Road Bike Groupset

I own three road bikes. Trek 1000 Sora, Cannondale CAAD9 105 and Ultegra and Cannodale Synapse Tiagra and Sora. My average speed is very close on all three bikes. I have tried swapping wheels from one bike to the other and worked in a set of Krysium elites and still found little difference in average speed. Bikes and components do not make us quicker training will make that happen. I would like to add that where I find the biggest difference in the group sets is in the braking. The 105 group brakes have a lot more stopping power and when I am out riding I feel better knowing that I can stop my bike quickly.

Saving weight on a groupset, or wheels, fork or frame will enable faster climbing, but only in proportion to the total weight of the bike and rider. EG, say a rider/bike has a total weight of 200 lbs (180 body, 20 bike). Saving 2 lbs by investing in lighter components and wheels means slow-speed climbs will be a full 1% faster at the same power output. That would mean going from 10 to 10.1 mph, or saving 6 seconds on a 10 minute climb. Those seconds could be significant to a competitive racer, but doesn't mean much to me as a club rider.
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The other reason I don't obsess about saving 2 lbs on the equipment is the fact that I'm currently 25 lbs over optimum bodyweight. Just a slight off-season weight gain that should come off easily once the holiday season is over....

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by rickyp [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

I'm starting to go on rides over 100km now, and I ride around 35kmh

35 clicks is pretty quick, do you live in the magical land of tail winds? [IMG]/img/vbsmilies/smilies/drool.gif[/IMG]

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by Yojimbo_ [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

Quote: Originally Posted by MaxRap [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

I just bought Cervelo R5 Sram Red $8500 custom wheels, everything top of the line. I really wanted a high end bike. I upgraded from Trek 1600 SLR 2008 ($1300 bike). I took it for 30 mile ride. my usual route. Did I notice any differences? yes, I did. Was it worth paying so much? NO. I am not a racer, just wanted to have a nice bike. I ride 4mph faster, more comfortable ride. If you ARE a racer these things matter. I think you get $2k bike, put a nice wheelset, Ultergra. it will help you to go faster.

I'm sorry, but I don't believe you can go 4 mph faster just because you changed your bike - unless your brake pads were rubbing against your rims on the first bike that is.

Assuming you're riding at a decent speed to start with, the power requirements for another 4 mph far exceed the small aero benefit you get from a higher end bike.

His increase in speed is probably more about an incentive to improve rather than a mechanical advantage imparted by the bike. If I dropped $8500 on a new bike, I would probably ride it harder than my previous bike and not even realize that I was doing it. I do know that when I spent $750 on new wheels for one of my bikes, my average speed increased approximately 5 mph. Part of it was new tires that had a lower rolling resistance, but I think that most of it was mental, I just rode harder because I had spent (what to me) was a lot of money on new equipment.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by kdelong [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

Quote: Originally Posted by Yojimbo_ [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

Quote: Originally Posted by MaxRap [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

I just bought Cervelo R5 Sram Red $8500 custom wheels, everything top of the line. I really wanted a high end bike. I upgraded from Trek 1600 SLR 2008 ($1300 bike). I took it for 30 mile ride. my usual route. Did I notice any differences? yes, I did. Was it worth paying so much? NO. I am not a racer, just wanted to have a nice bike. I ride 4mph faster, more comfortable ride. If you ARE a racer these things matter. I think you get $2k bike, put a nice wheelset, Ultergra. it will help you to go faster.

I'm sorry, but I don't believe you can go 4 mph faster just because you changed your bike - unless your brake pads were rubbing against your rims on the first bike that is.

Assuming you're riding at a decent speed to start with, the power requirements for another 4 mph far exceed the small aero benefit you get from a higher end bike.

His increase in speed is probably more about an incentive to improve rather than a mechanical advantage imparted by the bike. If I dropped $8500 on a new bike, I would probably ride it harder than my previous bike and not even realize that I was doing it. I do know that when I spent $750 on new wheels for one of my bikes, my average speed increased approximately 5 mph. Part of it was new tires that had a lower rolling resistance, but I think that most of it was mental, I just rode harder because I had spent (what to me) was a lot of money on new equipment.

Around here we call the speed increase "New BikeSyndrome". It's been shown that the effect and duration is directly proportional to the money spent. Of course, if any $8500 bike could really increase my speed by 4 mph, or even 0.4 mph, I'd buy one too 🙂

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by Froze [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

The price difference from Sora to 105 for the entire group set is about $350... Whereas going with Ultregra is about $550 more then 105 or about $850 more then Sora, that could put a dampener on a lot of people's budgets.

Hmm, so it would cost me $850 to upgrade from Sora to Ultegra? Does seem a little steep, since the Sora stuff works to absolute perfection, and $850 is more than I paid for my bike, front and rear racks, panniers and rack trunk put together. I'll be sticking with my entry-level gear until it falls apart. I'm pretty easy on equipment, so I hope that'll be a good long way down the road.

