upgrading from 8 speed to the newer 10 speed. But I'm really not really convinced that it's worth the money to do it since the 8 speed configuration is working well.

I would like to change the shifters for upgrading from 8 speed to the newer 10 speed. But I'm really not really convinced that it's worth the money to do it since the 8 speed configuration is working well. You might want to ensure that your 8-speed RD has the range to shift a 10-speed cassette. I have been told that going from 9-speed to 10-speed is not worth the money unless the 9-speed shifter breaks. The same might apply to your 8-speed setup.

You might want to ensure that your 8-speed RD has the range to shift a 10-speed cassette. I have been told that going from 9-speed to 10-speed is not worth the money unless the 9-speed shifter breaks. The same might apply to your 8-speed setup.
It may be the same story from 8 to 10, I have a 12-23 and sometimes switch the 12 for an 11 if I'll go to flat road. In range it's little what I can improve, some are 12-26 I think. I think I will wait and invest maybe something else. I have tubular and clincher wheelsets which are normal wheelsets, 105 hubs with regular 36 Stainles Steel spokes and some italian and belgian rims, nothing fancy. I was thinking about getting a pair of Shimano wheelsets, not the high end stuff but the entry level ones with radial configuration on the front wheel and "aerodinamic" spokes. Would they worth the invesment? Would I get some improvement?
I'm looking at this wheelset, http://bike.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/products/wheels/road_wheels/product.-code-WH-RS20-S.-type-.html