First roadie, sora vs 105

I've figured it's time to stop slowly morphing my MTB into something
faster and just get a proper road bike.

I'm not looking to spend heaps of cash, partly because I figure there's
less embarrassment in being passed by much fitter people when you're on
a cheap bike ;-)

So the choice basically comes down to a Sora-equipped or 105-equipped bike.

I took one of each out for a test ride today, and didn't really feel a
lot of difference in the gear shifts and crank-ability.

Given this'll be my first road bike, I'm leaning toward the cheaper
option so I can get used to this "roadie" concept and perhaps in a
couple of years I might see reason to upgrade.

Opinions / thoughts?

Cheers,
Jules

On Mar 5, 1:06 pm, Jules <sdf...@example.com> wrote:
>
> So the choice basically comes down to a Sora-equipped or 105-equipped bike.
>
> I took one of each out for a test ride today, and didn't really feel a
> lot of difference in the gear shifts and crank-ability.
>
>
> Opinions / thoughts?
>

<snipped bits and pieces>

what is the price difference?

A few things to note
- Sora is 8 speed while the new 105 is 10 speed
- the Sora shifter might be different to the other Shimano shifters.
There is a smaller lever on all Shimano shifters to perform an
upshift. This smaller lever is not present on one or two types of Sora
shifters.



Oh, and if you do end up getting the Sora equipped roadie, give me a
yell if you need a replacement 8 speed chain. I have an 8-speed Dura
Ace chain in the original packing that I'm am trying to get rid
off ...

It really depends on how many k's you plan on doing, and how long you plan to keep the bike for.

Personally, I'd be leaning towards 105 - it'll last a lot longer and be more reliable.

But that's just my opinion.

I like your attitude about being passed - that's great!

Lotte

Ahh...don't forget that there is the Tiagra groupo that sit's between Sora and 105. The impression that I'm getting is that Tiagra has been all dressed up this time around and is awesome value. It also offers 3 crank options: 52/39 double, 50/34 compact double, and a 50/39/30 triple. I reckon it'd be as good as 105 USED to be, which is GOOD!!

IMO, i'd go for this and forget Sora. Sora is for bikes that sit in the shed.

Jules wrote:
>
> So the choice basically comes down to a Sora-equipped or 105-equipped bike.
>

Isn't Tiagra in between those two?

DaveB

I thought the ergonomics were different too, Sora has the thumbshifter
that is like a poor imitation of Campag.

Sora is definately a cut below the rest of the shimano road groups. I'll try to sum up the differences in the 07 lines, although I may not be 100% accurate:

Sora:
8 speed
Upshifter in different location, which is hard to reach in the drops
Octalink cranks/BB

Tiagra
9 speed
Indictators built into shifter
External bearing cranks

105
10 speed
External bearing cranks

As you move up the groupsets they also become lighter and more durable. My personal recomendation would be Tiagra if you are after value. It's a big step up from sora for little $. The cranks are a big jump up too, but you've got to find a bike with the shimano cranks to benifit from that.

"Jules" <sdfsdf@example.com> wrote in message
news:sWKGh.7313$8U4.4260@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> I've figured it's time to stop slowly morphing my MTB into something
> faster and just get a proper road bike.
>
> I'm not looking to spend heaps of cash, partly because I figure there's
> less embarrassment in being passed by much fitter people when you're on a
> cheap bike ;-)
>
> So the choice basically comes down to a Sora-equipped or 105-equipped
> bike.
>
> I took one of each out for a test ride today, and didn't really feel a lot
> of difference in the gear shifts and crank-ability.
>
> Given this'll be my first road bike, I'm leaning toward the cheaper option
> so I can get used to this "roadie" concept and perhaps in a couple of
> years I might see reason to upgrade.
>
> Opinions / thoughts?
>
> Cheers,
> Jules

I would suggest Tiagra at the minimum as Sora is quite a step down in
quality from Tiagra & 105 and above.

Jules wrote:
> I've figured it's time to stop slowly morphing my MTB into something
> faster and just get a proper road bike.
>
> I'm not looking to spend heaps of cash, partly because I figure there's
> less embarrassment in being passed by much fitter people when you're on
> a cheap bike ;-)
>
> So the choice basically comes down to a Sora-equipped or 105-equipped bike.
>
> I took one of each out for a test ride today, and didn't really feel a
> lot of difference in the gear shifts and crank-ability.
>
> Given this'll be my first road bike, I'm leaning toward the cheaper
> option so I can get used to this "roadie" concept and perhaps in a
> couple of years I might see reason to upgrade.
>
> Opinions / thoughts?