So the old adage still rings true: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". Good call Lemarmot.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by lemarmot [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

Quote: Originally Posted by Froze [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

The price difference from Sora to 105 for the entire group set is about $350... Whereas going with Ultregra is about $550 more then 105 or about $850 more then Sora, that could put a dampener on a lot of people's budgets.

Hmm, so it would cost me $850 to upgrade from Sora to Ultegra? Does seem a little steep, since the Sora stuff works to absolute perfection, and $850 is more than I paid for my bike, front and rear racks, panniers and rack trunk put together. I'll be sticking with my entry-level gear until it falls apart. I'm pretty easy on equipment, so I hope that'll be a good long way down the road.

Yes it is steep, that's why you should only upgrade as parts break. Some parts like the front derailleur are not as important and buying the less expensive Sora is a better deal since you wouldn't be able to tell any kind of shifting performance gain and only a very small unnoticeable weight gain.

And you can always buy a bike with a complete group set cheaper then buying the group set alone! Witness the bikes they sell at Bikes Direct, you can get a TI bike with Ultrega for $1700...the Ultegra groupset by itself cost around $1,450 and a TI frameset cost more then $250! And that's not figuring in any profit you know Bikes Direct is making!!. Shimano, Campy, and SRAM both sell bike companies the parts way cheaper then we can buy them and that's why you can get the total bike for less then trying to piece it together.

From my long experience with the Road Bikes and Tri-Bikes,the Group-set on all the Bikes vary depending on the quality of the Bike or the Use of it. Like for example if I would rode the Road Bike,I would choose the stiffest road bike there is.The stiffest and most expensive one is the Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Think 2 with the Di2 and the Campagnollo Super Record Grouppo,or the Shimano DuraAce-7970 Di2 Electronic which will blow your Mind and will cost you mere $ 4,500 dollars without the Bike !!!
If you go with the Orbea Orca Road bike or the Specialized S-Works or the Tarmac you don't need to go crazy with spending a Fortune cause the 105 will do the Job,if you want to go in Entry Level of race than the Ultegra 6700 is just Ideal or fits that Picture.
Again,depends on the Bike you get and the Money you want to spend on it.
Trek Madone 6.9 SSL has the DuraAce 7900 Grouppo which now went up to 9000 mark!......or the Cannondale Slice (TT) or the Synapse Carbon 4 has the Ultegra and are Great Bicycles for the Money but again depends what Grouppo you want and what advantages you get.I would research if I were you before you waste your Money and Time on the Group-set.
How about Colnago C59 Italia,one of the Greatest Bike ever and probably one of the Stiffest Bike will give you the Ride of the Century and it will slim your valet around $ 4,500 approx in change but every Penny spent is worth it !!!
Whatever you Buy or intend to Buy,research before you blow the cash for something that later you regret!
Good Luck to You,.................LOL

Not a bad choice but if you want a Speed,Stiff Bike,and good quality all around, I have better advice for you,........... for the similar Money you can get the Pinarello Prince carbon and you beat the Other two. 🙂 close to $4 K dollars range if you get one in the Store NOS.

nice subject .
i just bought cube peloton with shimano 105 groupset . no need to go for more expencive ultegra 105 almost as good . had trek 1.5 with tiagra .also i was riding sora 5 years ago . sora was my least favourite i did not like it .
shimano tiagra was good . nice without any issues at all .
105 is best so far .
do i want to try my next bike with ultegra ???? not bothered .......) 105 is great value for money and i see no reason in my case to spend more for ultegra .

every time i did step up with the groupset and the bike , i could feel notisable difference, i can say that my avarage speed encrease buy 4 km/h . not due to traning but becase the bike is quicker
going from 0-30km/h . also easier on hills so u have more energy left 2lb less in weight is matter in my case .

but before investing in groupset make shure you have decent wheels and tires first . they are more responsible for speed then anything else .

my verdict.. if you have sora on your bike then i assume every other component like wheels , tires are budget components , so no point to invest in the same bike , just sell your bike and add cash on the top and get better second hand bike . is cheaper and u get better result .
i just gave my trek to my dad did not spent a penny on it in 3 years . but bought cube not long ago 2 month old at 750£

you need next bike , something like trek madone 2,1 with 105 £1000 (1600$) or simillar priced but better specs cube peloton race 105, focus 105 ,cannondale etc . they all starting at about £1000 with 105 ............ it worth it .

Hello how are you. What crank size and cassete size you have in your bike. I have one my bike crank 53/39 and 9 speeds cassete 12-25. Is is good my setup or i need somethink else. My bike is cannondale R300 aluminum frame. [IMG]cyclingforums.com700Open ↗[/IMG]

What is road bike is good for fast rides and not cost much money?

Hello how are you. What is good bike for fast rides? What bike you have now