Get Tiagra or 105. Sora is for bikes that don't get ridden much.

Tiagra & 105 can be upgraded as they wear out, sora is always sora.

On 2007-03-05, Jules (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:
> I've figured it's time to stop slowly morphing my MTB into something
> faster and just get a proper road bike.

I had a dream lastnight. Getting on a hybrid and going *sooo* slowly
despite all my effort. I do hope it was because in the upright
position I couldn't put the power down, and not simply that I have
become so unfit.

--
TimC
"This company performed an illegal operation but they will not be shut
down." -- Scott Harshbarger from consumer lobby group on Microsoft

On 2007-03-05, petulance (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:
> On Mar 5, 1:06 pm, Jules <sdf...@example.com> wrote:
>>
>> So the choice basically comes down to a Sora-equipped or 105-equipped bike.
>>
>> I took one of each out for a test ride today, and didn't really feel a
>> lot of difference in the gear shifts and crank-ability.
>>
>>
>> Opinions / thoughts?
>
> <snipped bits and pieces>
>
> what is the price difference?
>
> A few things to note
> - Sora is 8 speed while the new 105 is 10 speed
> - the Sora shifter might be different to the other Shimano shifters.
> There is a smaller lever on all Shimano shifters to perform an
> upshift. This smaller lever is not present on one or two types of Sora
> shifters.

The small lever is on mine (er, 2005 era, 2006 model?). Having ridden
my 8 speed Sora for 15000km, I see no problem with it. I keep
mangling the derailleur each time I have a bandicoot episode anyway --
might as well make it a cheap mistake to make.

--
TimC
A bug in the code is worth two in the documentation. --unknown

On 2007-03-05, gravelmuncher (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:
> IMO, i'd go for this and forget Sora. Sora is for bikes that sit in
> the shed.

Meh.

And besides, it's only because I'm a fair weather cyclist and can't
hack this 40 degree business. Stupid summer.

--
TimC
-o)
/\\ The penguins are coming...
_\_v the penguins are coming...

On 2007-03-05, Bleve (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:
> Get Tiagra or 105. Sora is for bikes that don't get ridden much.
>
> Tiagra & 105 can be upgraded as they wear out, sora is always sora.

Next you'll be telling me my honeycomb crunch GVBR bike is crap too!

--
TimC
load "linux",8,1

"gravelmuncher" <gravelmuncher.2myckb@no-mx.forums.cyclingforums.com> wrote
in message news:gravelmuncher.2myckb@no-mx.forums.cyclingforums.com...
>
> Ahh...don't forget that there is the Tiagra groupo that sit's between
> Sora and 105. The impression that I'm getting is that Tiagra has been
> all dressed up this time around and is awesome value. It also offers 3
> crank options: 52/39 double, 50/34 compact double, and a 50/39/30
> triple. I reckon it'd be as good as 105 USED to be, which is GOOD!!
>
>
> IMO, i'd go for this and forget Sora. Sora is for bikes that sit in
> the shed.
>

My first roadie had Sora on it and I put about 20000km or so through the
drive train and the only thing that I had to replace was a chain that I
snapped.......curse my massive power output!!!! But seriously, I didn't
have any problems with the groupset and there was a certain satisfaction to
be had when I won my first couple of crits in D Grade on it against guys
running Record and Dura Ace......speaking of which, I am thinking about
having a crack at the Kew crits on a SS roadie at some stage....I will have
to get off my **** and replace the cowhorns with normal road bars, screw off
the fixed cog, then screw on a freewheel cog - I figure if I get a ratio
that is pretty close to being right for the final sprint up the hill then
all I would have to do would be hang on till the last corner and then have a
crack!!! Of course I will actually have to get to the race first which
might prove to be harder than setting my bike up!!!

Gags

Gags wrote:
> running Record and Dura Ace......speaking of which, I am thinking about
> having a crack at the Kew crits on a SS roadie at some stage....

Post a warning hear if you do so we can all go down and watch the
entertainment.

DaveB